May 3, 2023: Show Yourself A Man!

"I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God,  (1 Kings 2:1–3, ESV)

Before he died, one of David's last words to Solomon, his son, was: "Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord...' It is a beautiful picture of a father's love for his son and his last and most important words to him. 

David defines to him what authentic manhood is. He says, "Solomon, keep the charge of the Lord!" Most manhood gets defined in our culture by football, fighting, food, and drink. David's definition of manhood is how well you can keep the ways of God. The Hebrew word for 'keep' means to exercise great care over. For David, it is simple: walk in God's ways, and keep His statutes, commandments, rules, and testimonies as written in the law. Do that, and you will prosper!
    
It was the same message when God transitioned leadership from Moses to Joshua. "Be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses, my servant, commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or the left, that you may have good success wherever you go." (Joshua 1:7, ESV) Embrace God's word and ways like a real man! Show yourself a man!