Passing the Torch

1. David’s priority

David gathers around him all the officials, military officers and his sons and he addresses them.

Standing before David were hundreds of officials, military men and his sons. When he casts his mind back over his lifetime there is one thing which comes to the forefront of his mind – David desired with all his heart to build the Temple, a house of God for God.

Years earlier, David began to make preparation for the building of the Temple. However we read in (1 Chron. 22:7-8) that God told David he will not build the Temple because he has shed so much blood but God promises in (v9) that David’s son, Solomon, will build the Temple.

At this point it would have been so very easy for David to allow this disappointment to eat into his heart and soul. But he didn’t and the very fact that he didn’t reveals his heart – a heart after God’s heart.

David emphasized the fact that it was God who chose the tribe of Judah to be the royal tribe; and from Judah, God chose David’s family to be the royal family. Then God chose Solomon to be David’s successor and the one to build the temple.

The people were to obey the Lord through Solomon as they had through David.

The Jews owned the land by virtue of God’s covenant with Abraham, but they possessed and enjoyed the land only so long as they obeyed God’s Word.

If they wanted to maintain possession of the land and leave it to the next generation, then they had to be an obedient people.

2. David’s passion

A. Know God

B. Serve God

3. David’s preparation

4. David’s praise