Sermon Tone Analysis

(ESV) —28 Then King David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.”

So she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king.

29 And the king swore, saying, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity, 30 as I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ even so will I do this day.”

31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and paid homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

Introduction:

Introduction:

Most of you have heard the expression, “My life flashed before my eyes.”

This is often used in near death experiences.

But if you want to see the future and not the past, learn from others.

Most of you have heard the expression, “My life flashed before my eyes.”

This is often used in near death experiences.

But if you want to see the future and not the past, learn from others.

What is going to happen to your family when you die?

If you want a clue, look at what happens to other families when people die.

Someone recently shared with me that they wanted to learn from other people’s mistakes so that they didn’t have to learn from their own.

I Corinthians tells us that is one of the purposes for the Old Testament.

(ESV) —6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

(ESV) —11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

As we look at the final days of David’s life, we see what can happen to a family upon ones death.

David is on his deathbed.

In his weakened condition events are taking place that, if he had been healthy and alert, he would have dealt with.

Adonijah establishes a parade and appoints himself as Grand Marshal.

(ESV) —5 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.”

And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

Adonijah establishes a parade and appoints himself as Grand Marshal.

His father never asked any question that would cause his son to be irritated.

He shared traits with Absalom.

He was handsome.

He tried to take over Israel without his father’s approval.

His father never asked any question that would cause his son to be irritated.

He shared traits with Absalom.

He was handsome.

He tried to take over Israel without his father’s approval.

The write makes a deliberate and direct connection to Absalom.

Good looking and devious.

He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest.

And they followed Adonijah and helped him.

We can understand why Joab joined.

He had a history of doing what he thought was right even if it went against the wishes of David.

He is soon to come up short, but he doesn’t know that.

He chooses the person he things should be the next king.

We can understand why Joab joined.

He had a history of doing what he thought was right even if it went against the wishes of David.

He is soon to come up short, but he doesn’t know that.

He chooses the person he things should be the next king.

Abiathar is another issue.

It’s hard to see why he chose Adonijah, but he did.

David took him in when his father was killed by Saul.

He had years of loyalty; a loyalty that eventually would prolong his life.

But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David’s mighty men were not with Adonijah.

It appears that they were invited, but chose not to go.

This whole event was done behind David’s back and did not have his approval.

It appears that they were invited, but chose not to go.

This whole event was done behind David’s back and did not have his approval.

Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent’s Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, 10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother.

One can tell a lot by who is deliberately excluded from a party.

These were all supporters of David and would not think of going against David’s wishes.

One can tell a lot by who is deliberately excluded from a party.

These were all supporters of David and would not think of going against David’s wishes.

Though David told people what his wishes were when he died, he did nothing publically to cement these in place.

The result was that upon his death, the family members would fight and kill one another.

Problem:

Many of us are in the same place.

We have made no provisions for what will happen when we die.

First, we have made no provision for our material goods.

You have no will.

For some of you, this is no big issue.

It may not be to you, but it might be to those who survive you.

I am not a lawyer and I am only coming to you from a position based on my experience.

People who die without wills often leave families that fight, are hurt and can have lifetime rifts because of your inaction.

Even before David dies, one of his sons decides to take over his throne.

I know personally of two cases where people entered the house either before the funeral or soon after and took what was not theirs to take.

In one case, I was not aware of a will and the people got away with it.

In the second, there was a will and the person had to return what was taken.

It’s sad.

A will may not solve all problems, but preparing for your death in this way can be a loving act for your family.

Some people use their wills to give special gifts to special people.

Others have used their wills to help advance the kingdom of God.

If you love your family, don’t do what one person said they would do.

They said, “Let them fight it out.

I’ll be gone and it won’t affect me.”

Though everyone around them laughed, the truth is that such an attitude does not show love to the family.

What loving person wants to put their family in a position to fight?

Beyond that, young people who love their husbands, wives and children need to understand that, as sad as it is, both parents can die in an accident.

Who will care for your children?

I am not a lawyer, but I believe the state will decide for you if you have not made a decision.

One of the main concerns we had was that whoever would take the children would 1) not abuse them and 2) would encourage their Christian faith.

None of us know the future.

Here is David waiting until he is on his deathbed to make a decision after his lack of leadership has created a problem.

Second, we need to make provision for our families spiritual wellbeing.

Nothing will bring as much comfort to your friends and family than for them to know you trust and follow Jesus.

Jesus is the only way to God.

He calls everyone to come to him and trust him.

We please God when we trust him.

It is impossible to please God without faith.

That faith is not in us, it is in Jesus.

If you say you have put your faith in Jesus that is huge.

If you live a Christian life, that is even better.

If you have kept quiet about your faith in Jesus, your friends and relatives will have to guess as to your eternal destination.

The greatest comfort you can give your family and friends is to not only confess your faith in Jesus, but also to live in such a way as to remove any doubt.