God communicates his will for us.

God Communicates His will for us.
1 Kings 2:1-4
“Keep the charge of the Lord Your God…that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn.”

As David neared the end of his life, two important tasks were left for him to perform. First, he had to appoint a successor. He did this by appointing Solomon to be the next king. Second, he gave Solomon his final words and instructions as Solomon took over the reins of the kingdom. He begins his final charge to Solomon by encouraging him to “be strong.”  This command echoes God's commands to Joshua to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9). The word speaks of one who is resolute and persistent in the task given them. However, this strength does not come from his leadership skills or the training he received in the palace as he grew up. Instead, his strength will come from his obedience to God.
David admonishes Solomon to keep the charge of God. In other words, he commends Solomon to conform his actions and decisions to the task God has given him as the nation's leader. To fulfill this charge, he must do two things. First, he must pattern his life after God. His attitudes, actions, and decisions must agree with the pathway that God has established in his law. In this command, David gives Solomon the lesson he himself learned the hard way. We will succeed when we conduct our lives in the manner prescribed by God. When we depart from God’s way, it brings disaster and destruction.  
Having given the challenge, David points to the source for David discerning the pathway of God; it comes through the pursuit of God’s word. The will of God for our life is not mysterious and hidden, something we can only grope for in the dark. The will of God is revealed in his moral law communicated in His word. However, obedience to God’s law is not a single act; it is to become a lifestyle governed by God’s words. As we see in the Book of Exodus, this not only involves the prohibition of rejecting sins such as idolatry, murder, adultery, coveting, etc., but it also involves embracing a life of righteousness, purity, and holiness. If Solomon embraces this charge and walks in obedience, he and his children will experience the blessing of God. The rest of the First and Second Kings serve to illustrate this principle. When Solomon and his descendants obeyed God and walked in obedience to him, the nation enjoyed peace and prosperity. When they rejected God’s law, they experienced turmoil and adversity.
The same is true of us as well. Within the pages of scripture, we find all we need to know live life successfully. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that all scripture is inspired by God so that the man of God may be completely and entirely equipped for life. God has not left us to try to navigate through the complexities and struggles of life alone. He has given us his Holy Spirit and his word to provide moral and spiritual guidance so that we can live godly lives in step with him. When we are confused in life, uncertain about how we live, and perplexed about what is right and wrong in a morally bewildered world, we find the answers in the pages of scripture. God is not only a God who reveals himself to us through the creation and his word, but he also communicates his will for us. He gives us instruction and guidance in his word. The only question that remains is, “Are we going to listen?”