Solomon, eh.
What a story. What a character. What wisdom. What clarity. What a tragic end to such a fine reign.
A few of us were reflecting on 1 Kings 3, that famous conversation dream between Solomon and God where the new king asks the King of Kings for the one thing He needs to rule well: wisdom. It’s a fascinating episode, Solomon is so humble and respectful to the ultimate King. God is delighted at the humility and as is His nature not only does He give but He gives abundantly. Note the way God ends though.
And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days. (1 Kings 3:14)
The key is the way in which you walk. The first Psalm talks about the very thing that marks the blessed one. The words, the commands, the decrees, the instructions are implicitly about the way. The way that is not about mindless obedience. The way that is about wholeheartedly being shaped in the image of God and reflecting His character.
Those in the early church were known to be followers of The Way.
Sometimes like Solomon, with the best will in the world we can get distracted. Other things come to divert us from the Way. Some of the very things that were to bless we turn into a curse by getting wrapped up in a different way and in the process losing the way.
Sometimes I feel I lose my way in following The Way. It’s usually getting lost in myself rather than losing myself to be wrapped up in The Way.
It’s then I am grateful for the ways in which His loving-kindness brings me back to His Way. It’s then I love how He corrects me – sure I don’t always love it at the time, but it goes to show how much He wants me to be with Him and to be like Him that He invests that Fatherly care in doing these things that draw me back to Him.
It’s good to rediscover what it is to walk in His way. It’s better still to walk in it and help others who have lost their way to find the Way.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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