Keeping the Word Fresh

This is part of a message I've been sharing with people lately. 

 

A few weeks ago I was reading in 1 Kings 2. I came across a passage that caught my attention and, as usual, I asked the Lord, "why is this passage important enough to have made it in the Bible?". He usually responds to me and shows me something that ministers to my heart.

The passage is 1 Kings 2:36-46, where King Solomon calls Simei to come and build a house for himself in Jerusalem and to not leave the area. Solomon's dad, King David, had just warned him about Simei that he might not be the most trustworthy person for what he had done to him in 2 Samuel 16. David spared Simei's life when he came to him and repented (2 Samuel 19). Now, on his death bed, David tells Solomon that through his wisdom, he will know how to handle this guy (1 Kings 2:8,9).

Three years after King Solomon spoke to Simei, Simei's servants fled to Gath. Simei went after them and to bring them back to his house. Now, word got to Solomon and he called Simei again to confront him and in the end, had him killed for disobeying.

There is SO MUCH in this passage we can draw from. Not only this passage, but 2 Samuel 16 and 19 as well that deal with Simei. But, what caught my attention here is that the King's Word lost it's impact in Simei's life after three years. Apart from running after something (his servants) that he depended on or wanted for himself, the reason he left was that the Word of the King did not have the same affect on his life after time.

The longer we leave the Word of God on the shelf, it will have the same impact as the King's words on Simei. It is so important to keep in the Word. 

Joshua 1:8 "...meditate [on the word] day and night..."

Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." 

Again, there is so much in this passage, but this short section spoke loud these words:

Keep the Word fresh in your heart.