For forty significant years, David reigned as king over Israel. Although that time included failure and periodic lapses into carnality, David's rule was marked mainly by godliness and strength. The young shepherd lad matured into a gallant and handsome warrior, a model of determination, and a never-to-be-forgotten statesman who walked with God.
In this final look at David's life, we find him old and perhaps physically stooped. He faced the inevitable hour through which we must all pass. Death was both near and real, but so were the memories and the emotions. Surrounded by his son, the king-elect Solomon, and an assembly of loyal friends, David dreamed, rejoiced, gave advice, prayed, and finally died thus ending an era that would never again be duplicated in the records of history.
In these final chapters of David's life, we find the King in his final years, yet mentally sharp. He had called for an assembly of all his national leaders from all levels. He begins to address them perhaps for the final time as king.
I. An Unfulfilled Desire (I Chr. 28:1-8)
A. His Desire. v1-2
1. Rising to his feet he addressed them, telling his audience of the dream with which he'd lived.
2. He longed to build a temple, a structure where the Ark of the Covenant could be permanently housed.
3. He had made preparation for the temple, but…
B. God's Answer. v3-6
1. God did not allow David to head the building project because he was a man of war and bloodshed.
2. God chose to have a man of peace for that honor.
3. God had given David the desire, but the actual project would be built by Solomon.
C. His Response v7-8
1. No resentment at all.
2. Instead, David focused upon that which God had allowed him to do.
3. The Lord chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever.
4. He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne ..."
5. Next he addresses his son and gives him some advice and counsel.
II. An Untried Ruler (I Chr. 28:9-19)
A. "Know thou the God of thy father" v 9
1. This may seem to be a no-brainer…
2. But David is at the end of his reign as king, and Solomon was at the beginning.
3. David had learned from experience how easy it was for the king to become so busy that he would forgo his time with God.
4. What great advice! Take time to know God…not just to know about Him, but to know Him intimately!
B. "Serve Him with a perfect heart" v 9
1. David challenged his son first with the manner of service.
a. It was to be whole-hearted service.
b. Scripture records over and over again the evaluation of Israel's kings.
c. Beginning with Rehoboam: "And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD."
d. Of Amaziah: "And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart."
e. David, a man after God's own heart, knew the importance of wholehearted service to God.
2. The second challenge was to serve God with a willing mind.
a. Serving with a willing mind means to serve voluntarily.
b. Not to serve God out of fear or even of necessity.
c. Jesus pointed out the importance of both of these truths.
(Matthew 22:37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
C. "Seek Him." v9
1. Two alternatives are given.
2. Seek Him or Forsake Him.
3. David encouraged Solomon to choose to seek God
D. " The Lord hath chosen thee" v 10
1. What an awesome thought…to be chosen by God.
2. No doubt David remembered how God had chosen him to lead the nation of Israel after Saul's failures.
3. Now he reminds Solomon of this great honor…to be chosen to do something great for God.
4. He ends with a simple, but clear challenge… "be strong and do it"!
5. You and I have been chosen by God as well…and we need to heed this same challenge!
(John 15:16) Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
(1 Peter 2:9) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
E. "Fear not" v11-21
1. David hands over all the plans and items that he had prepared for the construction of the temple.
2. David also gives Solomon a word of encouragement; you are not alone!
3. The Lord is with you (and He will not fail nor will He forsake you,)
4. The priests, the Levites, the workmen, the princes, and all the people are with you in this.
5. Isn't it great to know that our service to God is not solitary service?
6. We have the presence of the Lord and we have the encouragement of God's people to help us accomplish what we have been chosen to do for the Lord!
III. An Unchanging Father (I Chr. 29:10-19)
A. Presentation of Solomon. v1-9
1. David presents him as young and inexperienced.
2. However, he is quick to point out that it was God who did the choosing.
3. The people respond joyfully and willingly to David's presentation.
B. Prayer for Solomon v10-19
1. Praise for God. v10-13
2. Thanksgiving v14-17
3. Intercession v18-19
IV. An Undivided People (I Chr. 29:20-21)
A. Undivided in their worship of God.
B. Undivided in their commitment to the new king.
(Psalms 133:1) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
C. The chapter closes with the death of David.
(1 Chronicles 29:28) And he [David] died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.
1. God's Word speaks of life as marathon race.
2. Our focus should always be upon the finish line.
3. David died 'full of days, riches, and honour'.
4. How will we finish the race?