I Was My Father’s Son

I Was My Father’s Son

“When I was my father’s son ... He ... taught me, and said to me: ‘Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding! ... Wisdom is the principal thing.’” Proverbs 4:3-9 NKJV

These verses are part of Solomon’s testimony about his upbringing, which he sought to pass on to his children. God had him record it in Proverbs to preserve it for us. In a world where so much is amiss, God still desires to “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers,” lest He have to “come and strike the earth with a curse” (Mal. 4:6).

David And His Older Sons
Scripture quietly shows us that David was a failure as a father with his older sons. While he loved them, he was not firm with them, especially with Absalom, the outstanding one. First fleeing from Saul, then busy with wars and the affairs of state, David seemed to have let his older sons indulge themselves without restraint (1 Ki. 1:6; 2 Sam. 13:6-7).

In many ways David was a model king, the man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). Yet by taking many wives he set a bad example for his sons, especially when he took Bathsheba and then arranged for her husband’s death to cover his sin (2 Sam. 11). How could he have the moral power to keep his sons from similar vice? Children all too often follow their parents’ bad footsteps!

David’s Lifelong Ambition
Psalm 132 indicates that from his youth, David longed to build a temple worthy of the ark, the symbol of the Lord’s presence among His people, Israel. The time came when he had rest from his enemies and wanted to pursue this project. But the Lord did not permit it, reminding him that he was a man of war who had shed much blood through the years. The Lord spoke to him through Nathan the prophet.

The Lord also told David that he would have a son who would build a house for His name, and that He would establish his name forever (2 Sam. 7:13; 1 Chr. 17:10-14). God even went so far as to name the son, Solomon (Peaceful), saying that he would be a man of rest and that the Lord would “give peace and quietness to Israel in his days” (1 Chr. 22:9-10). Whether David knew it or not, Solomon would be seen as a type of Christ, who some day would truly build a house for God.

Rather than being upset that he was not permitted to carry out his project, David thanked God for His wonderful promise and made preparation for the temple that Solomon would build. The great amounts of gold, silver and other materials that he gathered for this project are detailed in 1 Chronicles 29:1-5, and the people added even more.

Training Solomon For His Life’s Work
Not only did David gather abundant material for the temple, but he was also occupied with training his son, God’s designated successor, for the task God appointed for him. God loved Solomon and had given him the added name, Jedidiah, meaning “loved by the Lord” (2 Sam. 12:24-25). In due time, David told Solomon that God had chosen him for this special work.

Do we realize how much God loves our children? He wants them for Himself and even calls a child with only one Christian parent “holy” – that is, set apart for Himself (1 Cor. 7:14). He specifically instructs fathers (and mothers as well), “Do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Many parents today conscientiously seek to carry out this command, though the task more often falls on the mother than the father. Just what did David emphasize as he taught young Solomon? We find these things already cited in Proverbs 4 and also in 1 Chronicles 22:6-16 and 28:9-21. David shared the personal history of God’s dealings with Solomon, how he wanted to build the temple but God did not permit it, and was careful not to blame God. May we likewise be open with our children, sharing with them an appreciation of God’s love shown in His ways with us. David urged Solomon to know the God of his father, to seek Him and serve Him with a loyal heart and a willing mind. It is important for us as fathers to have a strong personal relationship with the Lord if we are going to encourage our children to do likewise.David emphasized to Solomon the importance of wisdom, urging him to get and love wisdom and understanding at all costs. True wisdom is far more than knowledge. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.David highlighted obedience to his commands and teachings. While here upon earth, the Lord was that one whose ear was ever open to His Father’s voice. He was subject to His Father’s will and led by the Spirit.David repeatedly reminded Solomon of the grand and glorious task for which God had chosen him – to build a magnificent temple for Jehovah – and encouraged him to begin. Do we remind our children of God’s desires for their lives? We may not know in precise detail what occupation God has for our children, as David knew by revelation of Solomon. But we know from the Bible what God is looking for in His children, and we should ever set these things before them as goals.David told Solomon that there were many workmen to assist him, skillful men for every kind of work. We must emphasize to our children the importance of working with others. God has given a great variety of gifts and we should teach them to appreciate these gifts in others.

Making Things Easier For Solomon
David gathered huge amounts of material for the building of the temple. On several occasions he commanded all the leaders of Israel to seek the Lord, help Solomon and build God’s sanctuary. Israel was a turbulent people at the close of David’s reign. Absalom became a popular leader in rebellion against God and David, his father (2 Sam. 15-17). David and the forces loyal to him were able to defeat Absalom’s army, and afterwards the troops of another rebel, Sheba the son of Bichri (2 Sam. 18; 20).

David’s son Adonijah likewise attempted to stage a coup d’etat. Once he was made aware of Adonijah’s plot, David moved quickly to set Solomon on the throne, thus frustrating Adonijah and his co-conspirators (1 Ki. 1). And in 1 Chronicles 28 and 29 David publicly expressed his confidence in Solomon. There may well be things we can do to make things easier for our children who want to serve the Lord.

In 1 Kings 2:1-11 we come to the end of David’s life and read his final words to Solomon, where he urged him to:

... be strong and prove himself a man. Earlier David had referred to Solomon’s youth and lack of experience. Then he encouraged him, repeatedly expressing his confidence in him.

... walk in the ways of the Lord, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies. David reminded Solomon that this was the only way to true enjoyment of God’s promises.

... use his wisdom in dealing with matters David had been unsuccessful with during his lifetime. While not always easy, it is vital for a father to recognize the wisdom his son has and to humbly admit his own failures.

... show kindness to the sons of one who had shown kindness to him at a very difficult time.

Solomon’s Appreciation Of His Father
How lovely was Solomon’s reference to his father David in prayer when the Lord appeared to him at Gibeon! (1 Ki. 3:4-15). He referred to David walking before the Lord in truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And these were not empty words, for He sought wisdom at its true source, even as David had taught him. God was pleased with his prayer and gave him “wisdom and exceedingly great understanding and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore” (1 Ki. 3:10; 4:29). When the temple was eventually completed, Solomon, in his prayer at its dedication, was still found acknowledging his father’s good example and desire to please the Lord (1 Ki. 8:14-26; 2 Chr. 6:4-17).

May the Lord help us fathers to encourage our children so that they may respond to us and be able to thank God for us with a grateful heart!

By Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.