LAST WORDS 1Kings 2: 1-10

INTRODUCTION:

• Last week Solomon was coronated King of Israel. Adonijah grabbed hold of the horns of the altar in a plea for mercy by the new king, his younger half-brother.
• Adonijah was given mercy, albeit conditional, and sent home.

Then Solomon said, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground, but if evil is found in him, he dies.” — 1 Kings 1:52 (CSB)

• Chapter 2 shows us King David’s last words. They echo the fact David indeed remembered the promise of God delivered by the prophet Nathan.

“ ‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord himself will make a house for you. When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. — 2 Samuel 7:11-14 (CSB)

• As we see the transfer of power in Ancient Israel, we are confronted with our current political situation here in America. What does a righteous government look like? What is God’s will for ancient Israel and how will it play out? What about God’s will for us?

SCENE 1: The way of all the .

• Unless confronted by dire circumstances or a troubling medical report, most do not put a lot of thought into their death.
• For some death overtakes them in a moment with no time to prepare. For others it approaches gradually with time to consider what should be done or said. This is the case for King David.
• Of the four questions suggested by many (ORIGIN, MEANING, MORALITY, and DESTINY), death should cause us to ponder these. This is the case for David.

1. The King’s call to . (1-5)

• To be .

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. — Psalms 28:7 (CSB)

• To be a .

 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. – 1Corinthians 16: 13-14 ESV

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. — 1 Corinthians 13:11 (CSB)

• To keep his .

“If you love me, you will keep my commands. — John 14:15 (CSB)

Look, I have taught you statutes and ordinances as the Lord my God has commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to possess. Carefully follow them, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the peoples. When they hear about all these statutes, they will say, ‘This great nation is indeed a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god near to it as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to him? And what great nation has righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today? — Deuteronomy 4:5-8 (CSB) (AS MOSES SAW IT)

The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. They are more desirable than gold —than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb. In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward. — Psalms 19:7-11 (CSB) (IN HIS OWN WORDS)

• A reminder that God will his.

Jesus came near and said to them,“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. — Matthew 28:18-20 (CSB)

“I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.” — John 14:18-21 (CSB)

2. The King’s call to . (6-12)

• for Joab.

1) Killed Abner after David had made peace with him. (2Samuel 3: 17-27)

2) Killed Amasa after David chose him to replace Joab. (2Samuel 20: 3-13)

3) Although not mentioned, killed Absalom after he tried to overthrow King David.

The man replied to Joab, “Even if I had the weight of a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for me.’ If I had jeopardized my own life ​— ​and nothing is hidden from the king ​— ​you would have abandoned me.” Joab said, “I’m not going to waste time with you!” He then took three spears in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s chest. While Absalom was still alive in the oak tree, ten young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him. — 2 Samuel 18:12-15 (CSB)

• for Barzillai. (2Samuel 17: 27-29, 2Samuel 19: 31-39)
  • Kindness is a foundational characteristic in the Kingdom of God.

But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us —not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy ​— ​through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. — Titus 3:4-7 (CSB)

• Justice for Shimei. (Last recorded words of King David)
  • He was part of the party of Saul who called curses on David as he fled Absalom. (2Samuel 16: 5-13)

EMERALD CITY:

ORIGIN: Where do I come from?

MEANING: Why am I here?

MORALITY: How do I determine right from wrong?

DESTINY: What happens when I die?

And just as it is appointed for people to die once ​— ​and after this, judgment ​— ​ so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him — Hebrews 9:27-28 (CSB)

           1. We need to live our lives in view of .

“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness!

“No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. — Matthew 6:19-24 (CSB)

 2. David was king and went “the way of all of the earth”. It was the way that his fathers had gone. It would be the way his sons would go. But there was another king who would break this cycle.

For David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed, but the one God raised up did not decay. Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you. Everyone who believes is justified through him from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses. — Acts 13:36-39 (CSB)

For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ ​— ​which is far better ​— ​ but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound. — Philippians 1:21-26 (CSB)