"Show Thyself A Man"
As King David's life was coming to a close, he gave a solemn and challenging charge to Solomon, "I am going the way of all the earth be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man" (1 Kings 2:1-2). Jehovah challenged Jeremiah, "Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it." (Jer 5:1). Solomon was shortly to have the responsibilities of governing Israel; in Jeremiah's time, Judah was on the brink of captivity; could God's people be saved from disaster? If righteous ones could be found, Jerusalem would be saved. God wants MEN--mature men and women, boys and girls. "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit (equip yourselves) you like men, be strong" (1 Cor. 16:13).
GOD WANTS THOSE WHO SEEK TRUTH (JER. 5:1) AND KNOW THE TRUTH (John 8:32; 17:17). They buy the truth and absolutely refuse to part from it (Proverbs 23:23). Lack of knowledge destroys (Hosea 4:6); truth can be rejected (2 Timothy 2:10-12; 2:15; Hebrews 5:10-12).
HE WANTS PEOPLE WHOSE FAITH IS PERFECTED AND DEMONSTRATED IN OBEDIENCE. "...keep his statues, and his commandments..." according to God's law (1 Kings 2:3). There would not "fail thee a man on the throne of Israel" had their children walked in truth (2:4). We must obey God's law (1 Cor. 9:21; Matt. 7:21-23; Heb. 5:8, 9; et al.). It can and must be done (2 John 1-4).
JEHOVAH WANTS HUMAN BEINGS OF COURAGE, OF MANLY STRENGTH (1 Kings 2:1, 2). Otherwise, one will be a cringing coward, disobeying the command earnestly to "contend for the faith once for all delivered" (Jude 3; Phil. 1:16) and succumbing to moral and doctrinal temptations of the evil one (1 John 4:1; Matt. 7:15). He must have endurance, as Job; "Be not deceived" (James 1:12-15).
GOD WANTS THOSE WHO CAN AND WILL RECEIVE CORRECTION WHEN THEY ERR (Jer. 5:3). Israel was stubborn; they would not repent, and it destroyed them. Neither the alien nor the erring child of God can be saved without dying to the love and practice of sin (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; Luke 22:54-62; Acts 8:18-24; Luke 15:17-24; 1 Cor. 5:1-13; 2 Cor. 2:3-11), nor even congregations (Rev. 2:4, 5; 3:2, 3).
GOD WANTS MATURE INDIVIDUAL WHO WILL NOT BREAK THE YOKE WITH GOD (Jer. 5:5). Solomon heeded not his father's charge; "...his heart was not perfect with Jehovah" (1 Kings 11:1-8); he did evil and departed from truth. When one departs doctrinally and/or morally, he breaks the yoke of fellowship with God (1 John 1:1-10; Gal. 2:4, 5; 2 John 9-11; 2 Pet. 2:20-22; et al.)
When God's cause is in jeopardy, as today, let us, "Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people" (2 Samuel 10:12). "...in understanding be men" (1 Cor. 14:20).
By: Curtis Cates