31 March | Youth
«Now King David was old, advanced in years; and they put covers on him, but he could not get warm.» 1 King 1:1
David was an extraordinary man. Chosen by God to be king of Israel, he was the greatest of all time. In his CV, there are many admirable feats: he killed lions, bears and a giant in his youth; conquered kingdoms; composed poems known throughout the world; was a soldier and war strategist; and built a fortress for his people.
Although he made many mistakes, the Bible describes him as a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). After committing adultery with Bathsheba and causing the death of her husband, David repented and said: “I have sinned against the Lord!” (2 Sam 12:13). David composed Psalm 51 after being rebuked by the prophet Nathan, and that is considered one of the most beautiful and profound poems in the Bible.
After going through so many adventures and misadventures, we now see the great king of Israel in the final days of his existence. Today's text shows elderly David, confined to a bed, with nothing working to keep him warm. What a sad condition for an exterminator of lions and giants! So, David's servants held a Miss Israel “pageant” in order to find a young woman to warm up the aging monarch. Abishag, the beautiful Shunammite, was chosen. David “had no sexual relations with her.” (1 Kings 1:4, NIV), indicating that the king had lost his sexual virility at that time.
As Abishag tried to warm David's shivering body, the court was abuzz with the question, “Who will be the next king?” In addition to physical vigor and body temperature, something else escaped the king's reach: power. His own family seemed to disregard his moment of fragility and was busy speculating about the succession.
Everything in this life passes. Fame, wealth, strength and power tend to leave without saying goodbye. This is why you need to remember God today, while there is time and opportunity. Solomon, the son of David, is the one who teaches us this powerful lesson: “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’ ” (Eccl 12:1).