Faithfulness To God: David And Solomon

Imagine receiving a message from God saying you will reign your nation. What would you do? How would you feel? Probably, how, and why in the world God chose you. Sometimes God’s ways are not our ways.

When the people saw Solomon as a strong, tall and humble man, they thought those were the qualities of a king. When God saw David, he decided during Solomon’s reign that David would be king over all of Israel. God saw David as a man after his own heart. In proverbs 16: 2 it states that “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the lord weighs the spirit” proving that the lord found David as someone who will do his will. With David’s and Solomon’s characteristics, achievements and relationship with God we will be able to not only reflect but compare and contrast the lives we live today. David was born in Bethlehem as a shepherd who became a king and wrote many psalms. David who was humble and holy, faithfully believed in the true God and tried to do his will. He had to endure persecution from Saul and other enemies, but never became vicious. He never laid his hands against Saul, instead he placed his hope in God that the Lord will deliver him from all his enemies. Even though he has many success and failures he was that man whose heart was pointed to God. He had a deep desire to follow God’s will and do everything God wanted him to do. While Solomon already achieved to be king, he still didn’t have the right heart in God’s eyes, Solomon is the only son of David to be king over Israel. When Solomon was in the throne God gave him the opportunity to ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon humbly and unselfishly asked God for the wisdom he needed to rule God’s people justly. During the most of his reign he had riches and wisdom than all kings of the earth. Solomon wrote many songs like David. He also, had 700 wives leading him into public idolatry, angering God. God became angry with Solomon because his heart had turn away from the lord. Both men sinned, but it was David’s heart that caught God’s attention after he was deeply sorry for his sins.

Solomon and David were both anointed as kings by the prophet Samuel. David intended to build a temple for God, but at the end Solomon achieved it. Solomon achieved constructing the first temple in Jerusalem and many other significant royal places. Although, David was portrayed as a great military leader, Solomon was the wisest of kings. In spite of the gift of wisdom God gave him, Solomon was a lot like a polytheist. Eventually he started no make unwisely decisions. In the other hand, David would stumble occasional. He never worshipped false God’s or encouraged other like his son. David was skilled in martial arts and began training to be an armor bearer for the king. One of David’s greatest achievements was defeating Goliath with only a slingshot apart from being a man after God’s own heart. David’s faith and His bravery were responsible for great victory that day.

David was a man of faith. He was a hero, a warrior, sinner, shepherd, friend and a king. He would seek God, praise him, cry to him and even consult to him daily. Throughout his long journey David was always rendering his daily life experiences into songs, poems, mad prayers of worship. He was not worried about looking cool instead, he lived unashamed and danced and worshiped him. David’s relationship with God helped him put his faith into action. Meanwhile with Solomon, God blessed him with wisdom, wealth sends peace, however there is more to the eye when it comes to reigning. Solomon had a final chance to remain faithful to the covenant between God and Israel. Solomon loved the Lord, but after he took pharaoh’s daughter and formed a marriage agreement with pharaoh God was displeased. As he grew older, by the influences of his wives, his heart gradually went after other gods. Solomon started losing his God-given identity and began to use his abilities in ways of other gods. Solomon reigned peacefully, yet peace without fully embracing God’s love ended up as a setback.

Although we are not perfect, God is still willing to forgive us regardless of what circumstances. We are not in this earth by accident. God has a divine purpose for each and everyone’s lives. Solomon’s life was reigned with peace, wealth and wisdom, yet, he failed. But God still gave him an opportunity. An opportunity to still seek him and find his identity through the Lord. In the lord, we do not lose our true selves, but we become our true selves, only through him. Both David and Solomon characters, achievements and relationship with God, demonstrates our direct influence faithfulness to God.