The Life of David- The End

1 Kings 1:1

Plan. People often make plans. They plan out their education. They plan their future with their spouse. They plan their career path. They plan what they will eat. They plan where they will go on vacation.

While people make plans, God also makes plans. In fact, His plans far exceed any plan humans can contrive or create. His plans are perfect. He has our lives planned for us, we only need to walk and obey in faith.

Though God has a perfect plan for every person, not everyone follows God’s plan for their lives.

Why do some people not follow God’s plan?

What happens if we do not follow God’s plan?

What benefits come from following God’s plan?

As we conclude our study on the life of David, we will see how he followed God’s plan for his life, despite his many flaws.

Background

After serving Judah and Israel for forty years, his time on earth came to a close. David’s death would end an era that would never be repeated in Israelite history.

He became the preeminent example of a Godly and righteous king. However, all good things come to an end. David’s death was impending and everyone knew it was close.

How would David’s death change Israel?

What potential problems would arise because of David’s advanced age?

With the absence of strong leadership, there was a leadership vacuum. The public did not know the future plans. The enemy also reared his head to cause division in David’s family as to who would succeed him as king. But God always has a plan.

Story

1 Kings 1:5-6

David had a bad habit of not controlling his children. One son, Amnon, raped his half-sister Tamar. David did nothing. Absalom became bitter with David’s passivity and systematically stole the Kingdom. David did nothing.

Now, David is near death, and another son, Adonijah, takes a page out of Absalom’s playbook. He rode around on a chariot, surrounded by fifty men who sang his praises.

Adonijah was not alone in his plan. He recruited Joab, David’s most “loyal” military leader, and Abiathar to become the priest in the new era of Israel.

He was as cunning and as handsome as Absalom. Sadly, he learned nothing from Absalom’s demise. He should have remembered his humiliated brother hanging from a tree by his hair, impaled by Joab’s spear.

Nevertheless, man’s plan cannot come against God’s plan.

1 Kings 1:11-13

David’s faithful friend and prophet, Nathan, went to action. He knew God’s plan for Israel. Therefore, he went to David’s wife, Bathsheba, with a message from God.

He informed her of Adonijah’s plan and told her to go to the David to remind him of their agreement. At some point, David hand-selected Solomon to follow him as king.

However, the public did not know the plan, and were easily swayed in the wrong direction. Therefore, Bathsheba went to her husband to remind him of God’s plan to use Solomon.

As she spoke, Nathan came to the room to confirm Bathsheba’s words. Then he explained what was happening to David.

How do you think David felt?

Why is it good to have friends who pray?

1 Kings 1:28-31

While David listened to Nathan and Bathsheba, Adonijah continued to conspire against his father. He got his groupies together and had a banquet to celebrate his future leadership as king.

However, he chose not to invite Solomon or Bathsheba. David then told Solomon to sit on the King’s mule and meet Zadok the priest near the home of Adonijah.

Zadok anointed Solomon and everyone in the area knew there was a new king in Israel. Word got to Joab, who heard the city in an uproar of celebration, that a new king was installed.

Everyone at Adonijah’s home panicked and fled. Their plans could not come against God’s plan.

What should happen to Adonijah and Joab?

How did God fulfill His plan?

Eventually, Joab was killed, per David’s instructions to Solomon. Likewise, Adonijah was killed under Solomon’s reign.

David took care of the positional plans of God, but there was a more important plan in that needed to happen— the plans for the Temple.

1 Chronicles 28:2-3

Before David’s death, he summoned his officials to Jersualem to explain what was about to happen. He reminded them of his desire to build God a house.

Why did God not allow David to build the Temple?

Why was it important for David to lay out plans for Solomon?

David had it in his hear to honor God with a house. However, because of his position as a mighty warrior, he was not allowed to do so.

David could have licked his wounds and felt sorry for himself. Instead, he went to work on raising money, securing supplies, and drawing up plans for the Temple.

He passed them along to Solomon, in front of the leaders in Israel. He wanted to make sure long after he died, God would still hold a place of honor and prominence in Israel.

After passing along the money and plans, David thanked God. He spontaneously praised the Lord for all He accomplished in David’s life. He encouraged the crowd to also give God thanks.

Then, he instructed Solomon as to what he needed to succeed as a leader.

What makes a leader successful?

What advice do you think David gave Solomon?

1 Chronicles 29:19

David focused less on leadership principles and more on spiritual necessities. Should Solomon keep God first for the rest of his life, Israel would thrive.

However, should Solomon place God on the back burner, then problems will come to Israel that could be irreparable.

Why did David emphasize faithfulness to God?

Did Solomon listen to his father?

David died after reigning for forty years, seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jersualem. He died at a good old age, with riches and honor.

Application

Acts 13:22 NKJV

22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

Why was David a man after God’s heart?

What mistakes did David make?

What did David do right?

What does God remember about David?

God had a plan for David’s life. Though David was not always faithful, in the end, he submitted everything to God.

Likewise, God has a plan for our lives. However, what separates us from David is one Man— Jesus. David did not have the luxury of having a relationship with God like we do.

Therefore, if David was a man after God’s heart, we can also be people after God’s heart. He will help us in our temptation. Forgive us in our sins. And lead us as we follow Him.

When our life is over, I pray that it will be said of us, (insert name) was a person after God’s own heart.

Challenge

Ask God to give you His heart

Repent of anything that stands between you and God

Commit to God’s plan for your life