Shew Thyself A Man

 “Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.” (1 Kings 2:1-5)

Two Points

1. Look how King David defines manhood; to uphold the purpose of the Lord, to walk in His ways, keep God’s statutes, commandments, judgments, and his testimonies. To engage the world in Christ, wearing the whole armor of God, requires not a man, for he would surely lose then, but a man of God.

NOTE: For the PC crowd and the easily offended. Yes, my response is gender specific to a male. Why? Solomon was a man. But the spirit and intent are as the first mention of a man in the Bible. The word is transliterated from the Hebrew, “Adam” which means all of mankind and is not gender specific.  

2. Is it not interesting that David tells Solomon to live his life in the way of God and in truth?

Life, in God’s way, in truth. Now, why does that sound familiar?

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).

Bill Hitchcock