1 Kings 1:28-35: a reflection

28Then King David answered, “Call Bathsheba in to me.” She came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. 29The king vowed and said, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 30most certainly as I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place;’ I will most certainly do this today.” 31Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth and showed respect to the king, and said, “Let my lord King David live forever!” 32King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king. 33The king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. 34Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. Blow the trumpet, and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35Then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place. I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.”

Old King David, near the end of his life and with rival claimants maneuvering for his throne, acts decisively to keep a promise he had made. He had sworn to Bathsheba that her son Solomon would reign after him, and now he confirms it with an oath: As the LORD lives, as I swore to you, so I will do this very day. And he arranges immediately for Solomon to be anointed king. Whatever the pressures and intrigues, David keeps the word he had given.

Notice David's integrity here. He had made a promise, an oath, and near the end of his life, with everything in flux, he honors it. He does not let the shifting circumstances, the rival maneuvering, or his own weakness become excuses to break his word. As I swore, so I will do. His commitment to keeping his promise governs his action; his word, once given, is binding on him.

That is a quiet but important virtue: keeping our word, honoring our commitments, doing what we have promised even when it would be easier or more convenient not to. It is easy to let changed circumstances, new pressures, or simple reluctance erode our promises. David models a better way: as I swore, so I will do. Are there commitments you have made that you are tempted to let slide? Follow David: honor your word. Let the promises you have given be binding on you, and do what you have committed to, even when it is hard. Integrity keeps its word.

Lord, near the end of his life and amid every pressure, David kept the oath he had sworn: as I swore, so I will do. Give me that integrity. Where I have made commitments and promises, keep me from letting changed circumstances, new pressures, or reluctance erode them. Help me honor my word, doing what I have committed to even when it is hard or inconvenient. Let my promises be binding on me, that I may be a person of integrity, as you are faithful.