Weekly message: King David’s legacy and final remarkable praises (1Chronicles 28-29)
By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel music
Date: Oct.3, 2021
My friends, what is your legacy passed on to your children? Have you ever wondered that those who survive you will write as your epitaph? What will your obituary say? What words will be used in the eulogy to sum up your life? Today let us compare and contrast the final stage of King David and King Soul and a remarkable praise, instruction and legacy of King David to his son Solomon and his people Israel in 1 Chronicles 28-29)
Compare and contrast the final stage of King Saul and King David
King Saul’s final battle, conversation and dead
According to 1 Samuel 31: 1-4, 6 recorded King Saul’s death. It was horrible and sad. The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua the sons of Saul. The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was badly wounded by the archers. He was badly wounded, couldn’t escape, Philistine arrows pierced his body and his sons lay dead beside him. It’s a pathetic sight. He does not want to suffer the final indignity of having the hated Philistines make sport of his body or mock him in death. Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and pierce me through and make sport of me.” But his armor heaver would not, for he was greatly afraid. So Saul took his own sword and killed himself. (1Samuel31:4).
More badly, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. The people of Jabesh Gilead took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days. (1 Samuel 31:8-10, 11-13).
What a horrible, tragic and suffering scene. The body fastened to the wall, and head be cut off, swung in the wind on the walls of Bethshan as jackal. King Saul chose his carnal path, the outcome was tragic. He need never have died like this. It wouldn’t have been a tragic death if he had obeyed the Lord’s commandments.
King Saul’s final word to King David, he said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error.” J. Sidlow Baxter describes what it means to play the fool.
“A man plays the fool when he allows some jealousy or hatred to master and enslave and deprive him, as Saul did, toward David. A man plays the fool when he neglects his godly friends, as Saul neglected Samuel. A man plays the fool when he disobeys God, and tries to cover up his disobedience to God by religious excuses, as Saul did, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” A man plays the fool when he turns from God, to the end of all these ways of sin and folly is moral and spiritual suicide…” [1]
Charles R. Swindoll commands, “When Saul turned off the light at night, the room was filled with guilt and despair and bitterness that ate like acid inside him…He chose that life, it needs not have been…This is what happens when we inch out compromise or disobedience in our lives, one day after another, nullifying our testimony, living in mediocrity, choosing the easy way, living like the lost world.”[2]
King Saul entire forty years, four full decades as the king, we didn’t find any scriptures or events that recorded his prayers, praises, and devotion to God. He died in the Bethshan, not far from where he was inaugurated. He wound up only a few miles from where he started. God’s plan is higher than human’s plan. The Lord is Alpha and Omega, the First and Last. He knew every detail of mankind’s needs and weaknesses. “King Saul’s death paved the way for an entirely new plan of operation and ushered in David’s kingly line, which led to the Messiah Davidic covenant, when Jesus Christ died, a whole new operation moved into action and set in motion our great salvation.[3]
King David’s final praises, worship, offering, instruction, prayers and dead
King David’s final praise to the Lord is remarkable
When King David wanted to build a house for the Lord’s sanctuary, but the Lord rejected him, for he was a warrior in the battle and had shed blood. God chose his son Solomon. He obeyed God and put His will, and election as the primary decision. He willingly provided all the plans, materials, silver, and gold to succeed his son. He didn’t react in bitterness, envy, and jealousy about his son Solomon. He 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. He said to them,
“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. But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’ (1Chronicles28:2-3)
Solomon means “Peace”. When he was born, he was given that name. In Hebrew the term is “shalom” which is directly related in root form to the name “Solomon”. The Lord chose King David’s son, a peacemaker, a diplomat, not a man of war, to build His house. King David reminded his people of God's election and emphasized God’s heart, plan, will, anointing and sovereignty. God elected him as king over Israel among his father Jesse’s sons. He wasn’t frustrated, nor lost confidence. He urged his people to obey and supported God’s election. He said,
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. 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. 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. I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.’ (1Chronicles28:4-7)
King David charged his people to be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord that they may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to their descendants forever.
Then he instructed his son Solomon,
1) Acknowledge the God of you father,
2) And serve him with whole hearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.
3) If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
4) Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary.
5) Be strong and do the work. (1 Chronicles 28:9-10).
King David wants Solomon to know God, above all else, get to know Him deeply…intimately. Second, to serve God with whole hearted devotion without God force him to worship Him, but do it willingly, not holding back. He encouraged his son to follow his spiritual legacy, worship the Lord with a whole heart. Do not forsake Lord’s teaching, nor turn away from His commands. Do the work to build a house for the Lord’s sanctuary. He continually encouraged,
“Be strong and courageous, and do the works. 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…all the people will obey your every command.” (1Coronicles28:20)
David’s offerings
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. 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 ….all of these in large quantities. 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. Three thousand talents of gold and seven thousand talents of refined silver…Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord?” (1Coronicle29:1-5)
King David made a speech to his people for the work on the temple of God, and he left up his son Solomon, because he was young and inexperienced, he assured that all people would support and obey his leadership. And he donated all his wealth to Solomon in order to build up the temple. All the commanders, and the leaders of families also followed King David to give toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand darics of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron..
King David’s final remarkable worship and praises to the Lord
The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David also rejoiced greatly and 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. 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. 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. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 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. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O Lord our God, as for all this abundance that a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belong to you.” (1Chronicles29:10-16)
King David’s final praises, offering, worship and instruction reflect a man heart of God’s own heart and humbleness. He acknowledged all his abundance, prosperity, wealth, riches, leadership, power, and authority comes from God’s hand and all of it belongs to God. Another word, “God owns it all”. Three times he emphasized, “Everything in heaven and earth is yours”. “Everything comes from you, what have given you only what comes from your hand.” (v.14). “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 our hand, and all of it belongs to you.” (v.16). “David was surrounded by limitless riches. Yet, they never captured his heart. He fought other battles within, but never greedy. David was not trapped by materialism. He said, “ Lord, everything we have is Yours- all these beautiful places where we gather for worship, the place where I live, the throne room-all of it is Yours, everything.” [4] It is important to pass on to your husband or wife, and children a proper scale of values, so that they know how to handle the good things of life, knowing that those good things are just a wisp here today and gone tomorrow. As James 4:14 says, “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” And “godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1Tim.6:6).
King David’s dead, Psalms is great legacy from King David with whole heated devotion
In King David's entire life journey and leadership as king, according to the events, it recorded all his prayers, praises, devotion, psalms, worship and melody. He was not only one great leader as king reigned over Israel 40 years; he was also a spiritual leader who led his people to fear God and obeyed God. He was a man of prayers, and a man of wholehearted devotion. He passed down a great legacy such as psalms, hymn, worshipping songs, praising songs and the pathway of petition, supplication, and the prayers pattern to this generation. King David was a man submitted to the Lord and feared God. His final prayers for his people and his son Solomon as follows,
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. 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. 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.” (1Chronicles29:18-19)
King David, son of Jesse was king over all Israel, ruled over Israel forty years- seven year in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. Compared with King Saul, King David had a much better ending. He did not end in tragic suffering, or sadness, mourning and grief, but with gladness, praising songs and rejoicing before God. He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon successes him as king. Each event was recorded by Samuel the seer and Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer. My friends, what is your legacy passed down to the younger generation, and your friends, and families? Have you wondered that those who survive you will write as your epitaph? What will your obituary say? What words will be used in the eulogy to sum up your life?
Life implication/ Application
1). God owns it all. Godliness with contentment is great gain. You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’
2). Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10).
3). Love Lord with all your heart, all your mind, all your strength. To serve the Lord with whole hearted devotion, without God force you to worship Him, but do it willingly and keep loyalty to Him.
4). Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs.3:5-6)
5). Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Psalm111:10). For those who fear the Lord shall lack nothing and those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
6).To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry
7). The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart.
8). Keep trusting in the Lord no matter who mistreated you or facing all consequences.
Bibliography,
Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.
Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.
Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.
King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company
New American Standard Bible, The Open Bible.. La Habra, CA: Thomas nelson publishers, 1978.
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute.1986.
Swindoll, Charles R. A man of passion & destiny David. Dallas, TX: Word publishing, Inc.1990
[1] Charles R. Swindoll, A man of passion & destiny David. (Dallas, TX: Word publishing, Inc.1990),120.
[2] Charles R. Swindoll, 124.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Charles R. Swindoll, A man of passion & destiny David. (Dallas, TX: Word publishing, Inc.1990), 293.
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