SERIES: David: A Person After God’s Heart
Finishing Strong
SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus
Introduction: Just about a year ago we began our study of 1 & 2 Samuel. Today we come to the conclusion of the life of David, a man after God’s own heart. There is a great temptation to slow down just before reaching the finish line. We see it each year in May when spring fever trips up many students on their way to final exams. We see it in athletic competition. Occasionally the 1500 meters has been lost by a runner who slowed down at the very end, thinking he had the race wrapped up. We see it in retirement as many men settle for golf and a rocking chair instead of more productive pursuits. David, on the other hand, is an example of a person who finishes strong. As he faces the end of his life in our text today, we find him pursuing with abandon a life-long dream.
An aged king addresses his leaders. (28:1-8)
In this speech, we find David boldly facing up to unfulfilled desires, concentrating on undeserved blessings, and urging pursuit of an unfinished task.
He faces up to unfulfilled desires. (1-3) One of the things that paralyzes some people when they get near the finish line of life is the realization that all their goals will not be met. In fact, that realization paralyzes some long before they get near the finish line. It’s probably the essence of the mid-life crisis that afflicts so many men in our society. At about age 45-50, sometimes earlier, a man suddenly may wake up to the fact that his career is going nowhere, and he may never achieve financial independence. Or his career is going great guns, but he realizes that it hasn’t brought satisfaction, while his total devotion to the effort has cost him dearly with his wife and kids.
Mid-life crises have many different causes, but one factor common to most of them is unfulfilled desires. David, however, faces up to his unfulfilled desires–admitting them honestly and then moving on. After gathering all the leaders of the people together to deliver his “swan song,” he speaks to them in verse 2 of 1 Chronicles 28: “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’” He’s not complaining–just stating the facts. It hurt, but he’s not going to let it paralyze him.
He concentrates on undeserved blessings. (4-7) He proceeds, “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.” You see, instead of moping about what God hasn’t given him, namely the privilege of building the temple, he focuses upon what God has given him. Friends, I don’t care how many or how great your personal disappointments are, if you’re honest you must admit that you have far more undeserved blessings than unfulfilled desires.
He urges pursuit of an unfinished task. (8) The unfinished task I’m talking about here is not the building of the temple (that will come a little later), but the building of a nation of God-fearers. Look at verse 8: “So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.” Who the people are and how they live is far more important to God than where they worship. What good is a great temple of gold if the people’s hearts are far from God?
David has his priorities straight and urges the people to continue at the unfinished task of obedience to God.
An aged father exhorts his son to … (28:9-21)
… acknowledge God and serve Him. (9) David turns to Solomon in verse 9 and says, “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father….” The Hebrew word for “acknowledge” includes two ideas. First is “knowing.” Knowing God is essential; it is the result of quality and quantity time spent with Him; there are no shortcuts.
But knowing Him is not enough; we must also “acknowledge” Him, which means to recognize his rights and authority and lordship over us. And that leads to faithful service. Verse 9: “Serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.” That is sobering! In essence he’s saying that there’s no point in making a show of serving God, no point in pretending to be devoted. The only ones who will be impressed are other people, while God Himself understands every motive.
Second, David urges his son to …
… be strong, courageous, and obedient. (10-20) Solomon has a great task ahead of him. Verse 10: “Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.” Then again in verse 20 he says, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work.” And in between verses 10 and 20 he tells him what to do. Verse 11 reads, “Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind.” The passage goes on to describe in detail the buildings and furnishings for the temple.
What this tells me first is that God is a God of planning. Fly-by-night decisions made on the spur of the moment are not God’s way of doing things. He is not impulsive, nor does He want us to be impulsive. Impulsiveness leads to bad decisions, useless possessions, indebtedness, and lack of freedom. But it also tells me that God is a God of high expectations. As huge a task as this is going to be, it is not beyond the talents and gifts He has given to Solomon, and God expects the young king to get it done.
Third, David exhorts his son to …
… not be fearful or discouraged. (20,21) He continues in verse 20, “Do not be afraid or discouraged.” It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the size of some tasks. Solomon must certainly feel overwhelmed by this one. Why? Well, for one thing, he’s young, and he must learn how to govern a nation that is known for its fickleness and headstrong ways. Furthermore, he must deal with opposing nations who view the transition of power as a vulnerable time for Israel and an opportunity to test the new ruler. And on top of all that, he is being asked to build the most phenomenal structure ever built up to that time. The Great Pyramid was much larger, but this building would surpass it in beauty and cost many times over.
David urges Solomon not to fear and offers him two good reasons:
1. God is with you. (20) “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.” The single greatest antidote to fear is the knowledge that God is with us and is for us.
2. Others will help you. (21) “The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.” It is crucial to anyone in a position of authority to know that he’s not out on the front lines alone; there are faithful people following and supporting him. Sometimes they’re not as visible as we’d like them to be. In Elijah’s day the prophet thought he was all alone, and God had to tell him there were 7,000 others who had not bowed the knee to Baal. David promises Solomon that he would have help.
So far, we have seen David as an aged king addressing his leaders and as an aged father exhorting his son. In the third movement in our text, we find him as an aged servant encouraging his nation.
An aged servant encourages his nation. (29:1-9)
The aged servant is, of course, the same person as the aged king and aged father. But this time he is speaking to the entire nation and encouraging them regarding the life-long dream that has been his, but not his to complete.
He points out the great size of the task before them. (1) Verse 1 of chapter 29 reads, “Then King David said to the whole assembly: ‘My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God.” The size of the task is governed by the object of worship. If they were building a structure for themselves, it would be one thing; but they are building a structure for God; thus, its palatial dimensions and design. But that’s not the whole problem. In addition to the great task, they have a leader who is young and inexperienced. David doesn’t try to hide that fact or minimize it. He wants the people to go into this with their eyes open.
He sets an example of generosity. (2-5) David refuses to ask others to do something he is personally unwilling to do. We hear a lot today about media preachers and other servants of God leading lives of ostentatious wealth–living in a multi-million-dollar home, driving a Rolls Royce, wearing a Rolex, etc. How do you react to that? To me the biggest problem with it is not the wealth itself, for there were plenty of godly people in the Bible who had great wealth. Rather the problem is that some of these same people are constantly asking their listeners to sacrifice to support their ministries while demonstrating little or nothing of a sacrificial spirit themselves.
David will have none of that. He is an extremely wealthy man himself, but look at his own commitment to this project, as revealed in verse 2 of chapter 29:
“With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God–gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble–all of these in large quantities. Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: three thousand talents of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen.”
You see, he not only gave from his official wealth, but he also dipped heavily into his own personal savings. If he’s going to ask the people to give, he feels he must set an example of generosity himself. And that’s not a bad principle for spiritual leaders to consider. It has always been my opinion that if the pastors, elders, and deacons of a church are not giving generously to the ministry, then they have no business holding such offices.
Generosity is a major factor in finishing strong. Some people are faithful tithers all their lives (God bless them), but when they come to the end of their lives ,they fail to consider all the good they are capable of doing through careful estate planning. Our government allows some incredible ways to plan an estate so that people can leave a generous inheritance to their children and at the same time leave a significant gift to the Lord’s work. Through gift annuities and various kinds of trusts a person can often avoid inheritance taxes and do more in their death than they were ever able to do while living.
He challenges them to give sacrificially and willingly. (5) The last sentence in verse 5 reads, “Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord?” That is the real issue in generous giving. Are we willing to give ourselves? If God has us, then he automatically has our money. But when we give money without giving ourselves, we may lose both the money and the reward that goes to those who give from willing hearts.
He rejoices with the people at their generous response. (6-9) Three key words describe the giving of the people in verses 6-9: “Willingly, freely, and wholeheartedly.” And twice the word “rejoiced” is found. I think these terms go together. Where there is willing giving, there is always rejoicing. Unfortunately, some people are afraid to test God in this, fearing that generous giving will hurt, not bring joy. Unfortunately, they never give God an opportunity to prove His Word in this regard.
He praises his God. (10-16) There is a prayer of praise in verses 10-13 that has enough meat in it for several sermons all by itself, but we have time this morning only to read it and draw attention briefly to several attributes of God which King David highlights.
David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
“Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
Three attributes of God jump out at me from this prayer.
He is faithful. (10) He is God from everlasting to everlasting. His history of faithfulness goes back to Moses and Joshua, who had led the people from Egypt to the promised land some 400 years earlier. It goes back a full millennium to the patriarchs–Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. It goes back even further to Noah and Enoch. Through generations of homelessness and slavery and war, God has remained faithful to His people, from everlasting to everlasting.
He is sovereign. (11) How could God’s sovereignty be expressed in any more profound way than it is here in verse 11? He is Lord over everything in heaven and earth; He is head over all; therefore, He owns it all.
He is benevolent. (12) To the extent that we enjoy wealth and honor and strength, we owe it all to God. I think of the words of Andrae Crouch’s song, “My Tribute.”
“How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me?
Things so undeserved, yet You give to prove Your love for me.
The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude—
All that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee.”
You say, “But wait a minute, I work hard for everything I have. My beautiful home, my high-paying job, my athletic trophies, my bank account–these are the result of hard work, astute investments, shrewd planning, and carefully cultivated relationships.” No, they’re not. I remember a TV ad with Emmitt Smith when he was the star running back of the world champion Dallas Cowboys. It said, “All men are created equal; some just work harder in the preseason.” Friends, don’t believe it. There are a thousand other factors that determine one’s success in life, and many of them are more determinative than hard work.
If Emmitt had been born of the Hutu tribe in Rwanda, how much would his hard work count for? If Einstein had been born with Downs Syndrome, how much would his effort count for? If Shaquille O’Neil were 5′ 6″, how much fame would his athletic skill bring him? If Charles Swindoll or Max Lucado had been born with a stammer or a cleft palate, how much would their brilliant wordsmithing achieve? You see, as much as we like to think we are responsible for our own success, the fact is that every success we have ever enjoyed is a gift from the sovereign God of the universe.
He is the source of our own generosity. (14-16) We tend to view generosity as a personal trait that is very noble and honorable, but David takes a different look at the issue beginning in verse 14:
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O Lord our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.
How different that perspective is from how most of us feel about generosity! We have earned our money or through our astute investing we have multiplied it. We decide that we will give a portion of it. Aren’t we generous and shouldn’t God be impressed! Friends, it’s all His in the first place; it remains His even as He loans it to us; and when we are generous, we are doing nothing more than opening our tight little fists and allowing God to use and multiply what He gave us in the first place.
Finally, David stresses the priorities of the heart. (29:17-20) Financial giving is never in and of itself a proof of spirituality. People can give for a wide variety of reasons, and some of them are not very noble; in fact, some are downright evil. One can give out of a motive of pride, or give to get, or give to manipulate, or even give to humiliate.
It is very important to David that he focus his people’s attention on the spiritual priorities that make generous giving acceptable in God’s sight. It all has to do with the heart. Please notice how often the heart is mentioned in the conclusion of his prayer in verses 17-19:
“I know my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements, and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”
There are so many things to distract us from loyalty to God. There are evil things, of course, but there are also neutral things, and even good things. In fact, the good is often the enemy of the best. When Jesus visited in Martha’s home and heard her complain because her sister simply sat at Jesus’ feet while she had to do all the work, He said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is best.” (Luke 10:41) Loyalty is what God desires in the hearts of His people.
Conclusion: I want to bring us back to the place where we started–the subject of finishing strong. Here we find David near the very end of his life, not throwing in the towel, not resting on his laurels, but pressing home with a goal he had all his life–to see a great Temple to the Lord his God erected in the Holy City. Beyond that we find him concerned about his son’s spiritual development, as well as the obedience of his people. What an example he has been to us–of both good and evil, but always of a heart for God! And with that the author tells us very simply in 1 Chron. 29:26, “David son of Jesse was king over all Israel. He ruled over Israel forty years–seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor.”
In the book of Acts (13:36) there is an equally brief reference to David’s death but with an interesting additional observation: “When David had served God’s purposes in his own generation, he fell asleep.” I like that. When he had served God’s purposes in his own generation, God took him home. Frankly, that gives me comfort and hope when I think about the recent deaths of saints like Myrna Long or Ruth Snapp’s mother. These women served God’s purposes–with their spouses, their children, their church, and their generation.
There may be a time when God says “no” to one of your dreams. If so, then help someone else fulfill that dream. But don’t give up. David, great man of God in the Old Testament, could say with his “faith counterpart” in the New Testament, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” Great people don’t give up; great athletes don’t give up; great students don’t give up; great Christians don’t give up; they finish strong.
DATE: May 15, 2005
Tags:
Finishing well
Fatherhood
Generosity
Praise