"Be Strong and Do It."
Text: II Chronicles 28:8-
Title: Be Strong and Do It
Theme: David's challenge to Solomon
Proposition:
Rhetorical:
Introduction:
King David is known in God's Word as a man who had a deep love for God. In fact the Bible speaks about David as a man who had the heart of God.
Acts 13:22 .... he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
David was jealous to give great things to God.
· ill. Pouring out the water that was priceless because of risk.
2 Samuel 23:17 16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
· ill. Buying the threshing floor from Arunah.
2 Samuel 24:24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
· Now at the end of his life, David sees his great home and yet God's earthly dwelling place was the tabernacle (a tent) that had been wih them in the wilderness wonderings. David wanted a permanent place (temple) for the Lord to fill with his glory.
2 Samuel 7:
1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
exp. Solomon, one of David's sons.
13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
II Chronicles 28:8-10 is our text this morning. David is giving Solomon his commission to build the temple as revealed to David by God.
note: This is a solemn challenge given before God and the congregation.
8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God,
ill. Like a wedding, graduation, ordination or a commissioning service. All who attend benefit from the wise instruction given from God's Word to one individual, couple or family.
app. We get the benefit this morning as we too are challenged by David regarding the sober task which has been given to us by God.
question: So, what does David say to his son on this day....
David said to Solomon, ....
I. David said to Solomon, "Now about your regard for God's law."
exp. David had diligently kept God's Word. Psalm 119, the longest of Psalms written with a section for each letter in the Hebrew alphabet contains in every one of it's 176 verses a reference to the Word of God.
ill. ....tradition says that David used Psalm 119 to teach Solomon the alphabet....
exp. Regardless of whether or not that is true, from his infancy Solomon would have been instructed in God's law.
A. Keep them. ....keep (all the commandments of the Lord your God.)
exp. Without exception he was to keep God's perfect law.
Ps 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
ill. When furnishing a home, you can do so by taste or budget. If you don't like something, you disgard it and if you like something you can purchase it and put it in your house.
note: But, when it comes to FURNISHING YOUR LIFE it is not done according to your taste but according to God's Law.
exp. Man rebels against that.
ill. The Jefferson Bible. - Wikipedia
"The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, commonly referred to as the Jefferson Bible, was a book constructed by Thomas Jefferson in the later years of his life by cutting and pasting with a razor and glue numerous sections from the New Testament as extractions of the doctrine of Jesus. Jefferson's condensed composition is especially notable for its exclusion of all miracles by Jesus and most mentions of the supernatural, including sections of the four gospels which contain the Resurrection and most other miracles, and passages indicating Jesus was divine"
exp. Even today, men are seeking to pull pages from God's Word.
app. God's Word is perfect. It is marred when it is pulled apart. You can't pick and chose what you want to obey and want you want to disgard. You must embrace IT ALL!
B. Seek them. ...keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God:
question. How can you follow God's law if you don't know it?
ill. Paul spoke to Timothy about IGNORANT men who try to teach the Bible.
I Timothy 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
Timothy was told by Paul to....
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
app. Why do we have our Bible's open today? It doesn't matter what men say! What matters is what God says and we need to look in God's Word to see what He says!
note: Keep them! Seek them! .....
C. Pass them on. ...that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
exp. God's blessing upon the land was dependent upon their proper understanding and application of God's Word. For them to pass on God's blessing, they had to pass on God's Word!
ill. My grandparents had "Family Altar."
(All 4 children of these dairy farmers went into full time Gospel ministry.)
My parents had regular family devotions.
(All 3 of their children have served in full time Christian ministry.)
We have had regular family devotions each evening since our kids were very small.
(I hope that God will call my children into ministry whether full time or not.)
app. But, if we do not give God's commands the priority and OBEY THEM, SEEK THEM, AND PASS THEM ON. We will not have the blessing of God in our generation or future generations.
II. David said to Solomon, "Now about your relationship with God."
A. Know Him. 9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father,
exp. It was not enough for Solomon to have a superficial knowledge of God and his Bible ABC's. He needed a deep personal relationship with His heavenly father.
ill. His father David, not only had a deep regard for God's law but a close personal relationship with God. David a shepherd at heart and keen woodsman used images from the field to picture his desire for God.
Psalm 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Psalm 63: 1-2 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
exp. David wanted Solomon to want to know God as much as he did!
question: How do you get to know someone?
ill. I enjoyed getting to "know" the Webbs this past week.
· We spent a lot of time together.
· They dwelled with us.
· I listened to their stories and they listened to mine.
app. How well do you know God? How much time did you spend with him this week? Reading His Word, praying to Him, thinking of him, etc.
B. Serve Him.
1. With a perfect heart.
and serve him with a perfect heart ... for the LORD searcheth all hearts,
exp. David knew that an imperfect heart breaks fellowship with God because God knows the heart and can't abide sin.
Ps 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
note: Regard is to "treasure."
question: What do you treasure in your heart? sin or God?
Mt 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
ill. When the crown jewels of Scotland were hidden for years in a wooden chest, man forgot about them, but God knew they were there. Sir Walter Scott and others hoped they were there but were not satisfied until they had opened them to find out.
note: Men don't always know what is on the inside, but GOD ALWAYS DOES. We are to have perfect hearts, because God searcheth the heart.
app. Is your heart right with God? God would have us pure in our hearts where He alone can see. 1Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
2. With a willing mind.
and with a willing mind: ... for the LORD... understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts:
exp. David was burdened to see the temple built. But, if Solomon was to fulfil God's purpose in building the temple, he must WILLINGLY do it.
note: God does not force us to do what He desires us to do.
Mr 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
· Whosoever will
· Let him deny himself
· Take up his cross and
· follow me
Question: How did William Carey, Hudson Taylor, George Whitfield, D. L. Moody, etc - become such great men for God?
exp. They CHOSE to follow him with a willing mind.
app. How is your will with regard to God's will this morning? Have you surrendered YOUR WILL TO HIM? God isn't going to force you into his service!
C. Fear Him.
if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
exp. God desires to bless, but those who reject his blessing chose his judgment.
ill. Imagine that Edinburgh was being inundated with floods and that a rich business man decided to move the entire city up nearer the Pentlands. It was all at his expense and could only be received as charity. Why would some not be saved?
· They didn't believe that the flood was coming.
· They didn't want charity.
· They didn't like the business man and refused his help.
· They liked where they lived.
question: Could they blame that business man for not helping them when he had been more than willing to rescue them?
exp. How much more should not men blame God when facing damnation when He has killed his Son to rescue them AND YET THEY STILL REFUSE HIS BLESSING AND WANT THE CURSE.
app. Are you seeking God to today - He will be found of you. But, beware those who forsake God! You are forsaking the fountain of life and chosing damnation.
transition: David said to Solomon, "Now about your regard for God's law and your relationship with God...."
III. David said to Solomon, "Now about your responsability towards God."
A.Remember He chose you.
1. Listen carefully to God's instruction.
10 Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary:
exp. Why? God in His wisdom had a plan for this wise young man. Israel was going to enter into years of blessing under his leadership.
question: Does God really have a plan for his servants?
ill.
· Moses Exodus 3:10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
· Amos Amos 7:14-15 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
· Peter Mt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of @#!*% shall not prevail against it.
· Esther Es 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
app. Folks, God has a plan for our lives, just like he did for these servants. WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR GOD? WHAT HAS GOD FOR YOU TO DO?
B. Remember you can do what he has called you to do.
be strong, and do it.
exp. Anything and everything we do, ought to be strongly done for the glory of the Lord.
ill. Working at the Wilds and saying their theme verse before every meal.
1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
ill. At the Wilds Christian Camp it didn't matter if you were operational staff, counselor, speaker, etc - you had a sacred task to do for the glory of the Lord.
app. It doesn't matter what you are doing - as long as it is what God wants you to do and that you are doing it FOR HIS GLORY!
conclusion: This was a sacred service taking place before a solemn congregation and before the Lord God of Heaven. Solomon was receiving a great challenge from a great man of God, David, his father.
The congregation benefited from hearing these words of wisdom to the coming king.
We benefit today as we join this solemn assembly in this story from God's Word.
I. David said to Solomon, "Now about your regard for God's law."
(How important is God's Word to you?)
II. David said to Solomon, "Now about your relationship with God."
(How important is your relationship with God to you?)
III. David said to Solomon, "Now about your responsability towards God."
(How important is the will of God to you?)
May God help us to keep His charge to us today.
