Walking DAILY with ‘INTEGRITY’ and ‘OBEDIENCE’ to GOD!
April 9 Bible
Reading: 1 Kings Chapters 7-9
Walking DAILY with ‘INTEGRITY’ and ‘OBEDIENCE’ to GOD!
"Now if you walk before Me as your
father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according
to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments,
then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I
promised David your father, saying, 'You shall not fail to have a man on the
throne of Israel.'" (1 Kings 9:4-5)
King Solomon
had done everything in the utmost splendor and grandeur that his father David
had asked him to do in constructing the temple. After Solomon finished building
the temple (1 Kings 6:9) God has a special message for Solomon: "Concerning this temple which you are
building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My
commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I
spoke to your father David. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and
will not forsake My people Israel" (1 Kings 6:12-13).
God was
telling Solomon specifically that he had pleased God through his work, now he
had to please God through his lifestyle as well. He had to walk in God’s statutes, execute
God’s judgments, keep God’s
commandments and walk in God’s
commandments as well. Then God will fulfill His word in Solomon’s life!
After
Solomon dedicated the temple to God (1 Kings 8:1-53), blessed the people (vv.
54-61), offered sacrifices to God as required (vv. 62-64) and gave a grand
feast to the people for seven days (v. 65) he sent the people away to their
homes after the celebrations (v. 66). God then appeared to Solomon a second time (1 Kings 9:1-2) and
reiterated all that God had spoken to him earlier. In spite of David’s serious
shortcomings, he was held up by God as a godly example and moral standard for
Solomon to follow. Even though the words
had changed, the message was still the same. Solomon had to walk before God in integrity of heart and
uprightness, as he would do
everything that God had commanded him and keep God’s statutes and judgments (vv. 4-5). Then and then only God
would fulfill all His commandments in Solomon’s life!
Through the
ages, God’s requirements have not changed. Even today, we are required to walk
daily with integrity and obedience to God. God’s covenant with David and
Solomon were conditional upon them walking in integrity and uprightness before God
(vv. 4, 6-9). In the similar manner, God promises to bless us, but we have to
live and walk daily obeying His Word and in His footsteps. Can we follow Jesus
in His footsteps that He has laid before us?
