The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 1 September 2026 – The King’s Staff Of Office
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TOPIC: The King’s Staff Of Office
READ: 1 Kings 2:1-9
1 When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.
2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man,
3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go
4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’
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 he 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.”
THE MESSAGE:
The concern David had for the kingdom of Israel was remarkable; so much that even in the face of death, he did not lose focus of the Lord’s charge to him, concerning the kingdom and her governance. This same charge, like a ‘staff of office’, was what he transmitted to Solomon just before his passing. He passed it down to his son obviously because it worked for him. David knew that no amount of inheritance would be enough if Solomon missed this charge. He began by saying “be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man.” In verse 3, he advised him to keep the charge of the Lord and walk in His ways, so he could prosper. The success of Solomon would be dependent on his keeping the charge. All the strategies for governance and administration were founded on this.
Like David, we all must strive to hand over ‘divine charges’ to those coming after us, especially, our children. They must get to see that life will be meaningless and possessions useless without upholding the statutes of the Lord in their endeavours. It is not enough to write a will; we must pass on the Commandment of the Lord.
PRAYER: Lord, in the success story of life, help me to know the place of Your commandments and give me grace to uphold them.
