He wasn’t the best father. He didn’t spend time with one son, who ended up rebelling against him. He seems to have indulged another son, never questioning his conduct. That didn’t turn out well. Maybe dad thought his job prevented good father time with his kids. I’m talking about King David. (2 Samuel 14:28; 1 Kings 1:6)
His favored son was Solomon, and David’s dying words are good advice for all fathers. “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, walking in his ways and keeping his statues, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel’” (1 Kings 2:1-4).
Despite his sins, David was a man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22). The heavenly Father has love and forgiveness for us earthly fathers. May we know it sooner than later, for we too will go the way of all the earth.
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