A WHOLEHEARTED DEVOTION
The last recorded words of people often reveal important and meaningful instruction. Given the significance of King David’s life and walk with God, his last words give us great insight to what was most close to his heart and what he considers to be most important to accomplish with the time & resource we are entrusted with here on earth.
SCRIPTURE When the time drew near for David to die, he gave this instruction to Solomon his son.
1 Kings 2:3,4 ‘Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as is written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, and that the Lord will keep His promise to me ‘If your decedents watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’
David’s last instructions to Solomon revolve around two things – first, that God’s commands will be followed, and second, that the legacy of expanding God’s kingdom will continue to future generations. This is what David’s heart desired most for his children, grandchildren, and all the following generations – to be humble, devoted to the Lord and to expand the work of Gods kingdom here on earth.
As scripture continues to record David’s words, the importance of a devoted heart stands out once again.
SCRIPTURE 1 Chronicles 28:9,10
“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the Lord your God and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind thoughts.’
David knew that nothing could be hidden from God, after all He sees and understands everything in our hearts. The importance of us being completely open with God and being wholeheartedly devoted to him sets us up to have a willing mind and willing hand to serve God, do his works and love others well.
Scripture often refers to David as ‘a man after Gods own heart’ REF: 1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22. Knowing all that David accomplished in his life – king, warrior, writer of many proverbs and psalms in bible – can make us feel like David had some superpower connection with God, almost too perfect and hard to relate to. However, David was not a perfect man. If you know much of his story, there’s a time of his life that make todays bad reality tv look good! David got distracted, was tempted, committed adultery and murder.
Yet through all of this, ultimately David continued to surrender and be humble before God, and God’s response was to call David ‘a man after my own heart’.
With our own failings and fallings, we can know that even though there may be consequences of our sin, God’s grace has made a way for us to live a life of promise and purpose.
God’s promise to David in 1 Kings 2:3,4 was fulfilled despite the sin & setbacks David faced during his life. In Mathew 1:1 it says, ‘Jesus is the son of David’ – the king of kings and saviour of the world was a direct family line to King David.
God saw David’s wholehearted devotion and willing hand toward him. And so, because of that, God blessed his life, his children’s life, and the generations to come. This same promise of generational blessing is given to us. When we live a life of whole hearted devotion and have a willing hand to serve God, it positions not only us, but our children and children’s children to walk in the promises of God.
What a legacy to be a part of!
DISCUSSION & REFLECTION
- Like King David did with Solomon, what would be your most important instructions to pass on to others you love? What do you think you have been entrusted to accomplish with your time & resource?
- How does your life now align with what you think is most important? How are you outworking what you believe to be of significance and a path of generational blessing?
- Scripture encourages us in Proverbs 4:23 to ‘Guard our hearts, for all things flow from it.’ What does it mean to you to guard your heart & and what flows from it? Is this something we are intentional in doing? What distractions and temptations in your life can get in the way of having a wholehearted devotion and willing hand towards God?
- Like David we all have moments where we may let our guard down and get off track. How does David’s story of ‘being a man after God’s heart’ despite setback, sin and distraction give you hope for your story and your struggles?
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This week’s message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHnxFrdI2-A