Introduction:
A. The story is told of an old man named Fred who had been a faithful Christian and was in the hospital, near death.
1. The family called their preacher to come stand with them.
2. As the preacher stood next to the bed, Ol’ Fred’s condition appeared to deteriorate and he motioned frantically for something to write on.
3. The preacher handed him a pen and a piece of paper, and Ol’ Fred used his last bit of energy to scribble a note, then he handed the note to the preacher, and a few minutes later, he died.
4. The preacher thought it best not to look at the note at that time, so he placed it in his jacket pocket.
5. At the funeral, as he was finishing the message, he realized that he was wearing the same jacket that he was wearing when Ol’ Fred died.
6. He said, “You know, Ol’ Fred handed me a note just before he died. I haven’t looked at it, but knowing Fred, I’m sure there’s a word of inspiration there for us all.”
7. He opened the note, and read, “Hey, you’re standing on my oxygen tube!”
B. Famous last words – Sometimes people in the throes of the dying process have very profound things to say.
1. Marie Antoinette, on the way to her death accidentally stepped on the toe of her executioner. Her final words were, “Pardon me sir.”
2. Just before he died, Pancho Villa, the first Mexican Revolutionary general, said to a friend, “Don’t let it end this way. Tell them I said something.”
3. The very last words of P.T. Barnum, the famous circus owner and entertainer, were, “How were the receipts today?”
4. John Newton, the former slave trader turned preacher and hymn writer, said this as his death neared, “I am still in the land of the dying; I shall be in the land of the living soon.”
C. As we turn to our attention to the life of David, we turn to his last story, and the last sermon in our series.
1. I hope you have enjoyed this series that began back in January as much as I have.
2. David certainly had cultivated a heart for God, and I hope we have learned something about that for ourselves.
3. But before David died, he had some very important final words for the new king, his own son, Solomon.
I. The Story:
A. David knew that his days were drawing to a close.
1. He knew that his call “to go home” was at hand.
2. As great a man as he was, he would not be permitted to by-pass death.
3. He was destined to die as most of us are.
4. He would have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death about which he had written so poignantly in Psalm 23.
5. But this he could do with great dignity and quiet assurance because he knew that the great Shepherd of his soul was with him and would bless him.
B. For all of us who are children of God, death should not be something we dread.
1. It is but the doorway through which we step from this earthly dimension of time and space and mortality, into the glorious dimension of eternity – abundant and ever-lasting life.
2. And in so doing, we are set free from sin, sorrow, sickness, death and despair.
3. In heaven we will live in the light and love of God, our Father.
4. What hope and comfort this understanding should give us!
C. All of this David knew with sure and unshakable confidence.
1. So, David had no dread of the future.
2. He had faith in the ultimate goodness and blessing of his Lord God.
3. This is part of the enduring legacy he left to all of us.
D. But before his departure to be with the Lord, the aged monarch was acutely concerned for the on-going well-being of both his heir to the throne and his empire.
1. David was not concerned for himself, but he was concerned about the devices of some who might destroy Solomon and his dynasty.
2. So the young king was summoned to his father’s bedside for a last charge.
3. The advice that David offered was both spiritual and practical.
E. First of all, David restated the bedrock truths which could sustain the youthful monarch amid all of his adversaries.
1. These initial words to Solomon apply equally to all of us.
2. The Bible says: When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. “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)
3. So here we see the aged King David muster all of his physical energy, and with great spiritual fervency assured his son that there is only one way to expect to be blessed by the Lord.
4. Walking with the Lord and keeping God’s decrees was the only way he could count on God to fulfill all of His promises to his father David.
5. And so, in short, Solomon was reminded for the last time, by his father, that it was expected of him to live a life of integrity, loyalty and truth before his people and before his God.
6. If he would honor the Almighty, then his kingdom would endure.
F. After laying that foundation, David then felt that he should impress on his son several important practical steps to take to protect himself and the empire.
1. As we read these verses, our first impression may be that this is all just David acting in revenge, but that is not the David we have come to know.
2. David has proved himself anything but a vindictive person.
3. Throughout his life, he has demonstrated an unusual capacity to forgive those who had wronged him – including King Saul.
4. This is one of his most admirable attributes.
5. So what he was doing here was warning Solomon to zealously guard himself against men like Joab and Shimei.
6. These were individuals who could do both him and the empire enormous damage if left unchecked.
G. Throughout his reign, David had experienced great difficulty with Joab.
1. So David said to Solomon: “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. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.” (1 Kgs 2:5-6)
2. Joab, the ferocious general had murdered, in cold blood, not only Abner and Amasa, his rivals, but even David’s son Absalom, against the king’s own orders.
3. In addition to that, he had joined Adonijah in his conspiracy to usurp the throne.
4. So who knew what other devious designs he might have?
5. Joab was someone Solomon needed to deal with swiftly and powerfully, which Solomon proceeded to do.
H. David also reminded Solomon that Shimei was another contriving individual who simply could not be trusted.
1. So David said: “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.’ 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.” (1 Kgs 2:8-9)
2. David had taken more verbal abuse and insults from this man than from anyone else in his life.
3. It was altogether possible that he might do something to harm Solomon and his kingdom.
4. Therefore, he too needed to be kept on a short leash.
5. Later, Solomon informed Shimei of the boundaries for his behavior, and Shimei disobeyed the king and it cost him his life.
I. Finally, in a most moving manner, the feeble old king, now lying exhausted in his royal chambers, reminded Solomon of the great kindness Barzillai had shown him.
1. When David had fled in fear from the angry uprising of his own son Absalom, it was the fierce old desert chief from across the Jordon who had given him shelter and supplies.
2. David said: “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.” (1 Kgs 2:7)
3. Solomon was to bestow on Barzillai’s sons the honor of dining at his royal table.
4. They were to be given the same kindness that David had given to Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s crippled son.
K. These practical steps, so simple, stern and severe as they were, would go far to solidify Solomon’s hold on the throne.
1. His reputation as a powerful ruler would spread rapidly.
2. His wisdom and understanding in dealing with difficult individuals would forewarn any who had ideas of their own.
L. Following these famous last words, King David died.
1. The Bible says: Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. (1 Kgs 2:10-11)
2. We are given no details of the great funeral which David must have been given by his devoted nation.
3. The curtain fell on David and his reign with these proud realities in place:
a. David had reigned for 40 years.
b. He died of natural causes at a good old age, full of days.
c. He ended his career with enormous wealth and honor.
d. He handed over to his son a stable and prosperous kingdom.
M. David was indeed a great man and a great king.
1. The accolades given to him by both his contemporaries and later historians do not really do him justice.
2. For a proper appraisal of his true character and unique career, we must discover what God’s estimation was of this individual.
3. That verdict is much more significant than anything men might say, write, or think.
N. We find this appraisal made by God himself in at least two subsequent revelations in which God spoke very clearly to Solomon about his father, David.
1. For you see, David didn’t just pass into oblivion.
2. He was not just forgotten like another leaf fallen to the ground.
3. His fame, his influence, his devotion to God continues as an inspiration to succeeding generations.
4. The first of God’s appraisals came in 1 Kings 3 after God had given Solomon a blank check, so to speak, for anything he wanted, and Solomon chose wisdom.
a. God said, “And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” (1 Kgs. 3:14)
5. The second appraisal came in 1 Kings 9 at the dedication of the newly built temple, that had been the dream of David.
a. The Bible says: When Solomon had finished building the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had achieved all he had desired to do, the LORD appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. The LORD said to him: “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’ ” (1 Kings 9:1-5)
b. Sadly, Solomon did not stay true to the Lord as David his father had done, and the kingdom divided after his death, and later when into exile.
II. The Application
A. So much could be said about David and his life.
1. I hope and pray that these 7 months of study of the life of David have been a blessing to you and your walk with God.
B. What overall lessons can we walk away with from the example of David and his relationship with God? There are so many we could mention, but let me offer several.
1. A good beginning doesn’t guarantee a good end, but it sure helps.
2. God looks for things and sees things that we cannot see in the heart of a person.
3. The tests that God puts us through are for a good reason, and are very useful for our lives and our futures in serving the Lord.
4. No matter how far we fall, God can and will forgive, if we let him.
5. God’s plans for us are often different than ours, but God is always faithful to His promises.
6. Finally, being a person after God’s own heart doesn’t mean we are perfect, it just means that we love the Lord and remain faithful to Him throughout our lives.
C. Ultimately, I hope all of us walk away from this study more in love with our God – Who over and over again, shows himself to be a God of love, mercy and power.
