Sermon Tone Analysis

A Final Charge

Introduction

Today we conclude our Life of David series—a whole summer spent looking at the life and faith of one of the Bible’s most important figures, King David.

We’ve tracked his peaks and valleys—great military victories, and defeats from sin.

And, it should come as no surprise that our series ends with the death of David and the transition from one King to the next.

Yet even at the end of what was a tumultuous life—tumult from sin but also from obedience—there is a note of hope and renewal as David gives the reigns to his son Solomon.

This week’s message will also serve as a compliment to Dan’s message from last week on Radical Generosity—this sermon could simply be called Radical Obedience.

focused on David getting ready the legacy that he wants to leave for his son, for the kingdom, and ultimately, for God.

That legacy was really the building fund for what would be the great Temple, the seat of worship of the Most of High God in all of the Kingdom and all of the world.

Today’s passage is also about legacy, it is the final charge that David is giving to his son Solomon.

It’s as if he’s saying “Ok.

Your inheritance is set, the building project if fully funded, you are set up for success…but now I need you to do something…you take the reigns.”

One more thing to remember before we get into today’s passage.

Remember God’s covenant with David from 2 Sam?

The promise that god is establishing an everlasting Kingdom with David, that his line will continue and that as long as there are future King’s in his line who are obedient and follow the Law of God, there will God be protecting and making Israel prosper.

When their turn from God the nation will be disciplined, but there will always be the opportunity for redemption.

And so surely David has this in mind when he gives Solomon a final charge.

And keep in mind what we started this series with.

Way back on the first Sunday of June we said that these stories are meant to teach us something about David, something about ourselves, and something about Jesus because all scripture points to Him.

Just 4 verses today, let’s read them now:

1 As David’s atime to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying,

2 “I am going the way of all the earth.

Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man.

3 “Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn,

4 so that the LORD may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, dyou shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

1 Kings 2:1-4

David is going the way of all the earth—he knows he is about to die and in practicality he wants to make it clear to his son that obedience to God should be of the highest priority.

Is it yours?

His advice to his son: walk in God’s ways, keep his statutes, his commandments, etc.

And David knows this from experience, right?

This is a man who has felt the bitter pain of disobedience, of discipline from God. Remember, probably David’s gravest sin?

The affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband.

What was, ultimately, the result?

The child died.

A few chapter’s before that, David’s friend Uzzah dies because he mishandles the ark of the covenant.

A simple sin, didn’t feel like it was effecting anyone, caused a man to die.

And just before this moment in 1 Kings, the end of 2 Sam.

closes with this strange story of David calling a census of the people, something that was apparently a sin—even one of David’s men said that God won’t like that.

And the result of David taking a census?

70,000 men were killed.

Geez.

I’m not relating these stories to frighten you about the nature of God—in fact, we know that God is just and merciful, that he was only ever being true to himself and these were the consequences of the king’s sin.

And at the end of each of these stories?

David closes them by worshipping God all the more.

Even when his child is literally taken from him in this life, David arises and worships the LORD.

This was a man who was well acquainted with the consequences of sin.

And thus he passes along to his son the charge to continue in this way.

And for Solomon it was especially important that he be obedient, because he was king and because of the promise of the covenant.

“As the representative head of this nation, a king had a particularly important obligation of covenant obedience.

Saul’s disobedience resulted in the destruction of his royal dynasty ().

David’s disobedience in the taking of a census resulted in the death of 70,000 men in Israel ().

Later, Solomon’s disobedience would divide the kingdom of Israel —more on Solomon’s disobedience in a few minutes.”

He is saying even though you are king, and in fact, especially because you are King, make sure you obey the LORD.

But though Solomon’s obedience, because he is King, is of special importance, he is also meant to be an example to all the people.

And that’s where we come in.

David’s learned his lesson and he’s passing it on to his son, but just because this is between Kings doesn’t mean we’re off the hook.

The people are meant to follow the example and we are meant to truly consider what obedience looks like in our own lives.

I would refer you to and the great commission.

That great commission that we all take as our own.

We are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them—it says—to obey all that Jesus has commanded us.

If we are serious about making disciples, then we’d better know what it means to obey Jesus.

You can’t teach something that you don’t already know, and you won’t be an effective teacher if you don’t practice it.

So what of this obedience?

The charge is that we would make a conscious effort to obey the LORD.

It’s interesting what he says here—verse 3, keep the charge of the LORD your God to walk in His ways.

Another translation might read—guard or watch over the charge of the LORD God.

This is not some passive activity.

I think sometime we think of obedience as a list of things not to do and as long as I’m not doing them today, I’m good.

But in fact, the charge in scripture is to actively guard yourself and watch over, making sure that you are walking in the way of the LORD.

We do not fall into obedience, it’s not in our nature.

Left to my own devices, I will just sin.

Something you’ll hear often today is this idea of “being your best, most true self.”

Be your true self.

That message makes me sad because of how destructive it is…at least for me.

I know that if I was my most true self, then I would sin a whole lot more.

I would give myself over to the desires of my flesh—sloth, anger, lust, etc.

And what are we to obey?

This is referring to all the law of the OT, but the ten commandments are a great place to start—they truly some up the whole of the great commandments to love God and to love your neighbor.

If you want some more specifics, read the Sermon on the Mount—.

Those are the commands of Jesus, often seeming to raise the standards of what is required of us.

We’ll talk about some examples in a moment.

And why obedience?

That’s a good question.

Elsewhere in scripture we see people asking this.

The people wonder aloud what good is it to serve God?

First of all, I’ll say this: we should obey God because that is the greatest expression of love for God.

Jesus says that if we truly love Him we will obey his commands.

But there is a specific reason given in this text:

That you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn.

Because it is good and it will be of benefit to you.

Because obedience leads to life.

This is so important, and I don’t want you to miss this—obedience does not save you.

Obedience does not secure your salvation.

But it is good, and it is a reflection of a heart that loves God.

And it leads to life.

Just like last week—generosity does not save you, you cannot buy your way into heaven.

But a generous heart is demonstrates one who loves God.

And this is seen throughout scripture.

Look at , probably written by David, its the opening to entire selection of Psalms.

Psalm 1:1-