Forevermore

 DEVOTION

1^ST KINGS

FOREVERMORE

1 Kings 2:5-12

5 "Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me — what he did to the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace. 7 "But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom. 8 "And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: 'I will not put you to death by the sword.' 9 But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood." 10 Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. 11 He had reigned forty years over Israel — seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.

NIV

Before David rested with his fathers and was buried, he gave Solomon some further instructions about three specific men. Two men were not to go down to the grave in peace because of the evil they had done; however, there was one man whom David told Solomon to show kindness to and allow him to eat at his table. This brings to mind the day of judgment when we will all face our final sentence. Because we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have nothing to fear on that final day, for we will be shown kindness and will eat at the Lord’s table, the great wedding feast of the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus. We are the bride of Christ, but that also implies that we should be ready, with enough oil in our lamps, so that when He shows up, we are prepared to go with Him to the feast. We should not be caught sleeping or off guard, but we must keep watch and be vigilant,  for we do not know the day Jesus will come for us. Now, about those who did evil in the sight of the Lord and have not repented or accepted his grace, they will not go down to the grave in peace, nor will they enjoy any peace on the last day when they will be judged and sent to the lake of burning sulfur where there is not one single ounce of peace, they will go in their own blood. On the other hand, we will sit in the Lord’s presence because of his blood that he shed for the forgiveness of our sins. We also see that picture as how David rested with his fathers. We could have been told that David died, but the fact that the word rested was used, or, as in Hebrew, he lay down, which can be used as with death. But it is a gentle word, giving the sense of his soul or spirit resting in the presence of his fathers, who would include Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and others who were dear men of God, who put their trust in the LORD. Some day we will rest this physical body, laying it down, but our spirits will also rest in the presence of our Lord. We are also reminded that David reigned for forty years, but our Lord reigns forever. The prophetic words about Solomon never failing to have a man on the throne bring us again to Jesus, who came to earth in the form of man, with Joseph and Mary being in the line of David. However, it was only Joseph who came through the line of Solomon, while Mary came through his brother, Nathan. Nevertheless, Jesus is on the throne of David forevermore, and we are in his kingdom and will be forevermore.