Saturday, November 26, 2016

A Godly Legacy: Fearing God, Worshipping Him, Obeying Him



As we have seen in previous posts, King David set a Godly example for his son Solomon to follow as a believer in God, as a wise man, and as a ruler over God’s people. Despite David’s sins, beginning with idleness, then snowballing into lust, adultery, and deception, and culminating with murder (2 Samuel 11), he was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), showing genuine repentance and asking God to cleanse him of his sins (Psalm 51:7-17). If God could forgive and use David so powerfully, there is hope for every one of us!

During his reign, David defended God’s chosen people against her enemies, honored God in his daily walk, and provided Solomon with what he needed to build God’s temple, including precious metals, building materials, and semiprecious stones. His example inspired similar gifts, offerings and service for God’s house from the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and the rulers of the king's work (1 Chronicles 29:1-8).

Moved by the willingness of his people to serve God, David blessed, praised and thanked God for His greatness, abundant provision, and power. He recognized that he and his people were strangers, sojourners, and mortal before the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (1 Chronicles 29:9-16). Even though the Israelites were God’s chosen people, they had to be saved through faith before God could call them His friends, for faith is the common theme underlying salvation through all periods of Biblical history (Hebrews 11:6).

Obedience is the outward sign of faith, which is why “trust and obey” go hand in hand (1 Samuel 15:22; John 14:15,21; 15:10). As a missionary preached a few days ago at our church, when Jesus tells you to do something, just do it! (John 2:5). David prayed that his people would always be willing to serve God, that they would prepare their hearts to receive Him, and that Solomon would have a perfect heart, to keep God’s commandments, testimonies, and statutes; to do all that God would have him do, and to build the palace (1 Chronicles 29:17-19).

Again following David’s lead, the people prayed to God, worshipped Him, and offered Him burnt offerings and drink offerings, in addition to the material sacrifices that they donated to build His house. They celebrated the transition in leadership from David to Solomon by joyfully feasting before the Lord, a second time making Solomon to be king, and anointing Solomon to the Lord to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest. As Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king, all the princes, the mighty men, and all David’s sons obeyed the new King Solomon (1 Chronicles 29:20-24).

David’s shortcomings prove that he is human and a sinner like all others (Romans 3:23) and that the Bible is true, rather than glossing over weaknesses of heroes of the faith (Hebrews 11). Despite David’s sins, he left a Godly legacy for Solomon, his nation, and for all of us to learn from by reading God’s Word. God rewarded David’s faithfulness by answering his prayers for Solomon.

The Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. Of the forty years that David had reigned over Israel, seven years (the number of perfection or completion) were in Hebron, and thirty and three years in Jerusalem. David’s reign, marked by longevity, riches, and honor, was recorded in the books of Samuel the seer (wise man or sage), Nathan the prophet, and Gad the seer (1 Chronicles 29:25-30).

Even if we are not rulers or in positions of power or leadership, may we be like David, good stewards over what the Lord has entrusted to us. Once we realize that we are sinners saved by God’s grace through our faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)  in the death, burial and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), He immediately blesses us with forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:9), eternal life (John 3:16), and abundant life (John 10:10). May we share Him with our families (Acts 11:14; 16:31) so that they too accept God’s freely given gift of salvation!

Our inheritance as children of God (1 John 3:1), joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), and part of His bride (Revelation 21:2) includes opportunities to serve Him as His stewards (1 Corinthians 4:2), fellow-workers, and ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). May we be an example of faithfulness, obedience, and honoring God to our children, families and those who come behind us. May we always remember to thank, praise and worship God for His abundant blessings to us, our family, and our nation!

© 2016 Laurie Collett
Womanhood With Purpose
Adorned From Above
No Ordinary Blog Hop


10 comments:

Linda said...

Wonderful post, Laurie, thank you so much for sharing. We don't have to be leaders to be an example.

Laurie Collett said...

Thank you, Linda for your kind words. May we be Godly examples!
Love in Christ,
Laurie

Frank E. Blasi said...

Dear Laurie,
You wrote:
"Faith is the common theme underlying salvation through all periods of Biblical history."
Amen to that!
It is a crying shame that so many people try to add works to earn our salvation, or to be made worthy of it, rather than just accept what the Bible is telling us. Imagine what life must have been like during the European Middle Ages before Martin Luther was born. But even for a thousand years before that great Reformer, there were churches around which had rejected the Papal system and clung to the hope of salvation through faith only, indicating that God's witness to the truth remained unbroken from the dawn of history to the present day.
An excellent post. God bless.

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Frank,
Thank you for this historical and Biblical insight. Organized religions, many of which are built on false doctrines, flourish, but there is always a remnant of God's faithful people who trust in Him alone. Only He gives salvation as a free, unmerited, unearned gift to all those who accept it. Thank you for your encouraging words. God bless,
Laurie

Donald Fishgrab said...

As you mentioned, Faith has been the key to pleasing God throughout history. Abraham was not righteous because of his actions, but because he believed
God. Able gave the proper sacrifice because he believed God. We are saved today because we believe God. As Frank mentioned, so many have based their salvation on their actions rather than in faith, and as the scriptures state, without faith it is impossible to please him.

Brenda said...

Hi Laurie,
the word 'obedience' stood out to me in your post, and I agree. One of the first things that the Lord pointed out to me was that I must not just be a hearer of that word, but endeavour to be a 'doer' of it, acting on what was spoken to me from it, and doing what He has called me to do.
I love the fact that the more we act on that word spoken to us, the more it proves itself true. Lovely post Laurie.

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Donald! Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. All the "good" deeds we could possibly do are not enough to work our way to Heaven, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
God bless,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Hi Brenda,
So true, that we must act on and obey His Word, and not just read or hear it. The more we study it and the Holy Spirit teaches us how to follow it, the more it becomes hidden in our hearts to keep us from sin. Thank you as always for your encouraging and uplifting words.
God bless you,
Laurie

S. Knowles said...

Hello Laurie,
This was very encouraging and edifying, your posts usually are. Thanks for sharing all of this with us. God bless and keep you.

Laurie Collett said...

Hi Sateigdra,
How lovely to hear from you again! I'm blessed to hear that you enjoyed the post, and I truly appreciate your comment.
May God bless and keep you too!
Laurie