From Weakling to King!

Written By Molly Mayo

Reflective Reading: I Kings 2-3
In First Kings chapter 2, David’s last words to his son Solomon are:

“I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man” (I Ki 2:2).

Have you ever wondered what Solomon was like? Was he strong, tall, good looking, aggressive, calm, etc.? When I consider these last words of a father to a son, it causes me to wonder why David said “be strong therefore, and shew thyself a man.” What did King David see in Solomon that moved him to say these last words? 

In Proverbs chapter 4 we may have a clue that will help us understand more clearly what led David to give Solomon this charge. In Proverbs 4:1-4 we read: 

“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.”

Note the word “tender.” In Hebrew, this word carries the idea of “tender, soft, delicate, weak, weak of heart, and timid.” This idea that Solomon was a weakling is even more substantiated when he becomes king and has his first interaction with God in a dream. Solomon says to God:

“And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in” (I Kings 3:7).

Not only does Solomon see himself as a little child, lacking the ability to lead, but he says of himself in Proverbs chapter 4 that he was “only beloved in the sight of his mother.” This makes sense to me since Solomon was the son of Bathsheba— the woman David had committed adultery with. More than that, David had murdered his mother’s husband Uriah in an attempt to cover his sin! Can you imagine the talk behind Solomon’s back during his childhood?

Picture this weak, soft, delicate kid in the midst of his half-brothers Absalom, Amnon, and Adonijah! These were powerful boys who grew up to be conniving, overly ambitious, prideful, rebellious, and narcissistic men. Bathsheba must have had a full-time job just trying to protect her son from all the taunts, verbal abuse, and bullying. It could not have been easy for Solomon, growing up in a home with so much against him, especially in light of his weakling personality.

As bad as it may have been for Solomon, these were the challenges that God used to prepare him to become king. Children, who may be weak like Solomon, need to learn this lesson. God is preparing them for their future calling. But before they can fulfill their future calling, there is a responsibility that they must accomplish. To learn about this responsibility, we must listen in on what King David said after he told Solomon to man up! 

“Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel” (I Kings 2:1-4).

The Apostle John wrote in his first letter, “Young men you are strong because the Word of God abides in you.” The most important foundational truth that helps to form Biblical manhood is an intimate knowledge and keeping of the Word of God. It is rare for me to meet a young man who possesses this knowledge and love for the Word. Those who do have this love for God’s Word are inspiring, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, wise, and always successful.

King David wrote,

“Happy is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, not sits in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law (Word) of the LORD, and in his law (Word), he meditates day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3).

Solomon’s wisdom came from his knowledge of the Word of God. He explains in Proverbs chapter 4 that his father (David) taught him and challenged him: 

“Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her” (Proverbs 4:4-8).

There you have it. If you want to prepare your boys for a kingly future, it will require the Words of Wisdom. It doesn’t matter how frail or weak or timid a boy might be. In God’s realm, Wisdom turns weaklings into kings!

Sincerely,

Mark Hamby

M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min 

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