INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• There are times when we have a tendency to take stock of what is important to us in life.
• The life of King David was a very interesting colorful life. David did a lot rising from being a simple shepherd boy to becoming King of Israel.
• There were times in his life when one would have to wonder if his faith was really important to him. Times like the affair with Bathsheba and all the events that happened afterwards.
• No matter what happened in the lifetime of David, God always knew his heart.
• God said as much in 1 Samuel 13:14 concerning David.
• With all his flaws, David loved God.
• Sometimes we may reflect on what is important in life when we near the end of our own life.
• As we go through that exercise, many times we will want to share what we see as important to the people we love.
• Now as we look at our Passage in 1 Kings 2, we see that David is very near to the end of his life.
• David in the closing moments of his life has his son Solomon brought to Him.
• It is interesting how verse one speaks of what was about to happen.
• SLIDE #2
• 1 Kings 2:1 (ESV) When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying,
• Here we have the King about ready to die, but he is still acting like a King. As he addresses his son, we are told he COMMANDED Solomon his son.
• Some translations use the word INSTRUCT, but COMMAND is used with this Hebrew word over 500 times in the KJV.
• FYI. Solomon is a wonderful example of how God can take even a sinful act and use it for something good. Bathsheba was Solomon’s mother.
• David who had a lot of enemies even within his own household wanted to leave Solomon with instructions that would help keep Solomon from making the same mistakes David did in life.
• David is going to give Solomon some elements of faith that will help keep in the will of God.
• If we look at the command that David shares with his son, we can absorb some great counsel pertaining to the elements of faith.
• Ultimately what would make Solomon a successful King and what would allow him to be truly successful in life would be his faith.
• Today let’s listen in as David shares his counsel with his son.
• SLIDE #3
• Let’s look at verse 2.
• 1 Kings 2:2 (ESV) “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man,
• SLIDE #4
SERMON
I. A faithful person will exhibit courage.
• As David begins the conversation he begins by stating what was obvious, his time was short.
• The phrase “go the way of the earth” was the same phrase that Joshua used at the end of his life.
• SLIDE #5
• Joshua 23:14 (ESV) “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.
• David falls in the realm of what Joshua says it is also similar to what Moses and Jacob say at the end of their life.
• The final words of a father to a son are significant and special especially when there is a kingdom to run and God is involved.
• David starts his command to Solomon with the charge to be strong and show yourself a man.
• David was a soldier, he knows anytime you go to battle you have to be strong. You have to be willing to exhibit courage.
• At the beginning of Joshua’s leadership he is encouraged in the same manner.
• Paul uses a similar thought in 1 Corinthians 16:13
• SLIDE #6
• 1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV) Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
• Solomon was a young man; David wanted him to know it would take great courage to be the man of God he needed to be.
• This charge is so important because Solomon would only be strong by ordering his life by God’s commands.
• Solomon must be committed to God’s will; he must exhibit courage in the face of difficulties or in the face of what looks like insurmountable odds.
• This same expression was used by the Philistines as they encouraged one another in their battle against a seemingly insurmountable foe.
• SLIDE #7
• 1 Samuel 4:9 (ESV) Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.”
• Even in the midst of adversity, David was a man of great courage in battle and when faced with making decisions. When given the opportunity to kill King Saul as Saul was unjustly trying to kill him, David would not strike down God’s anointed.
• David could have easily justified doing so because he knew he was going to be the next king.
• David did not use the situation to his advantage; instead he stood on his faith even when he was encouraged to kill Saul.
• If we are going to be successful in being faithful we will have do display courage under fire.
• The world will stand against you, we must be strong, and we must display our convictions.
• Too many Christians are all too willing to wilt under the pressure of life. Sometimes as we seek to get our own way, we will go to any lengths to do so even if it means compromising our faith.
• David had his moments.
• He saw Bathsheba. He wanted Bathsheba, he knew taking her was wrong, but he wanted what he wanted no matter what the price.
• Being strong refers to the strength of character one must possess in order to walk in the ways of the Lord no matter what pressures face un from within or from without.
• The basic injunction was that Solomon should conduct himself in his personal life, and in his role as leader of God’s people, in accordance with God’s Word (cf. also Deut 17:18–20). Patterson, R. D., & Austel, H. J. (1988). 1, 2 Kings. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 4: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (F. E. Gaebelein, Ed.) (34). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
• Let’s turn to verse 3.
• SLIDE #8
• 1 Kings 2:3 (ESV) and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,
• SLIDE #9
II. A faithful person will exhibit conviction.
• As we examine the charge in verse 3 we see that Solomon is told to KEEP THE CHARGE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD.
• This can read, KEEP YOUR OBLIGATION to the Lord.
• If we are going to be faithful we need to have the conviction that the Lord is OUR God.
• As we dissect this verse we see there is a lot that goes into keeping the charge of the Lord your God.
• The convictions of a faithful person are more than just words. Our convictions should lead us to do some things. David spells out what it means to exhibit conviction.
• First we see that we are to walk in HIS WAYS.
• What does this mean; we hear this phrase to walk the walk or to walk the talk.
• A person of conviction will not just tell people he or she is a Christian, but rather they will actually ACT like a Christian.
• There are times we ALL of us will make mistakes and stumble. WE will all sin, but a person of conviction will recognize this and will try to correct their actions.
• When apology is needed, they will do it, when actions and attitudes need to change, they will make the effort.
• In New Testament terms to walk in His ways are explained by Jesus.
• SLIDE #10
• Mark 8:34 (ESV) And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
• and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses,
• If we are going walk in His ways, we must also keep His statutes.
• David makes sure he is clear about what is wants Solomon to keep. Statutes, commandments, rules, testimonies.
• There are all very similar in meaning, David is being gratuitous to make a point with Solomon, THERE ARE NO LOOPHOLES!
• We see similar language in Deuteronomy 17:18-20 in the section of the Laws concerning the Kings of Israel and their conduct.
• SLIDE #11
• Deuteronomy 17:18–20 (ESV) 18 “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.
• A person of conviction does not spend their time trying for find loopholes in their obedience; they do try to walk as close as they can to the line.
• A person of conviction simply wants to obey God to the best of their ability.
• A person of conviction will not look for loopholes when it comes to being faithful to their spouse.
• David also makes doubly sure Solomon is not confused by what and who he is to obey by telling him that he needs to follow all these things that are written in the Law of Moses!
• Obedience is also a sign of true love for God.
• SLIDE #12
• John 14:21 (ESV) Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
• Let’s examine a final element of faith from the charge of David to his son and soon to be King Solomon.
• SLIDE #13
III. A faithful person will prosper.
• that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,
• When we think about life, do you know many who do not want to prosper?
• I know even in an entitlement society people want to prosper even if it is off the labor of others.
• If you do an examination of Solomon’s life and reign as King, most people would say he was prosperous.
• But was he? From a worldly perspective he most definitely was. He was wealthy beyond belief, he was one of the most powerful and influential people ever. He was respected worldwide for his wisdom.
• As a matter of fact when God offered to give Solomon ANYTHING he asked of God, Solomon chose wisdom.
• SLIDE #14
• 1 Kings 3:9 (ESV) Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
• Solomon got off to a good start, but over time he slipped from God.
• From a worldly perspective Solomon was a success, but does God define prosperity by bank accounts, houses, cars, and other possessions?
• The word translated PROSPER has its meaning rooted in the idea of being circumspect, intelligent, possessing wisdom, to behave wisely.
• PROSPER contains the idea of acting with skill and insight with the result of success.
• When we walk with the Lord we will be prosperous in the way we live regardless of what we own or do not own.
• Solomon at the end of Ecclesiastes gets it.
• SLIDE #15
• Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 (ESV) 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
CONCLUSION
• If you were to take stock of your life what would you see? If you were going to pass something on to those you love concerning life what would you pass on?
• David in his final moments wanted to make sure his son Solomon was going to stand on solid ground.
• He wanted Solomon to succeed in all he did in life.
• True prosperity is only obtained through a life of faith.
