May 29, 2026 -Good Examples

Psalms 149:1-9

1 Kings 2:1-46

1 Kings 3:1-28

Bible in a Year Through Song - Day 149 of 365

1 Kings 2:2-3

2“I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go

David gives his son the best advise that many young men do not receive from their fathers anymore. Be strong, act like a man, follow God's laws, walk in obedience to God. He doesn't just tell him what to do but why to do it. God had established with David that his line will be blessed if they walk with Him. Our young men need to be taught the same things. Be strong and courageous, act like a man. Society, TV and movies emasculate men. They make them either look like the oaf in the family unable to lead in most comedies or as an angry violent detached man in action films. I am grateful that there have been more faith-based options out there that do a better job showing what it really means to act like a man who is strong and courageous. But our young men should not be learning that from media and culture. It should be instilled in them from youth by their fathers. We have so many young men being raised by a single parent usually a mother and they don't have male role models or at least not good male role models. Our young people need to be taught and encouraged to trust not just about God and His word but they need to be taught to trust in God and His word and how to live that out. They need to learn what it looks like to walk in obedience to God and why. God has made a promise to us as well. That if we trust in Jesus not just with our head but with our whole heart we will walk in obedience to Him and He will walk with us. There is no guarantee that teaching your child all these things will assure that the faith you teach them will become their own. But from what I have seen, those who grow up with a good example of what it means to walk with God and good teaching on how they can do the same does make a difference.

1 Kings 3:5-13

5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

6Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

7“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.

Solomon already has some good wisdom. He recognized his lack of experience in his youth. David also knows that he has wisdom in decisions because when he told Solomon about Joab he said to deal with Joab according to his (Solomons) wisdom. But Solomon does not trust in his own wisdom when given an opportunity to ask God for anything he recognizes that to rule a kingdom the most important thing he needs is wisdom.

We can learn from this as well. When we are called to a position or job that we have certain gifts and talents for we should remain humble and not expect that what we have or what we know is enough. To do any job well we should always look to God and ask for what is needed to do well. We should not ask for things that we think we need in addition. Solomon could have reasoned that he is a pretty wise person but from watching his father he would also need to be powerful and able to fight. He could have justified asking for riches so that he could do whatever it is he needed to do.

For example, if you are called to teach because you have a talent for explaining things to people in a way they understand, ask to be better at that. Don't pray for more students or better classroom or curriculum. Asking in humility for what is most needed can result in God also giving you what you want. Or even things that you don't know you need or would want.