Those Who Missed Their Chance

This passage describes how Solomon, following King David's last instructions, established his royal authority and dealt with the wicked. In particular, through two figures, Joab and Shimei, who in the end rushed to ruin because of their own sins and choices, it shows how important true repentance and choice before God are.

Joab devoted himself to David for nearly forty years and was the chief contributor to stabilizing the kingdom, but out of selfishness and greed to protect his position as second in command, he deliberately committed murder. Despite his many achievements and his devotion, his heart was set on his own power rather than on God, and so, even though he took hold of the horns of the altar, he was not spared and came to a miserable end.

Shimei was a sinner who had cursed David, but because of David's faith and patience he was given the chance to live several times over. Yet rather than truly repenting of his sin, he carelessly broke the king's command, and in the end he missed every chance he had been given and came to his death.

Through the lives of these figures, we should reflect deeply on how we should use the chances we are given, and on what true repentance and choice are.