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“And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” — 1 Chronicles 28:9

David’s final years were filled with reflection, gratitude, and a deep desire to pass on what he had learned. God had promised that David’s kingdom would endure forever—a promise ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, the Son of David. But God also promised that David’s own son would succeed him and build the temple David longed to build. That son was Solomon, the second child born to David and Bathsheba, a child whose very existence testified to God’s mercy and ability to redeem broken stories.

When Solomon became king, God gave him an extraordinary invitation: “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon didn’t ask for power, wealth, or victory. He asked for wisdom—wisdom to lead God’s people well. God honoured that request and added blessings Solomon hadn’t even asked for. But before Solomon stepped fully into his calling, David gathered the nation and spoke directly to his son. These were not casual remarks; they were the distilled wisdom of a lifetime walking with God through triumph, failure, danger, and grace.

David’s counsel to Solomon offers a blueprint for anyone who wants to live a life aligned with God’s heart.

1. Know God intimately

David didn’t tell Solomon simply to believe in God or obey God—he urged him to know God. Not second-hand knowledge, not inherited faith, not borrowed convictions. Intimacy with God grows through time in His presence, through prayer that listens as well as speaks, through Scripture that shapes the heart, and through a willingness to let God’s voice override every other influence. David had learned that the strength of a leader—and the strength of any believer—flows from the depth of their relationship with God.

2. Serve God with your whole heart and a willing mind

David knew that half-hearted devotion leads to compromise, and compromise leads to collapse. Serving God is not meant to be drudgery; it is meant to be joy. When you know God personally, obedience becomes a response of love rather than obligation. A willing mind says, “Lord, whatever You ask, I trust Your wisdom more than my own.” A whole heart says, “I’m not holding anything back.” This is the posture that allows God to shape a life into something meaningful and fruitful.

3. Put God first, and everything else finds its place

David had learned—sometimes the hard way—that life only works when God is at the centre. Jesus echoed this truth centuries later: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted.” Putting God first is not about rigid rule‑keeping; it is about alignment. When your desires, decisions, and priorities are shaped by God’s Word, your prayers begin to reflect His heart. And when your life reflects His heart, you walk in the freedom and clarity that come from obedience.

David also reminded Solomon that God sees every heart and every thought. Nothing is hidden from Him. That truth is both sobering and comforting. Sobering, because God knows when our motives drift. Comforting, because He also knows when our hearts long for Him, even in weakness. Obedience is not about perfection—it is about direction.

David’s final words to Solomon were not just royal instructions; they were a father’s plea: Choose God. Seek Him. Trust Him. Obey Him. Build your life on Him. Those words remain just as relevant today.

What about you?

Where in your daily rhythms—your decisions, your desires, your habits—do you see evidence that God truly comes first, and where might He be inviting you to reorder your priorities so your life reflects deeper intimacy with Him?