The Death of a King
Thesis: David died leaving a mark in history for all of eternity to talk about.
Texts: II Samuel 23, I Kings 2:1-12, I Chronicles 28, 29
Illustration: Titanic’s Last Hero
Introduction:
John Harper’s words from the ocean his lasts words shortly before his death still echo out today to those who are listening. What about you? What would your last words sound like, what would they say? Who would be listening? Would they echo on in history? Would the echo on for eternity? Would they be meaningful? Would they be insightful? It’s amazing how people’s last words make a difference. I find it fascinating how at the point of death what really matters rushes to the forefront.
Illustration: At Death, what really matters?
Today we are going to talk about death- the time when you heart stops beating. When your lungs no longer take in breath when you receive a flat line.
Everyone dies! You will die! But what will your mark in history be? David’s mark was summed up in Acts 13:22,23, where the Bible says he was man after God’s heart. He went down in history noted as a man, a king who sought after the heart of God. We have been exploring David’s life over the last few weeks and we have learned a lot.
A nobody becomes a somebody
A somebody becomes a fugitive
This fugitive has integrity
A fugitive becomes king
Kingdom growth is experienced
A King falls into sin but finds revival
Our king comes to the end of his life and speaks his last few words. His life is coming to an end but his life will leave a mark for eternity.
How did David leave his mark in history AND FOR ETERNITY?
I. David left his mark in history by influencing others (I Samuel 23:8-39)
a. His most famous influence upon others is shown in his “Mighty Men” listed in II Samuel 23:8-39:
NIV 2 Samuel 23:8-39
8. These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.
9. Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered [at Pas Dammim] for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated,
10. but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
11. Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.
12. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
*This next section here amazes me- David is thirsty and the three top leaders sneak into the Philistine camp and get him a drink from his hometown well. They bring it back and he is so overwhelmed by their selfless act it gives it to God as an offering. A Sacrifice will always be something you do not want to give up!
* David knew that only God deserved this type of dedication that his men showed him.
13. During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
14. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
15. David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"
16. So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD.
17. "Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
* Take time this week an understand these where people like you and I.
18. Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three.
19. Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.
20. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
21. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.
22. Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men.
23. He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
24. Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
25. Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26. Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,
27. Abiezer from Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28. Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29. Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,
30. Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash,
31. Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32. Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan
33. son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,
34. Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35. Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36. Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri,
37. Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
38. Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite
39. and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.
b. David was a person of influence and as a result he raised up mighty men.
i. Denn Guptill tells us, “Their stories are stories of incredible bravery and military prowness. To start with we are told that Ishbosheth killed eight hundred men with his spear….As my Grandmother would have said ‘he must have been some mighty aweful good.’ Eleazar was one on the list and we are told that he stood alongside David in battle with the Philistines and fought until his hand was cramped and he could not let go of his sword . Another on the list was identified in the Bible as ‘Elhanan the son of Dodo.’ And you thought you got picked on in school.”
ii. The main reason he influenced these men was because he established relationships with his men.
1. Example of missions trip to Belize of how not to establish relationships.
2. John Maxwell states, “Influence doesn’t come to us instantaneously. It grows in stages “(2).
3. David’s early years of running from Saul with his men developed deep and lasting relationships.
a. SHARING DIFFICULT TIMES WITH OTHERS IN HARDSHIPS BUILDS DEPTH IN RELATIONSHIPS.
i. It is a prime time when our character is shaped and modeled.
ii. It’s when we are most influenced by others.
b. The old cliché that states you will know who your true friends are when the difficult times hit and you look around and see who is left.
c. But these are times when relationships are forged and when influence is at it’s highest.
i. David used this opportune time to develop the leaders around him.
4. It’s amazing to me how in II Samuel 23 David’s men heard that he was thirsty and the three mighty men broke through the Philistine line and got their leader a drink. He was so touched by their commitment and friendship he poured it out as an offering to the Lord.
5. David never would have succeeded as king if it where not for the one’s who labored beside him.
a. He knew the power of teamwork!
b. Together Each Achieves More!
c. Invest in others and you impact in life multiplies ten times over.
d. At the end of his life David reflects on these guys and gives them honor- Why? Because he loved them and so did God that’d why they are here in out text.
c. The truth of the matter is you either influence people positively or negatively. David affected his men and their families positively.
i. Remember what they where like in the beginning from I Samuel 22:2 ‘ All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader.”
1. Yes, the same crew has been transformed into mighty men of valor-men of integrity! Hero’s! They are now the whose who in David’s army!
ii. And here they are toward the end of a king’s reign watching him getting ready to die.
1. Willimon states this, “Despite the quest for wellness, risk-assessment analysis, and good works of Ralph Nader, nobody has created a way to make life last forever. You and I will die. So we might as well get on with only really pressing business there is: figuring out how to die well. “
2. David here is preparing to die well- He is showing his men how to die well! He is showing his sons and family. He is showing a nation how a king should die! Not like Saul did!
a. Yet, out of David’s legacy and ancestory would come another King who would show all of us how to die well. His name is Jesus! And he is calling all of us to die well!
iii. Back to one of David’s legacy’s his mighty men, The people are now saying, “Wow, have you seen David’s mighty men, talk about quality leaders and warriors. Hero’s who once where rift-raft and discontented, in debt, stressed out men and women’ Wow, how they are now “Mighty!” All because David influenced their lives positively.
1. You might be thinking- “What did he do to influence them positively.”
a. He taught them to praise the Lord no matter what.
b. He taught them that their strength came from the Lord.
c. He taught them to inquire of the Lord before they did anything.
d. He demonstrated how to handle failure and falling into sin.
e. He taught them how to serve with their whole hearts minds and souls and all their strength.
f. He taught them how to forgive and show mercy to your enemies.
g. He taught them how to deal with rebellion from your own family members.
h. He taught them who would raise them out of the miry clay and bless them.
i. He taught them to put God first!
j. He taught them to never blame God for their own sin-recall when he counted his fighting men in II Samuel 24. He modeled to his men never to blame God for the consequences of their sin.
i. But instead drop to your knees, take responsibility “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong.”
ii. Then pay the price, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
iv. David was a leader who added value to others in their lives and his mighty men show the result of that positive influence in their lives.
1. Are you adding value to others lives- are you a positive influence?
2. Or are you a negative influence- being critical and negative?
v. How about you do you remember those individuals who have influenced your life? Do you add value to their lives? Do you pray for them?
1. A teacher?
2. A youth pastor?
3. A pastor?
4. Another Christian
5. A friend?
6. A spouse?
7. A leader?
a. The Lord has placed people around you to influence you are you learning, being teachable or are you rejecting their counsel?
b. Some of your hero’s are dead and gone but their legacy of influencing you and others lives on.
i. On their tombstones in your eyes is written “ A hero who influenced my life and made me a better person!”
c. If you have been influenced positively, should you not influence others positively?
i. There is a new movie out where a teacher challenges a class to influence three others and as a result change the world for the better. The class is suppose to help others out and it becomes a sweeping movement across the world.
ii. How about you?
iii. Why can’t this church start something in this area of the mid-west?
d. David’s mighty men went from serving David to serving Solomon. I expect that they influenced thousands. All because their leader influenced them.
d. David not only influenced his men but a whole nation:
i. He did this by demonstrating Godly leadership.
ii. By instilling a passion for the Lord into the nation.
iii. By praying for them in public and private.
iv. By public and private acts of praise, worship.
v. By public and private words of thanks to the Lord.
vi. By wholeheartedly establishing the presence of God in Jerusalem.
1. He did this when he brought the Ark of the Covenant home!
2. By leaving a vision for them to build God a permanent house in Jerusalem.
vii. By having the patience to wait on God and let Him place him on the throne of Israel.
viii. By demonstrating a heart of humility and servant leadership.
ix. By stressing the importance of placing God number one in their lives.
x. By giving God credit for the victories,
xi. By letting them know who owns everything.
xii. By modeling how to admit your wrong and how to repent
e. David also influenced the enemies of the nation of Israel
i. He did this by being fearless in the face of his enemies and saying “God will hand you over to me!’
ii. He showed other nations who they should be serving and who they should be worshipping as God.
1. I am sure every time he won a victory he would tell the defeated foe. “God gave me this victory! I asked him how to defeat you and he gave me the battle plan.”
f. David also influenced his family especially by his relationship with God.
i. They saw him repent.
ii. They saw him inquire of the Lord for direction
iii. They heard his testimonies of what the Lord had done for him
iv. They watched him praise and worship God.
v. They saw his heart for God
1. They saw him dance
2. They read his Psalms
3. They heard him play his songs to God
vi. They watched him pray and fast and cry out to God
vii. They saw him take responsibility for his actions
viii. They heard his final words before he died:
1. I I Samuel 23;1-7
1. These are the last words of David: "The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs :
2. "The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.
3. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: `When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God,
4. he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.’
5. "Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?
6. But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand.
7. Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie."
2. I Chronicles 28, 29
Chapter 28
1. David summoned all the officials of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty men and all the brave warriors.
2. King David rose to his feet and said: "Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it.
3. But God said to me, `You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’
4. "Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.
5. Of all my sons--and the LORD has given me many--he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
6. He said to me: `Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
7. I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.’
8. "So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.
9. "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
10. Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work."
11. Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement.
12. He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things.
13. He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the LORD, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service.
14. He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service:
15. the weight of gold for the gold lampstands and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand;
16. the weight of gold for each table for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables;
17. the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish;
18. and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave him the plan for the chariot, that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and shelter the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
19. "All this," David said, "I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan."
20. David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.
21. The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command."
Chapter 29
1. Then King David said to the whole assembly: "My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God.
2. With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God--gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble--all of these in large quantities.
3. Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple:
4. three thousand talents of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings,
5. for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the LORD?"
6. Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.
7. They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron.
8. Any who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite.
9. The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
10. David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, "Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
11. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
12. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
13. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
14. "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
15. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
16. O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.
17. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.
18. O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.
19. And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided."
20. Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king.
21. The next day they made sacrifices to the LORD and presented burnt offerings to him: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.
22. They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the LORD that day. Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the LORD to be ruler and Zadok to be priest.
23. So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him.
24. All the officers and mighty men, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their submission to King Solomon.
25. The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.
3. I Kings 2:1-4
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.’
ix. They watched their father go through hard times and stay centered on God- he never abandoned God. They watched their Father, husband die and he never wavered in his love for the Lord.
1. They watched as the Lord etched on his tombstone “A man after my own heart, who finished strong and did it right.”
T.S. – David influenced others positively everyone from his mighty men, to their families, to the nation as a whole, to the enemies of Israel, to even his own family. He did this through out his life and also at his death with his famous last words.
II. David left his mark in the minds of others by his last words to his family, friends and nation. (I Chronicles 28, 29)
a. He instilled the importance of serving the Lord to his family, friends and nation. He stressed the importance of keeping God as the central focus of their lives.
i. I Chronicles 28:1-7 – to the nation
ii. I Chronicles 28:8-21 – To Solomon also I Kings 2:1-4
iii. I Chronicles 29:1-9 – To the Assembly.
iv. He made mistakes and he shared valuable information to those who where listening to his last words. Do this or suffer the consequences like I did.
v. He made mistakes with his family but you need to understand that even though you at one time influenced your family negatively the Lord with a changed individual can influence it positively.
1. Maxwell states, “Even though you’ve had a negative effect on others in the past, you can turn that around and make your impact a positive one” (9).
2. If your alive you can still make it right!
b. He spoke to them about who really owns everything and gives them a proper view of God and other things in life (I Chron. 29:12-18).
i. In the end money means nothing, things mean nothing!
ii. Law states, “If you attempt to talk with a dying man about sports or business, he is no longer interested. He now sees other things as more important. People who are dying recognize what we often forget, that we are standing on the brink of another world.”
c. Leaving them a value system to follow. This is what David wants them to understand. Your faith is to establish your value system.
i. I Chron. 28:9
ii. I Chron. 29:19
d. He did not just die saying everything is done he cast a vision telling them what they all needed to do after his death. He commissioned Solomon and the people to fulfill a vision.
i. To build the temple in Jerusalem.
ii. He left them with a vision to fulfill.
iii. Not only did he cast it again- He gave to it- financially!
iv. He provided most of the resources and charged the people to give to it to.
v. How about you when you die will their still be a vision cast?
T.S.-This section stresses the importance of our last words to those in our circle of influence and our last words should flow out of our relationship with God.
III. David left his mark in eternity by his relationship with the Lord.
a. You could say the Lord influenced David and David influenced others as a result he made a mark in history. His relationship with the Lord set up:
i. It set up the growth of a nation taking its borders from 6,000 sq. feet to 60,000 sq. feet.
ii. It setup the building of the temple of the Lord
iii. It set up the nation of Israel to be remembered forever by the world.
iv. It paved the way for the Messiah
v. It provided the sacred writings of in the OT.
vi. It provided a living example of how God is faithful and merciful to imperfect people when they repent and take responsibility.
vii. It showed us what a man after God’s own heart looks like and acts like.
T.S.- David got ready to die well and he reflected at the end on his relationship with the Lord and then he died!
IV. The Death of a king- it’s not the end for him it really is the beginning for all eternity.
I Chronicles 29:26-30
David son of Jesse was king over all Israel. He led over Israel forty years--seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king.
As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet and the records of Gad the seer, together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.
I Kings 2:10
Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.
Conclusion:
Let us revisit a few passages I Samuel 16:7 “ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘ Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance , but the lord looks at the heart.’
Then Acts 13:22 “…I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.”
***Wait a minute you say, “He sinned and blew it!” Yes he did! You are
right. But he still did everything God wanted him to do- he repented-he took responsibility and accepted the consequences from God and did not turn his back on Him ever. His heart stayed passionate on God from his early years to his later years.
David lived the kind of life God desires you and I to live:
He wants to take you from a nobody to a somebody. He wants to make you a somebody by using you to defeat a few of the Goliath’s in this world. 2nd He wants to use you to affect a nation by your leadership in battle. 3rdly he wants you to know that you may for a time become a fugitive but don’t lose heart he is with you. 4thly he wants you to know that even if you’re a fugitive you need to have integrity, mercy and forgiveness. 5thly he may send you a bunch of discontented people to run with you but he wants you to positively influence their lives and turn them into mighty men and woman of God. 6thly when you become a leader make sure you guard your heart from falling away from Him. Say no to pride and idleness in the good life and be where God wants you to be.7thly He wants you to finish strong so your legacy will continue to affect others for eternity. In other words get ready to die and die well!
