Repent 3

2 Chronicles 7:17-18

Many years ago we led a group of families from our church on a weekend get-away to Louisville, Kentucky. Although we explained that we had never been there before and we weren’t sure where we were going, still everyone followed our car wherever we went. At one point we got lost and had to turn around in a gas station. Sure enough, ten other cars – lined up like a parade – turned around in the gas station.

Because they followed us everyone made the same mistake we had. But because we made a mistake we all made the same correction to turn things around.

Today’s passage is a continuation of God’s commands for Solomon. What three things are Solomon commanded to do? What will be the result?

Most people are familiar with the Old Testament figure of David. David was that ruddy child of Jesse who was anointed to be king. He was the young shepherd boy who confronted the giant Goliath and killed him. As an adult he was a mighty warrior who eventually became one of Israel’s greatest kings.

So, the promise God gives to Solomon is a good one. If Solomon can do what God commands and observe God’s laws then he will be as great a leader as David was.

It is interesting that God commands Solomon to walk before the Lord as David did. Although David was a great king, he was also guilty of a terrible sin when he seduced Bathsheba and had her husband murdered. Was God urging Solomon to make terrible mistakes as well?

No. But I do believe God knew, as Solomon knew, that Solomon would make his own mistakes. How, then, should Solomon walk before the Lord as David did?

Solomon is not being commanded to commit sins and make mistakes. But he is being commanded to seek forgiveness when he does make mistakes. Although David committed sins, he also repented of his sins and found mercy and forgiveness from God. David did wrong, but it did not diminish his fame because David repented of his ways and turned back to God.

Like Solomon we should walk before the Lord as David did. We should do what God commands and obey God’s laws. We should not deliberately sin, but we should be willing to repent, and we should be quick to repent when we do make our mistakes along the way.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How is that you can walk before the Lord as David did?