Steadfast & Strong
Honor God all the time for the person who fears God will avoid all extremes by remaining steadfast. Pay attention and allow Jesus to empower you to be who He made you to be.
“When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, and 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” 1 Kings 2:1-3
In his last moments, David played the role of coach to his son and he certainly gave a motivational speech. He wanted to empower Solomon to become who he was made to be. His advice was be strong, be honorable, and walk in obedience to God.
Let’s break down each of these because it is very sound advice. What does it mean to be strong and why is that so important? When he says be strong, he is not talking about being physically strong although it is good to be physically fit. He was describing being strengthened by God and steadfast in your heart.
The strength David described is strength under pressure. It is perseverance. It is moral courage where one’s heart is decided not by circumstances but by calling. This message is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. Fear wants to weaken you, God wants to strengthen you. Not only did David say don’t give into fear, he said be strong. What was the source of David strength? The Lord was his strenghth then and He is ours now. If we create space and call out fear, the truth is God will strengthen you in every way, every day. Where do you need God to strengthen you today?
David said act like a man although it’s important to know the Hebrew word here is not the word adam which is commonly used for man. David was not saying be a dude. The word he used here is better translated be a person of honor or a person of character. Is easy to say we have honor, but that is tested during life’s trials. Will you act and react the same way when you are in a hard situation? Honor requires consistency and acts as a witness to others of something much deeper within you.
David said walk in obedience to God. This is incredible advice to a person who was a king. A king is the one who sets the rules, but David told Solomon you are not the ultimate authority. David was saying the standard for how to live is set is not set by us, but by God. His standard was not legality, but faithfully loving. God requires righteousness and justice, not just fitting in or furthering our desires. There is our way and there is God’s way. David was saying fear God and follow Him. How does this advice land on your ears? How could it apply to your life?
“Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.” Psalms 143:1-11
Long before his last day, David had written a song and it was clearly when he was in need of help. David showed us how he worked through times where he was not sure how it would all work out. What did he do that worked?
He sang a new song. Rather than the same old song bellyaching or complaining about how everyone was doing him wrong, David focused on what God had done right. David sang of how faithful God was and walked with expectation that God would make all things work for good. There is such wisdom in this approach. If you want to be strengthened like David, set your eyes on Jesus. See how strong your Savior is.
Our problems and challenges are real. Pain is real. Adversity is real. But they are nothing compared to the power or promises of God. David prayed God lead me, show me, teach me. He was humble and his heart’s desire was to honor the name of God with all that he did. Is that our heart? We all can say we will act like Jesus loving others, but can we react with love like Jesus?
Jesus said love your enemies. He said do good to those who persecute you. The way we honor our God is by loving like He does and living according to his ways. Just like David said we are to be obedient and make the most of every opportunity to show the world our hearts are faithful to the God who is always faithful to us.
“A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself? It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes…no one who does what is right and never sins. Do not pay attention to every word people say…God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.”
Ecclesiastes 7:1-29
God wants to teach us to live with peace in our hearts and balance in our lives. Solomon said whoever fears God will avoid all extremes. He even warned people not to be over righteous or overwise. You would think there could not be too much righteousness or wisdom, but Solomon saw first hand how getting out of balance caused people to love poorly. Overly righteousness or overly wise people can become arrogant or prideful. Pride does not allow us to perfectly love because it allows fear to be part of the plan. Where is pride impacting your heart?
Solomon said patience is better than pride and that the honorable will not be easily provoked. Can you think of a time where you got angry quickly? Why? How did your anger impact others? Was it honoring to God? How could you grow in patience? How could creating more margin help make room for the Spirit to step into times where you are tested?
God knows how He made us and the truth is we are emotional people. Solomon said no one avoids sin. Anger is not necessarily bad, but it can become sinful. The good news is God made a way for us to make things right through Jesus. What we could not fix, He did. What we broke, He heals. Sin says stop trying. Sin says you are a failure. The Savior says be strong and courageous for with Me you will overcome. Just like David sang in the psalm, the key is to focus on the King and all He has done.
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break…In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison…I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. Sing to the Lord a new song…I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come?” Isaiah 42:1-23
Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the faithful servant who brought justice and righteousness to the world. He is the one who comes to us and takes hold of our hands. He meets us where we are and knows what we’re going through. He is the new covenant and invites us to commit our hearts to Him. What happens when we do? He transforms our lives. He brings the kingdom.
He gives us a new song to sing. A song of strength, a song of a new way of seeing the world, a song that honors God all the time, a song of light in the darkness and love without limits. He is the way, the truth, and the life and He is the One who shows us how to understand who we were made to be.
God asked a very direct question. Who will listen and pay attention? What good is it if we hear how to live, but do not put it into practice? God said I will not yield my glory to another. This is the critical sticking point. You and God cannot both be driving the car of your life. You have to choose if you are going to surrender control and submit to His ways.
What good would it do Solomon if he heard David’s great advice but did not do what he said. The call is to hear and respond. The call is obedience by living out what Jesus taught. The call is to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and follow Him wherever He leads.
“Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money…And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet…They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,” Mark 6:7-13, 45-51
The disciples discovered something that Solomon, David, and Isaiah had all been pointing toward. God never promises life will be easy, rather He will make us strong. The disciples were told to take nothing but the power He gave them. The point is we are meant to be empowered and dependent on the Holy Spirit. Later, when the wind was against them and they were straining at the oars, Jesus came to them in the middle of the storm. Note He came before they even asked. He sees before they ask to be seen. He did not wait until the sea was calm before drawing near. He stepped into their fear, into the storm, and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” The One who tells us to be strong is the One who becomes our strength by meeting us where we are. Jesus is the One who asks us to walk in obedience and the One who walks hand in hand every step of the way.
So today, honor God all the time. Consider what He has done and keep your eyes on Him. Fear Him above every other fear, and let that holy reverence keep you from the extremes of pride, anger, worry, and self-reliance. Pay close attention to His voice and put into practice what He has taught you. When the wind is against you, remember that Jesus is not distant, He is drawing nearer. He sees you, He is praying for you, and He is coming to you. Let Him take hold of your hand and more importantly your heart as He strengthens you. Let Him teach you the new song of faith not fear. As you keep your eyes on Him, you will become the person He created you to be, bringing honor to His name and shining His light wherever He leads.