1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,360 Over the last several months, we have traced the course of David's life. 2 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:21,240 We saw him introduced at that little meeting in Bethlehem when Samuel called Jesse and 3 00:00:21,240 --> 00:00:25,800 asked him to bring his sons together, for one of them was the Lord's anointed to be 4 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:27,920 the next king. 5 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:33,160 We recall that it was the most unlikely of them all, the runt of the family, this little 6 00:00:33,160 --> 00:00:37,840 redheaded kid apparently, David, that was God's man. 7 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:43,920 And it was there that he was secretly anointed to be king after Saul. 8 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:50,420 And then God sovereignly saw that he had the opportunity to minister to Saul as a court 9 00:00:50,420 --> 00:00:52,920 musician. 10 00:00:52,920 --> 00:01:01,320 Saul was plagued by depression, which was, it would seem, the result of demonic oppression 11 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:04,440 in his life. 12 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:12,440 When David played his harp, it allowed Saul's spirits to be lifted. 13 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:18,840 It was sometime during that ministry, apparently, that he went to visit his brothers who were 14 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:26,320 battling the Philistines, and David had his run in with Goliath the giant. 15 00:01:26,320 --> 00:01:31,840 And with the stones that he picked up as he walked out into the valley, he won the victory 16 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:33,640 in the name of God. 17 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:44,820 And with one stone and his little sling, he was able to conquer this giant that had threatened 18 00:01:44,820 --> 00:01:47,400 the armies of the living God. 19 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:52,960 And as the Lord's servant, he won a great victory by faith. 20 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:58,840 We have traced his friendship with Jonathan, a friendship which was very precious to both 21 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:00,240 men. 22 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:05,880 And we looked at Saul's jealousy as he came to understand that David was, in fact, God's 23 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:08,080 choice to replace him. 24 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:14,400 We saw how again and again God protected this young man in Saul's presence. 25 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:23,040 We saw how he gathered his mighty men to the cave of Adulam, and how he spent time in Philistia, 26 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:33,080 even at one point feigning madness, in order to escape the king of Gath. 27 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:38,700 We watched him at least twice spare the life of Saul when he could have killed him, because 28 00:02:38,700 --> 00:02:42,900 he would not touch the Lord's anointed. 29 00:02:42,900 --> 00:02:50,040 We saw David weep when he heard of the death of Saul and of his son Jonathan. 30 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:58,560 We watched him be publicly anointed over Judah and then over all of Israel in his reign from 31 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:01,080 Jerusalem a little bit later. 32 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:06,760 We walked with him as he brought the ark of God to Jerusalem. 33 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:12,840 We shared with him his heart's desire to build a temple for the Lord, and God's refusal, 34 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,520 the time when God said no to David. 35 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:19,640 And yet God graciously established a covenant with him, and God said to him in essence, 36 00:03:19,640 --> 00:03:23,120 you desire to build me a house, David, no thank you. 37 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:24,640 But I will build your house. 38 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:30,120 And God promised him a seed that is a descendant who would reign on a throne. 39 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:36,160 And that was fulfilled immediately in Solomon, but in the long distance vision, it's fulfilled 40 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:43,160 in the person of the son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who is greater than 41 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:44,160 Solomon. 42 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,960 And then we went with David through his darker years. 43 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:52,820 We studied about his sin with Bathsheba, the deceit that accompanied that, and the ultimate 44 00:03:52,820 --> 00:03:57,480 murder of Uriah, followed by God's judgment upon him. 45 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:06,480 We saw his house begin to crumble as Amnon sinned against his stepsister, and we saw 46 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:14,480 Absalom's rebellion against his father, and David's flight then to Maonaium to escape 47 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:19,080 Absalom and those who followed him in the rebellion. 48 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:24,400 Then more recently we studied about his return to Jerusalem and some of the victories and 49 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:28,880 skirmishes that he had in his latter years of his reign. 50 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:33,360 Last week we studied about his numbering of the people and the judgment of God that came 51 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,000 upon him as a result of that. 52 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:43,920 Now as we move into the book of 1 Kings, we move into the fading part of his reign. 53 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:49,060 His time as king has about ended here. 54 00:04:49,060 --> 00:04:54,360 He is near that time when he will go to be with his son, whom he lost under the judgment 55 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,560 of God. 56 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:02,040 You recall that little baby died and David remarked, he will not return to me, but I 57 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:03,040 will go to him. 58 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,840 David is about to that point. 59 00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:13,880 A transition is about to be made in the kingdom from David to his successor, his son Solomon. 60 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:19,720 As we come to the second chapter of 1 Kings, we stand at his deathbed. 61 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:24,160 And as we stand here at David's deathbed, there are some final observations. 62 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,280 I would like to make regarding his life. 63 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:31,840 Let's read though the first four verses of 1 Kings 2. 64 00:05:31,840 --> 00:05:40,140 As David's time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, I am going the way 65 00:05:40,140 --> 00:05:42,860 of all the earth. 66 00:05:42,860 --> 00:05:49,240 Be strong therefore and show yourself a man and keep the charge of the Lord your God to 67 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:56,960 walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies 68 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:01,760 according to what is written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you 69 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,740 do and wherever you turn. 70 00:06:04,740 --> 00:06:10,000 So that the Lord may carry out his promise which he spoke concerning me, saying, if your 71 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:15,640 sons are careful of their way to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with 72 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:22,460 all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel. 73 00:06:22,460 --> 00:06:26,680 The first observation I would like to make regarding the life of David as we stand here 74 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:35,840 at his deathbed is this, that he was a godly man, though not a perfect man. 75 00:06:35,840 --> 00:06:44,060 David is the kind of man who is a hero to many of us because of the godly character 76 00:06:44,060 --> 00:06:47,320 that was his. 77 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:56,280 And yet even the most godly have feet of clay, the greatest of men do. 78 00:06:56,280 --> 00:07:02,360 Men at their best will still disappoint you. 79 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:06,280 Don't ever forget that. 80 00:07:06,280 --> 00:07:16,960 In a day when there are some evangelical superstars and those who are in their fan clubs, remember 81 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:22,680 that your superstar has feet of clay. 82 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:30,180 Expect of no man the perfection that is found in Jesus Christ alone. 83 00:07:30,180 --> 00:07:34,320 That is a good lesson for us to learn as we look at David. 84 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:37,120 David's life had its failures. 85 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:44,000 We could think of the impatience that he displayed as he responded to Nabal. 86 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:49,360 You recall the advice from dear Abbey saved him from making a terrible mistake, Abbey 87 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:54,240 being the wife of Nabal, Abigail. 88 00:07:54,240 --> 00:08:01,640 And then we have already suggested the immorality of David's life, a terrible failure and sin 89 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:08,480 with Bathsheba, the sin of murder when he killed Uriah or had him killed, the pride 90 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:13,800 that was revealed when he took a census of the nation, and then his failure with his 91 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:18,400 children was a mark on David's life of sadness. 92 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:26,040 In fact, even here in 1 Kings we see that in 1 Kings 1, 6 it says this regarding Adonijah 93 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,640 and I really think it's probably true regarding all of his sons. 94 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:36,240 It says, and his father had never crossed him at any time by asking, why have you done 95 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:37,240 so? 96 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:43,440 It says he was also a very handsome man and he was born after Absalom. 97 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:48,680 The point that the writer is making is that David had not properly disciplined this young 98 00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:52,920 man and probably not his other sons either. 99 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:57,200 So he had his failures, he had his faults and his sins. 100 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:03,000 And yet these weaknesses and sins were not the dominant forces in his life. 101 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,000 Thank God for that. 102 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,960 They were the exception, not the rule. 103 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:11,880 They were the occasions, not the pattern that was set. 104 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:19,920 And when God weighs David's life, he lays aside the weaknesses. 105 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:21,920 He does not ignore them. 106 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:28,160 They are recorded for us in the eternal Word of God. 107 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:29,440 God does not wink at them. 108 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,760 He does not call them unimportant. 109 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:41,720 But yet God graciously in weighing the life of David finds him a man after his own heart 110 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:44,040 who will do all my will. 111 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:45,160 That's what God said. 112 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:55,480 Not before David's life, but a thousand years later when the apostle Paul spoke in Antioch 113 00:09:55,480 --> 00:10:01,560 of Pisidia to the Jews there, he recounted some of the history of Israel. 114 00:10:01,560 --> 00:10:07,400 And as Luke records it by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, one of Paul's points 115 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,280 was that David was a man after God's own heart. 116 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:15,320 And he continues on with this phrase that I don't think is found in the Old Testament. 117 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:18,200 But this was God's evaluation after David lived. 118 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:22,520 He is a man who will do all my will. 119 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:29,320 Isn't that great that God graciously evaluated his servant in such terms? 120 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:36,880 In another place in the Psalms, he speaks about the integrity of David's heart. 121 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:38,460 We know there were failures. 122 00:10:38,460 --> 00:10:41,080 God knows there were failures. 123 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:45,880 But because of the nature of David's heart, because that was the bent of his life to follow 124 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:56,160 after the Lord, to know him, to hunger for him, God says he led my people in the integrity 125 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:58,360 of his heart. 126 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:05,360 And then I think in what is the greatest honor that David could have, God gives the title 127 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:13,880 to his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of David. 128 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:20,160 The Lord Jesus Christ was unashamed to be called the Son of David and to be identified 129 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:27,120 in his humanity with this man of God that we have studied these months. 130 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:37,720 And so look to his strengths, to his godly traits, imitate those, learn as well from 131 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:38,720 his failures. 132 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:44,760 And may I say by application, do the same with your heroes today. 133 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:50,520 Copy their strengths, but don't demand of them perfection or you'll be disillusioned. 134 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:55,440 Copy their good, avoid their sins. 135 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:59,760 May I just throw in another two cents worth here regarding the superstar syndrome. 136 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:07,160 I think that we need to do all we can to destroy that so that we don't create evangelical 137 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:09,000 celebrities. 138 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,360 I don't believe that honors God. 139 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,800 Certainly there are people who because of their ministries are going to be better known 140 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:15,800 than others. 141 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:21,640 But let's not promote the idea that somehow these are the great ones and others are less 142 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:22,640 than that. 143 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:30,160 I believe that the pastor who tonight is preaching to five people down in the middle of the hills 144 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:36,000 of Kentucky, if he's serving the Lord with all of his heart, is as great a servant of 145 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:40,640 God as the man who may be preaching to thousands tonight. 146 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:43,520 That's how God evaluates, is the heart. 147 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:48,520 And so let's try to do the same thing and not make judgments on the basis of outward 148 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:49,520 things. 149 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:58,640 There are some times when those kinds of superficial judgments leads to make some very wrong conclusions. 150 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,800 Well there's a second observation I want to make about David and that is that he had 151 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:06,240 learned in his life the true meaning of success. 152 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:10,380 I notice in the text that we've read here in 1 Kings that he gives basically two commands 153 00:13:10,380 --> 00:13:11,920 to Solomon. 154 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:16,800 You will find another record of these commands in 1 Chronicles 28. 155 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:22,040 But right here in this more brief version, you will notice that he says to him first 156 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:23,600 of all, be strong. 157 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,680 In other words, be courageous. 158 00:13:26,680 --> 00:13:29,120 Be a man. 159 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:32,360 The idea is don't be compromising. 160 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:34,040 Don't be weak. 161 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:40,420 Be a man of God. 162 00:13:40,420 --> 00:13:42,840 That is a need today, isn't it? 163 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:49,000 We do not need apologetic Christians, but we need Christians who are courageous and 164 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:53,080 who are willing to take a stand for God in what they're doing. 165 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:56,760 And the second command that he gives to Solomon is a partner with it. 166 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,000 He says, in essence, be obedient. 167 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,880 He says, keep the charge of the Lord your God. 168 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,080 Do what God tells you to do. 169 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:09,360 Now David isn't saying to his son, be sinless. 170 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:12,040 David himself couldn't pass on that legacy, of course. 171 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,000 He was a sinner too. 172 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,840 But he was saying, Solomon, be obedient to what God has said. 173 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:23,400 And of course, part of that obedience is acknowledging our transgressions when we sin to confess 174 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:24,400 them. 175 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:25,880 That is obedience. 176 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:27,480 Obey what God tells you to do. 177 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:28,480 Why? 178 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:32,360 Because God honors those who obey His word. 179 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:37,520 I believe that those two ingredients bring a person to success. 180 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:44,220 To be courageous for God and to honor His word by obeying it. 181 00:14:44,220 --> 00:14:47,320 That will bring a person to true success. 182 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:52,280 Turn back with me to a comment in the book of Joshua where I think we learn the same 183 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:53,280 thing. 184 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:54,280 Joshua chapter 1. 185 00:14:54,280 --> 00:15:02,280 There's a striking parallel indeed to what David says. 186 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:13,240 The Lord is speaking to Joshua who is taking up now the reigns of leadership after the 187 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:14,240 death of Moses. 188 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:20,640 And he says in verse 8, this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you 189 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:28,080 shall meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do according to all 190 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:33,960 that is written in it, for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have 191 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:34,960 success. 192 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:38,360 In other words, he says be obedient. 193 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:42,280 Do what God has said for you to do in His word. 194 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,120 Meditate upon His word. 195 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:50,640 Allow it to fill your mind, to filter down into your heart, to impact your lifestyle, 196 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,920 the way that you live, the decisions that you make. 197 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:56,240 Be obedient and you will have success. 198 00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:04,400 And then he goes on to say to him in verse 9, have not I commanded you, be strong and 199 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:05,880 courageous. 200 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:10,720 Do not tremble or be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 201 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:14,200 And so again he says to Joshua, be courageous. 202 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:15,280 Be a man. 203 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:18,600 I've commanded you and I'm with you wherever you go. 204 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:19,800 Do not tremble. 205 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:21,400 Do not be dismayed. 206 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,640 Be strong. 207 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:29,480 I believe obedience to those two commands will bring us to the point of success. 208 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:36,520 Now going back to 1 Kings chapter 2, it seems to me that in the rest of these verses that 209 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:46,760 we read earlier, we can understand what David means by success, how he defined it. 210 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:54,920 He speaks in verse 4 about the Lord carrying out His promise which He spoke. 211 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:59,480 I believe success can be simply defined in terms like these. 212 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:05,480 It is allowing God to accomplish His purpose in my life. 213 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:07,800 That is success. 214 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:11,440 It's not having the largest church. 215 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:19,600 It's not being the highest paid person in the corporation. 216 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:29,160 It's not having the fanciest home or car or the things that go along with those things. 217 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:34,200 Success is not having power in the political party. 218 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:42,280 Success is very simply found in allowing God to accomplish His purpose in my life. 219 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:49,080 That means that whatever vocation I am in, I can be a success there in God's eyes by 220 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:54,640 simply allowing Him to fulfill His purpose in my being there. 221 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:56,540 Am I an accountant? 222 00:17:56,540 --> 00:17:58,840 Am I an advertising executive? 223 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:00,220 Am I a plumber? 224 00:18:00,220 --> 00:18:02,120 Am I a policeman? 225 00:18:02,120 --> 00:18:04,760 Am I an army officer? 226 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:06,620 Am I a teacher? 227 00:18:06,620 --> 00:18:09,360 Am I a repairman? 228 00:18:09,360 --> 00:18:15,120 Whatever I am doing, if I am allowing God to have His way in my life, then I am successful 229 00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:18,900 as far as God is concerned. 230 00:18:18,900 --> 00:18:24,900 To be successful means to be courageous and obedient to the Word of God, allowing Him 231 00:18:24,900 --> 00:18:26,760 to have His way in our lives. 232 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:34,120 I believe David had learned the true meaning of success. 233 00:18:34,120 --> 00:18:40,880 A third observation I want to make is also suggested here in 1 Kings 2, and it is this, 234 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:45,240 that his life ended well. 235 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:50,360 But I'd like to go to 1 Chronicles 29 to get a little more clear picture of this. 236 00:18:50,360 --> 00:19:04,040 1 Chronicles 29 and verse 28. 237 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:12,240 It recounts his reign in verses 26 and 27, and then in verse 28 it says, then David died 238 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:20,480 in a ripe old age, full of days, riches, and honor. 239 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:28,640 That is a marvelous statement of a man's life ending well. 240 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:34,840 It ended quietly, in a dignified way. 241 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,960 We see a great warrior for God. 242 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:46,520 We see a man who sought the heart of God, quietly falling asleep. 243 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:53,720 That is in quite a contrast, isn't it, to Saul, the first king of Israel, who in a fear 244 00:19:53,720 --> 00:20:01,400 and a frenzy and out of God's will committed suicide on the mountains of Gilboa. 245 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:11,240 A man whose life missed its target, a tragedy. 246 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:16,920 We see such a wonderful and sweet contrast in the life of David, because he had learned 247 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:19,460 the meaning of true success. 248 00:20:19,460 --> 00:20:24,820 Because he focused on that in his life, being strong and being obedient, his life ended 249 00:20:24,820 --> 00:20:27,140 well. 250 00:20:27,140 --> 00:20:32,760 And he closed his eyes on his deathbed, and his spirit left his body. 251 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:38,800 He came to realize what he had written about years earlier when he said, goodness and mercy 252 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:47,880 shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 253 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,640 What a great way to die. 254 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:56,760 I can hear someone almost say to me, oh, that's the way I want to die. 255 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,480 And I feel the same way. 256 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:08,900 My friend, if we would die as the godly die, then we must live as the godly live. 257 00:21:08,900 --> 00:21:14,800 One does not die this way by getting right with God in the last six hours or even six 258 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:18,920 months of one's life. 259 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:23,540 When one's life has been lived as David's life was lived, then one can die as David 260 00:21:23,540 --> 00:21:26,240 died. 261 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:31,000 You see another illustration, do we not, in Paul? 262 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:38,680 A man whose life was lived fully for the Lord Jesus Christ, so much so that when he came 263 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:47,480 to the point of facing his own execution, he was able to say by the grace of God, I 264 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:51,280 have finished my course. 265 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:57,760 He did not come to the end of his life in a frenzy. 266 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:02,120 He was not pacing his cell saying, I wish I could be out there, there's so much more 267 00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:03,120 to do. 268 00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:06,040 And of course there was. 269 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:10,340 But he could honestly say, I have done what God wanted me to do. 270 00:22:10,340 --> 00:22:13,640 I have finished my course. 271 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:21,680 God is a life ended well. 272 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:27,700 Man by the name of McQuilkerson has written a poem that I did not bring with me tonight, 273 00:22:27,700 --> 00:22:30,920 but the title of it is striking. 274 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:40,600 It is a prayer and the poem is entitled, Lord, get me home before dark. 275 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:48,640 And the point of his poem is, Lord, I want to get home to heaven before I should blow 276 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:52,800 it in my life. 277 00:22:52,800 --> 00:23:02,140 I have known, and perhaps you have too, men who have had years of successful ministry 278 00:23:02,140 --> 00:23:06,820 and who in a moment of carelessness toward the closing days of their life have blown 279 00:23:06,820 --> 00:23:10,760 it all up. 280 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:17,880 Have you not known believers, men and women who have made the same mistake? 281 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:23,960 Lord, get me home before dark. 282 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:30,600 I have prayed, and I trust this is not a careless prayer, but that before God would allow me 283 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:38,760 to blow it in my life, that he would call me home. 284 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:46,040 I want my life to end well, however God chooses to end it, so that when that moment comes 285 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:52,160 that I slip out of my body into the presence of the Lord, my life will have been lived 286 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:56,000 to the glory of God. 287 00:23:56,000 --> 00:24:00,880 I believe that is your desire too. 288 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:02,520 David's life ended well. 289 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:08,760 Then there is a final observation that I want to make based upon a New Testament text. 290 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:16,400 Turn over to the book of Acts, the thirteenth chapter. 291 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:21,960 His epitaph speaks volumes. 292 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:33,080 This is what is written on his tombstone. 293 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:39,480 These words are penned by the Holy Spirit a thousand years after David had died. 294 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,440 In the context here, Paul is talking about the resurrection. 295 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:48,640 He is saying that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was prophesied in the Old Testament, 296 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:54,640 and one of the prophecies is found in Psalm 16 when the writer says, 297 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:58,840 Thou wilt not allow thy holy one to undergo decay. 298 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:00,920 See that in verse 35? 299 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:02,920 He quotes from the Psalm. 300 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:05,160 Now there were those who said, well that is referring to David. 301 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:08,440 He wrote those words, and he did. 302 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:13,800 So Paul goes on to say, for David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, 303 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:17,440 fell asleep and was laid among his fathers, and underwent decay. 304 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:22,680 In other words, it couldn't have been David himself he was speaking of. 305 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:26,280 But he says, he whom God raised did not undergo decay. 306 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:32,200 And so he is pointing out here that David was speaking prophetically of his own son, 307 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,600 the Lord Jesus Christ. 308 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:41,000 But the epitaph I see here is in verse 36 when it says, David, after he had served the 309 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:47,920 purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep. 310 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:50,400 David served his own generation. 311 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,120 Really that's all any of us can do. 312 00:25:53,120 --> 00:25:55,320 We can't serve the generation that's passed. 313 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:58,040 They're dead and gone. 314 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:03,800 Their lives have already been written upon the stone of history. 315 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:06,740 It cannot be changed. 316 00:26:06,740 --> 00:26:14,240 And we can only indirectly have an impact upon future generations by whatever works 317 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:17,240 we may leave or the impact we may leave upon our children. 318 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:21,960 But only indirectly can we affect the future generation. 319 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:26,040 Folks, we can impact this generation. 320 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:31,800 This is our generation as David lived in his day in his generation. 321 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:39,080 Now it says here that David served the purpose of God in his generation. 322 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:41,600 The purpose of God. 323 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:46,960 Remember we said accomplishing the purpose of God in our lives, that's success. 324 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:49,040 That's what David did. 325 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,040 He did the will of God in his life. 326 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:56,280 He did what God wanted him to do in his generation. 327 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:57,760 But notice how he did it. 328 00:26:57,760 --> 00:26:59,920 He did it by serving. 329 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:05,120 It doesn't say that David fought, although he was the most successful warrior king Israel 330 00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:07,560 ever had. 331 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:13,360 It doesn't say that he reigned, although he reigned for 40 years. 332 00:27:13,360 --> 00:27:21,720 But rather it says that David served. 333 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:24,920 The word for serve here is not the typical word. 334 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:27,200 It's the lowest kind of service. 335 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:33,800 It's the kind of service that an underroar would give. 336 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:35,400 You say what is an underroar? 337 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:45,320 Well that was, as best as we understand it, the title given to the bottom rank of rowers 338 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:49,000 on one of the large Greek ships. 339 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:55,200 Perhaps you have seen drawings or depictions of these large vessels of war that they had 340 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:57,440 in those ancient days. 341 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:08,480 And there would be two or three ranks of rowers, slaves, down there in the belly of the ship. 342 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:12,800 And they would work those long, long poles and oars. 343 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,640 And they would row the ship. 344 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:15,640 That was their job. 345 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:16,640 That's all they did. 346 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:23,480 And they would have drums that would beat out the pace for the slaves to keep. 347 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:30,360 And those slaves who were the lowest, those who had the worst job, were the ones who were 348 00:28:30,360 --> 00:28:34,320 down below. 349 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:40,120 Because all of the filth from up above came down on them. 350 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:48,200 And all of the heat and the smell and the horrible situation was upon them, down there 351 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:54,400 in the underroar section of slaves. 352 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:58,360 That is the word that David is characterized by here. 353 00:28:58,360 --> 00:28:59,360 David served. 354 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:08,820 In a position of humility, he served. 355 00:29:08,820 --> 00:29:13,320 David learned what it was to be a servant leader. 356 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:16,280 I think it takes three things to be a servant leader. 357 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:19,640 I believe we see these in the life of David. 358 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:23,480 I believe that's what God calls us to. 359 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:27,960 I listened to Dr. Bob Smith last night on Conference Pulpit. 360 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:29,640 Maybe some of the others of you did as well. 361 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:34,600 It was a message from Founders Week at Bethel this year. 362 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:39,500 He spoke about, in part, about leadership and the fact that the word leadership is used 363 00:29:39,500 --> 00:29:43,800 only one time in the New Testament. 364 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:47,160 God hasn't called us to be leaders. 365 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:51,480 God has called us to be servants. 366 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:59,280 In our serving, we sometimes lead, but the emphasis is upon service, not leadership. 367 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:01,400 That's the kind of attitude David had. 368 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:03,360 What does it take to be a servant leader? 369 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:08,260 I think, number one, it takes the ability to identify with those who are under you. 370 00:30:08,260 --> 00:30:10,920 A servant leader is able to do that. 371 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:15,000 David was very successful in identifying with his men. 372 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:20,520 You talk about a loyal bunch of people. 373 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:27,680 When he was fleeing from Jerusalem, there were all of those hundreds of soldiers who 374 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:32,760 surrounded him and went with him across the Jordan to Maonim. 375 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:34,360 Why did they do that? 376 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:38,560 Because they felt a loyalty to this man. 377 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:40,320 He had identified with them. 378 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:44,160 They recall he was down there in the cave, and there were these hundreds of people that 379 00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:50,120 started arriving, all the discontents, all those who were unhappy and all those who were 380 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:51,120 in debt. 381 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:52,120 They had problems. 382 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:57,400 They were the ones that went to David down in the wilderness. 383 00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:05,180 David was able to capture the loyalty of that kind of a crew. 384 00:31:05,180 --> 00:31:06,460 Why was he able to do that? 385 00:31:06,460 --> 00:31:09,000 Because he could identify with them. 386 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:14,760 I don't know what you're doing in your service for Jesus Christ, but if there are those who 387 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:21,320 serve under you in some capacity or who look up to you as their teacher, one of the keys 388 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:27,880 to your success is going to be your ability to identify with them, because that will lead 389 00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:32,000 them to identify with you. 390 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:38,380 The second thing that is necessary for a servant leader, he must convey credibility by his 391 00:31:38,380 --> 00:31:41,320 own transparency. 392 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:43,800 David was that kind of a guy. 393 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:48,380 When he got happy when the ark was coming to Jerusalem, what did he do? 394 00:31:48,380 --> 00:31:53,040 He took off his kingly robes and stripped himself down to his linen garments, and he 395 00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:58,200 danced before the ark of God that was brought into Jerusalem. 396 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:03,880 And you recall that Michael, Saul's daughter, David's wife, despised him for that. 397 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:06,840 How unkingly can you get? 398 00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:09,880 Her father would never have done something like that. 399 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:12,280 But David was transparent. 400 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:17,040 His heart was happy in the Lord, and he showed it. 401 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:19,000 There were times when he was just the opposite. 402 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:22,120 He was in the pits. 403 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:26,880 He was transparent enough to write about it, and we have the record of many of those occasions 404 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:27,880 in the book of Psalms. 405 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:37,120 There were times when he would cry out and say, Oh Lord, how long will you forget me? 406 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:40,640 If a person is going to be successful as a servant leader, he must be able to convey 407 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:45,680 credibility in his own life by being transparent to those who follow him. 408 00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:51,120 And third, he must be willing to take risks to obey God. 409 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:54,800 A servant leader must be willing to do that. 410 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:56,080 David did. 411 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:59,600 We see it as early as his battle with Goliath. 412 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:03,720 I mean, in a way, it was very risky, wasn't it, for him to go out there in that valley 413 00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:11,760 of Elah without any armor on against this fellow who was towering above him, who was 414 00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:17,400 like a well-armored tank standing there with his weapons. 415 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:27,400 And they had a fellow ran before him with a shield that was pretty imposing. 416 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:33,000 David took a risk going out there with just his sling and five stones, but he did it in 417 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:36,000 obedience to the Lord. 418 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:40,680 I want to tell you, that captured the attention of the people of Israel. 419 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:45,720 And they said, now there's the man we want to follow. 420 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:47,840 He's willing to take risks to obey God. 421 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:53,920 And you remember the song that came up as David continued his successes? 422 00:33:53,920 --> 00:34:00,560 Saul has slain his thousands, but David has slain his 10,000. 423 00:34:00,560 --> 00:34:06,200 In essence, they were saying David is 10 times the leader that Saul is. 424 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:11,600 Of course, Saul got the picture when he heard that song, too. 425 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:17,280 David was an effective servant leader because he was willing to take risks to obey God. 426 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:24,640 I believe that people are looking for that kind of leadership, not foolishness, but those 427 00:34:24,640 --> 00:34:29,720 who are willing to take risks in obedience to what God has said in his word. 428 00:34:29,720 --> 00:34:30,720 Well, David served. 429 00:34:30,720 --> 00:34:35,320 What greater epitaph could a person have than that? 430 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:38,560 It speaks volumes about this man of God. 431 00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:43,400 I hope that the study of the life of David has been a profitable one for you. 432 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:47,160 I have enjoyed going through this material, preparing the messages, and a number of you 433 00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:52,000 have said that you've appreciated learning after David's life. 434 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:56,800 I think it would be fitting for us to close by singing some words that are based upon 435 00:34:56,800 --> 00:34:58,680 one of David's writings. 436 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:02,600 It's hymn number 366. 437 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:07,160 I'm speaking, of course, about Psalm 23, probably the best known and most beloved of 438 00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:11,960 all of David's words. 439 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:17,120 It is set here to the tune of Crimmond. 440 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:21,320 All of you Scots who are present tonight will especially appreciate this. 441 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:25,040 The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want. 442 00:35:25,040 --> 00:35:34,560 Let's stand together and sing David's words from Psalm 23, number 366. 443 00:35:34,560 --> 00:35:44,120 As we sing the words, remember the life of the man we're singing about. 444 00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:52,720 The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want. 445 00:35:52,720 --> 00:35:59,720 He makes me down to lie. 446 00:35:59,720 --> 00:36:16,440 In pastures green, He leadeth me, The quiet waters by. 447 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:31,320 My soul He doth restore again, And me to all doth make. 448 00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:47,800 Within the paths of righteousness, He'd for His own name sake. 449 00:36:47,800 --> 00:37:02,520 Yea, though I walk through death's dark veil, Yet will I fear no will, 450 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:18,920 For Thou art with me, and I run, And staff me come forth still. 451 00:37:18,920 --> 00:37:33,880 My table Thou hast furnished, In presence of my foes, 452 00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:50,520 My head Thou dost with oil anoint, And my cup overflows. 453 00:37:50,520 --> 00:38:05,720 Goodness and mercy all my life Shall surely follow me, 454 00:38:05,720 --> 00:38:23,640 And in God's house forevermore My dwelling place shall be. 455 00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:28,520 Maybe it was just my imagination, but I thought I heard a voice from up above somewhere singing 456 00:38:28,520 --> 00:38:30,280 those words with us. 457 00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:32,280 Let's pray. 458 00:38:32,280 --> 00:38:42,200 Lord, we thank You for David, this man who is after Your own heart, this man of God. 459 00:38:42,200 --> 00:38:50,640 Thank You for the example left to us in Your holy Word of his life, its failures from which 460 00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:54,720 we learn, but its many successes. 461 00:38:54,720 --> 00:39:01,400 Lord, again we pray that we might be men and women after Your own heart, who would do all 462 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:02,400 of Your will. 463 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:11,120 And Lord, when it comes to that time that we too go the way of all the earth and enter 464 00:39:11,120 --> 00:39:21,680 into the house of the Lord, may it be said of us that we served our own generation according 465 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:27,440 to the purpose and the will of God. 466 00:39:27,440 --> 00:39:32,560 In Jesus' name we pray, amen.