5/19 1 Kings 9:4-5

⁴ And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, ⁵ then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, 'You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'

Did God really ask Solomon to walk before Him as David did? Did God forget the murder and adultery committed by David? Yes, He did. When David repented God did forgive and forget. True repentance is following after God. David may have failed to raise his children in the fear of God, but he certainly got Solomon started on the right path.

Solomon would not remain as steadfast as he was at this great beginning. He would not do all that he did with the awareness that he was under the eyes of a righteous and holy God who would have no other gods before Him. He would disobey the instruction to kings to not have many wives and not multiply horses, trusting in them instead of the Lord. His wives would even turn his heart to foreign gods. And like his father before him, he would fall short in conveying his faith in the Lord to his children.

In spite of all the shortcomings of David and Solomon, a long line of Davidic kings followed for three centuries. Then when the nation went into captivity because of their idolatry, God still preserved the line of David. Records were carefully kept of the line. It was from some of those descendants that a little town called Nazareth was settled. The greatest King of all was born to one of their women, Mary.

Though we are faithless, God is forever faithful. Even when we misunderstand and pray for something far short of His glorious plan, He is faithful to do more than we can ask or imagine. His plan is coming to pass even through fallen people like us.

Reminder: Consider the faithfulness and greatness of God and rejoice!