Day 26: A Father's Godly Direction to His son.

Day 26:  David talks to Solomon. I Chronicles 22:11-13  "Now, my son, the Lord be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the Lord thy God, as He hath said of thee.  Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God.  Then shalt thou propsper if thou takest heed to fulfill the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel:  Be strong, and of good courage, dread not, nor be dismayed."

Solomon is lauded as the wisest man who ever lived, (besides the Lord Jesus Christ), and he always gets the credit for asking for wisdom.  God is pleased when he asks for wisdom rather than riches and fame.  But here we see the seed was planted in Solomon by his father, King David who specifically mentions wisdom and understanding.  His prayer for his son was that God would grant him those things, before Solomon asked. 

David further gives direction that if Solomon will follow the laws of God as they were delivered to Israel by Moses, that he will prosper.  Solomon wasn't just born with everything he needed to reign as one of the greatest kings of Israel.  He was schooled in the ways of God and prayed for by his father, David.

David then gives a charge to the princes in verses 17- 19 of this same chapter.  I want to focus on verse 19:  "Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God, arise therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God to bring the ark of the covenant..."

David, "the man after God's own heart", gives the best advice he has to give--because it was what he lived--even though he had failings--his own heart was "set to seek the Lord God". 

A father's responsibility is to live a life of godly example, and to teach his children to do the same.  What an impact dad can have on his children.

David was a man of war, but he had a tender and contrite heart before God and he knew how to be a godly father.  Of course, he had his failures with Absalom and Amnon.  Lessons to us to be steadfast with all of our children, and not to get sidetracked in teaching and praying for each one.

Sorry, can't leave the bad out and just put the good--but remember dads, and moms--to have a heart after God and to instill that within your children--will reap eternal benefits for them even more than for you.