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Final Words

David, the greatest king in Israel’s history and one of its most eloquent authors, gives his final words to his son, Solomon who is in position to succeed him as king. This important moment contains some challenging words that are meant to be remembered and give Solomon perspective throughout his reign. They certainly can do the same for us today.

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Your family history does not disqualify you from ministry.

  • 1 Kings 1 – Solomon is the son of Bathsheba.

Men, act like men.

  • 1 Kings 2:2 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man

Do what God says to do.

  • 1 Kings 2:2–4 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’
    • God’s promise to David
      • 2 Samuel 7:12–13 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
        • Building of the Temple- Solomon’s prayer of dedication
        • 1 Kings 8:27–30 27 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 28 Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. 29 May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
        • Difference in the NT!
        • John 4:21–23 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
        • 1 Corinthians 3:16 16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
        • You can experience God anywhere.
      • 2 Samuel 7:14–16 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ”
      • God’s promise to David is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.
        • Luke 1:32–33 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

 

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