What is it to be a man?
Kind David of Israel, who lived around 1000 BC, is widely regarded as one of the greatest men who ever lived.
He was the second king of Israel, as was described as “a man after God’s own heart.”
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all point to him.
He was a warrior, a poet, and a prophet.
Finally though, when his death grew near, he called his son Solomon to his side to remind him, and charged him, with all sorts of things (1 Kings 2: 1-12).
But do you know what he said first?
He said:
Be strong. And prove yourself a man.
This man of greatness, on his deathbed, looking into his sons eyes, the first thing that he felt compelled to pass on was that his son “prove himself a man.”
I wonder why that is.
- Was it the masculine nature of wanting him to defend and protect?
- Was it advice about passing on the throne?
- Was it religious in nature?
- Or, all of the above?
It makes me want to explore manhood, even more.
David knew what it was to be a man. As he lay dying, he called his son Solomon to his bedside and gave him final instructions: “I am about to go the way of all the earth. So be strong and show yourself a man.” These are the last recorded words of one of the greatest kings to ever live. Of all he might have said to his son with his final breath, he chose to instruct him to be a man.
-Stephen Mansfield, Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men (Amazon)