FATHERS & KNOWLEDGE (PT. 11)

1 Kings 2:1, 2 “Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, (2) I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man.” (KJV)

1 Kings 2:1-2 “When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. (2) I am about to go the way of all the earth, he said. So be strong, act like a man.” (NIV)

Two things are highlighted for men in these two verses: 1) Every man will die, and 2) Every man is faced with the challenge to be a man. The two translations above use the words “show” and “act.” It must be understood that no man can demonstrate manhood if he has never been taught about manhood. Simply put, you can not become what you have never had an example of. Said another way, how can a boy become a man without an impartation? There are some things that must be taught before they can be caught. If there was ever a time when manhood was needed, it is now.

 This is not to infer that this is the only time in human history when manhood has been challenged or questioned. However, today we are again faced with an attack on manhood. In addition, we are also suffering from a lack of fatherlessness. The fruit of this reality is a generation of sons that have grown up without fathers in their lives. Simply put, these sons are growing up without a father’s covering, a father’s impartation, and a father’s example. This void has opened the door to confusion and demonic attack. The sad reality is that history is again repeating itself.

King David had many sons. He was also about to die. Thus, the question of who would succeed David to the throne became paramount. 1 Kings 1:5, 6 reveals “Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, I will be king. So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. (6) His father had never rebuked him by asking, why do you behave as you do? He was also very handsome and was born next to Absalom.) In short, here is a son who is promoting himself with no input from his father. In fact, the point is made that David, his father, never rebuked or corrected him for his actions. Now Adonijah had crossed the line. Bathsheba reminds David that Solomon is to follow him as king. In short, David prepares Solomon for his role as king.

This is the greatest responsibility that a father has. His calling is to prepare his sons for their roles as fathers and kings. Let it be our prayer that every son experiences the love and impartation of a father in his life. And for those sons who grow up without their fathers in their lives, may the Lord bless them with spiritual fathers who guide them in the present and prepare them for the future. This prayer is critical for both fathers and sons. More importantly, every father needs to know that this knowledge is more than just information. May every man, and every father realize that this is a divine calling. All our future generations depend on Godly wisdom and as David gave the command to Solomon to “show himself a man,” may this example be experienced for generations to come.

This divine mandate is needed more today than ever before: “So be strong, act like a man.”