Finale

Introduction

A. What do you want your final words to be? We never know when our final words will be spoken. To our family we may want to say “I love you.” To our children we may want to pass on words of wisdom. To our spouse we may want to thank them for sharing their life with us. I grew up in a home in which whenever someone left the house we said I love you. There was an understanding that such a departure could be the last time we saw each other. We didn’t live in fear but in reality. Some write down their final thoughts and share it with others before their death. I encourage folks especially as time begins to draw near for death to be sure and say what they want to say to their family and friends. It is sad to leave unsaid some things that need to be said before death.

B. All of this talk can seem rather morbid, but such is not the point. We will all leave this world with final words. I am encouraging you to think about what you want your final words to be. And once thought out to share them even before the time of death approaches. King David had some final words for his son, Solomon. These words are recorded in 1 Kings 2. These final words will be the basis for our study time together tonight. We’ll learn something about David. And hopefully we’ll be encouraged to plan for our final words as well.

David’s Last Days

A. Just as happened during his reign, David’s last days of life are filled with turmoil. 1 Kings 1 gives us some insight into the situation. David is an old man and his health is failing. It appears that David is at best a figurehead at this point. Adonijah, one of David’s sons, announces that he is willing to be king. It is interesting how the writer introduces him in 1:6. Like other family members, Adonijah had been given free rein among the people. David had not tried to correct him. Adonijah is able to gain the support of Joab, David’s lead general and Abiathar, one of the priests. But others in David’s administration refuse to support Adonijah.

B. David is made aware of this new political situation. Bathsheba reminds him of a promise made. David fulfills his promise by making Solomon king. Adonijah panics. But Solomon doesn’t kill him as he would with other rivals. David then calls Solomon in for his last and final words. In 2:1–9 David offers advice and instructions.

1. 1–4, David reveals his heart to Solomon. David enjoins Solomon to act like a man. He is to be strong and demonstrate his manhood. How is he to do this? By keeping God’s commands and decrees. He is to refer to what Moses has written and follow the written word. David reminds Solomon of God’s promise that as long as his descendants follow God, then someone from David’s lineage will be king. The charge is to follow God. Solomon is to listen to God’s word and obey his every command. Solomon would discover God’s will through the written word.

   a. We are to follow God as well and yet it is through the written word that we learn what God’s will is. Some here have read the Bible through year after year. Some have read it through a few times. Some wait for someone else to tell them what is in the Bible. Reading the Bible isn’t for old people and those who have nothing better to do.

   b. The Bible is God’s communication with us. It is a treasure with immeasurable worth. How can we be casual about God’s word? What is it that is going on in your life which demands more attention? Solomon begins as a great king, but he didn’t listen to his father. He didn’t remain in God’s word and as a result he wandered from God. If we are not spending time in God’s word, we will go through the motions without real validity to our walk with God.

2. In 5–9, David makes three requests of Solomon. In verses 5–6, he reminds Solomon of what Joab did in times of peace against David’s commanders. David leaves it up to Solomon how he will carry out what he requests, but David does not want Joab to die by natural causes. In verse 7, David requests that Solomon show kindness to Barzillai because of the kindness he showed to David when he had to flee from Absalom. Finally, in verses 8–9, David remembers how that Shimei cursed him as he traveled away from Jerusalem. David requests that Solomon take care of Shimei in some way besides allowing him to die of natural causes. The rest of chapter 2 are the stories of Solomon carrying out his father’s wishes.

   a. What is going on here? Is David seeking revenge against those who have hurt him? In Shimei’s case it certainly seems like it. Basically, David says “I made a promise but you are not obligated to keep the promise I made.” It certainly sounds like a vengeful statement.

   b. The statement against Joab sounds less vengeful, but, nevertheless, it has been a long time since Joab killed these two commanders.

3. Some say that what David is doing is securing the kingdom for Solomon. And the rest of chapter 2 certainly supports that view. Joab represents the leader of the army. He can turn the army against Solomon. Shimei represents the last opponent from Saul’s household and could rival Solomon as he tries to establish the kingdom. Both Joab and Shimei are eventually killed and Solomon’s throne is firmly established according to 2:46.

   a. But something else that we need to see. Why didn’t David discipline Joab when he killed the two commanders? Why didn’t David take care of Shimei after returning to the throne. Part of David’s flaw was an unwillingness to deal with problems as they arose. He wouldn’t deal with Absalom’s rebellion; he refused to deal with Amnon’s rape of his sister, Tamar; he wouldn’t deal with Absalom’s killing of Amnon; he didn’t deal with Joab.

   b. This reluctance to handle conflict and difficulties resulted in David’s reign being thrown into disarray at times. And now here on his deathbed, he leaves it to Solomon to finish some of his yet unfinished work. The lesson is that ignoring problems and issues does not solve them. It doesn’t matter whether the problem exists in your family or in your work or in some other relationship. Ignoring that problem does not bring resolution.

   c. I was counseling a couple and they wanted to talk about their problems. But they refused to be specific for fear of hurting the other person and they were seriously talking about divorce because “they just didn’t communicate very well.” Pretending that things are fine when they aren’t is deceitful. This doesn’t mean that we can unload on someone without love or consideration. It does mean that we must find the strength to say what needs to be said seeking resolution. This isn’t easy, but as we can see from David’s life, ignoring problems doesn’t make them go away.

C. I started this lesson with the idea of being sure to plan your final words and to say them before it is too late. What are your final words going to be? David encourages Solomon to remain faithful to God. Those are some great final words. He also gives Solomon some practical advise about solidifying his kingdom. But two of those could have been taken care of if David hadn’t been afraid of dealing with conflict. Don’t leave undone what you can take care of. What are your final words going to be? There would be nothing better than to say to our loved ones—follow God even as I have tried to follow him. Prayer.

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