7. Mentorship is not Imitation
Mentor: an experienced and trusted person who gives another person advice and help, over a period of time.
King Solomon had a mentor in his father, King David. Having grown up in the palace, King Solomon was privy to the responsibilities of the throne. He must have watched his father make decisions for the benefit of the people. He must have observed his father’s close relationship with God and understood the importance of building the temple of the Lord. King Solomon had a front row seat to the happenings of and around the throne. As the son of the king, he must also have been aware of the strengths and weaknesses his father held. He was by no means a novice in matters relating to the throne.
Before his passing, King David summoned his son and gave him counsel on how to rule the nation successfully.
“I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’
1 Kings 2:1-4 (NIV)
1 Kings 2:1-9 gives the full account of King David’s charge to Solomon. When you read the full passage, you notice that David was not forceful with his instructions. If anything, he gave Solomon discretion on how to carry out his instructions by repeatedly telling him to use his wisdom on the matters he raised. Good mentorship is never forceful. It offers guidance, but allows the mentee to make decisions for himself/herself.
King Solomon took his father’s guidance and established his throne using his own discretion ( 1 Kings 2:13-46). You can imagine the pressure he must have felt succeeding arguably ‘the greatest king’ Israel has ever had. Yet, Solomon’s reign was very different from that of his father’s. He did not try to be like his father. He took his advice, but he walked his own path.
Let us sample some of their differences:
- King David was a man of war. In fact it was for this very reason he was unable to build the temple of the LORD ( 1 Chronicles 28:3). Solomon on the other hand was not a man of war. In fact the only time we hear of serious trouble during his reign is when the LORD raised adversaries against him ( 1 Kings 11:14-40).
- King David, a psalmist, is renowned for his praise and worship. He is known to have authored majority of the book of Psalms. King Solomon on the other hand walked in the gift of divine wisdom and authored most of the book of Proverbs and the books of Ecclesiastes and Songs of Solomon. Only 2 psalms, recorded in the Bible, are attributed to him – Psalms 72 and 127.
- King David was lenient with his sons, Absalom and Adonijah when they tried to take over his throne (2 Samuel 15 and 1 Kings 1:1-27). In both instances, outside intervention was required for King David to retain authority over his throne. King Solomon on the other hand dealt very decidedly and harshly with his brother, Adonijah, when he made a request that he deemed as a threat to his throne (1 Kings 2:13-24).
It is clear that King Solomon knew that he was an individual, separate and distinct from his father and mentor. He did not try to be a king like his father. Instead, he was a king like only he could be.
Your Turn
God has uniquely created each and every one of us. He has a plan for each and every individual. There will only ever be one you, there will ever only be one me.
In the course of this journey of life, God will bring people along our path to mentor us. Be open to this mentorship, but do not in eagerness to progress, remove the garment that makes you uniquely you to put on the garment that defines your mentor. Learn from them, take heed to their advice, but live your own life and walk your own path.