1 When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.
2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, show yourself a man, 3 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, 4 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.’
5 “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me–what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.
7 “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
8 “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ 9 But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”
10 Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. 11 He had reigned forty years over Israel–seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.

1 Kings 2:1-12

When David was about to die, what thoughts occupied his mind? Perhaps he was thinking about his youth as a shepherd or his fight with Goliath. Perhaps it was the 40 years that he had been king, or the years before when he had been hunted by Saul. Perhaps it was his sin with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah. Or was he thinking about something else, something that he couldn’t forget?

As he lay dying, David gave him personal instructions to Solomon, the son who would inherit the throne. He told him to be strong, to show himself a man, and to observe what God requires. Then David gave instructions about three men: Joab, Barzillai and Shimei. With Joab and Shimei, he said to deal harshly. About Joab David said: “…do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace” (verse 6) About Shimei: “… Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood” (verse 9). But about Barzillai, David instructed Solomon to “show kindness” (verse 7).

Why would David think about these three men on the day that he was to die? Why did his final thoughts turn to them? The answer seems to lie in verse 7: Absalom. As he lay dying, David looked into the face of one son, but he remembered another – the son who had rebelled against him and about whom he had said “O my son Absalom! … If only I had died instead of you” (2 Samuel 18:33). During a time that David could only remember with regret, a time when he fled from his own son, the three men responded in different ways. Barzillai stood by him (2 Samuel 17:27); Shimei called down curses (2 Samuel 16: 5-8); but it was Joab who killed David’s son (2 Samuel 18:14).
Each of our lives contains regret – things that we cannot forget, things that we cannot leave behind. Perhaps it is an opportunity that was not taken, a time past that we wish was still here, or a thing that we had done that we wish we had not. Whatever it is, as Christians we know that we can look beyond the regret and see God’s love. It’s there in the cross. Whatever our sins, they have been paid for; whatever our past, we have a future; whatever our pain, we will be comforted; whatever our sorrow, God offers us joy.

What is it that you regret? What is it that you cannot leave behind? What do you need to look beyond and see the cross? Because God is there and He loves you.

Prayer:
What do you regret most? Give it to God and know His love.