“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
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Contents:
1) David’s Charge to Solomon (Bill Moseley)
2) Cast Your Burden on the Lord (Richie Thetford)
3) Sword Tips #22 (Joe R. Price)
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David’s Charge to Solomon
Bill Moseley
“Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die: and he charged Solomon his son, saying, ‘I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest and whithersoever thou turnest thyself'” (1 Kgs. 2:1-3).
King David had reigned for 40 years, and now he is about “to go the way of all the earth.” Knowing of David’s impending death, Adonijah at first tried to assume the throne. This is reported to David by Nathan and Bathsheba, whereupon David then appointed his son Solomon to succeed him. While doing this, he gave Solomon the charge which we have quoted. Basically, the charge and the obligations within it are the same ones imposed upon us today.
“be thou strong”
First of all, David says, “. . . be thou strong, and show thyself a man . . .” The same command was given by Paul to the Corinthians (I Cor. 16:13). One mark of a mature Christian is strength — moral and spiritual. If we remain children, we are weak and easily “carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14). Christians are to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord” (2 Pet. 3:18). Some of the Hebrews were still weak; unable to bear meat (Heb. 5:14). This was also true of the Corinthians (I Cor. 3:1). But the Hebrews and the Corinthians did not compose an exclusive group, for many members of the Lord’s body today are just as immature and weak. They are lax in their duty to God, and as such cannot be classified as strong or men.
“keep the charge”
Next, David tells Solomon to “keep the charge of the Lord . . .” We are not exempt from this charge today. We also have a charge to keep—several in fact. God has charged his people to be as shining lights in the world (Phil. 2:15). They are to be the “salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13). We have the charge to preach the word (2 Tim. 4:2; 2:2). These are but a few “charges” that we have to keep today. Are we fulfilling them? Some are, but most are not.
“walk in his ways”
David also tells Solomon to “walk in his ways . . .” How often man needs to be reminded to walk in the ways of God! Years later, Jeremiah made this same plea to the people of God, only to be rejected (Jer. 6:16). And just as Israel rejected the plea of the prophet, so many reject it now. Men are determined to walk in their own ways, even though they lead to death (Prov. 14:12). Paul exhorted the Ephesians to “walk worthy” of their vocation (Eph. 4:1). He further says to “walk in the spirit . . .” (Gal. 5:16). The ways of God seem difficult at times, but ultimately they are the safe ways.
“keep his statutes …”
Next, David says to “keep his statutes, commandments, judgments and testimonies.” To “fear God and keep his commandments” has always been the “whole of man” (Eccl. 12:13) For Solomon, these commands were found in “the law of Moses.” For you and me they are found in the law of Christ. The testimonies which the apostles wrote at the direction of the Holy Spirit are just as binding on you and me as the writings of Moses were on Solomon. We have the responsibility of searching, reading and studying these things to determine what our duty is. Once we have found it, we are to “keep them.”
“that thou mayest prosper”
Finally, the result is “that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest. . . “ God has promised that our obedience to his law will cause us to prosper. Lest some misunderstand, God has not promised us material prosperity, but spiritual. If you are serving God for material gain, you will be disappointed; for the prosperity of God’s people is spiritual and eternal in nature. All else will succumb to time, rust, moths and thieves (Matt. 6:19-20). We see that David’s promise to Solomon was kept. “Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father: and his kingdom was established greatly” (I Kgs. 3:12). We are recipients of this promise just as surely as was Solomon. Paul said a “crown of righteousness awaited him” (2 Tim. 4:8). It is “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4). John records for us the promise of a crown of life based upon our faithfulness (Rev. 2:10). Peter also speaks of receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (I Pet. 1:9). These are the promises held out to those who would keep the charge of God.
— Via Truth Magazine, XVI: 4, pp. 12-13, November 25, 1971
https://www.truthmagazine.com/archives/volume16/TM016060.html
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Cast Your Burden on the Lord
Richie Thetford
David wrote in Psalms 55:22, “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Burdens come to all; rich or poor, young or old, saint or sinner, and there is no escaping them. For the child of God, however, there is a place to leave them. We cast them on the Lord.
Our burdens can become the source of temptation. Sometimes temptations associated with a burden is worse than the burden itself. For instance, there is the temptation to think that God is not caring. However, 1 Peter 5:7 tells us: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” There is often the temptation to try to escape life’s responsibilities, and even to try to hide from God. David recognized the futility of trying to hide from God and told us in Psalms 139:7-10 that it was useless to try.
We should never try to deal with our burdens alone. We should anchor our souls in the Lord and as David said, “He shall sustain you.” Notice that the promise is not to remove the burden, but to help us bear it. He may choose to remove it, or He may not. Either way, we will be blessed during our burden. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” If a care is too small to be made into a prayer, it’s too small to be made into a burden.
What are your burdens? Are they pressing heavily upon you? Why not follow the counsel in God’s word and rest your burdens in the hands of the compassionate Savior?
— Via Articles from the Knollwood church of Christ, November 2024
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“And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).
Sword Tips #22
Joe R. Price
“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
The Christian measures life by unseen things. Unbelievers live for the things they can see, taste and feel. Faith is not blind. Faith trusts the path Jesus sets before it in the Scriptures.
Faith takes God at his word and does everything he says!
Christian, you are on a journey to heaven. Your faith rests securely upon the evidence of verifiable truth, not on baseless fables.
Do not lose sight of heaven; be strong and walk by faith.
— Via Sword Tips (Daily tips from God’s word for God’s people.)
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31).
2) Believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins. For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30). For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so “through faith in the working of God” (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to…
6) Continue in the faith by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service
Wednesday (all but the first): 7 p.m. Bible Classes
First Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. Congregational Song Service (about 45 minutes of singing, followed by a short talk)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)