Day 126

2 Samuel 23:1-7; 1 Kings 2:1-12; 1 Chronicles 29:26-30; Psalm 4-6,8,9,11. “Final Thoughts”

David left a rich history.  He was an amazing leader and powerful soldier.  His life was committed to God in such a way that he was described by God as a man after His own heart (1 Sam. 13:14).
At 70, David left words of advice and experience for Solomon and many others.  David had learned many lessons, and he expresses many of these in his last words.
David acknowledges the fact that it was God, and only God, who gave him the position of king over Israel.  David thanks the Lord for the blessings and recognizes God’s hand in all his life.  He also emphasizes God’s eternal, true, gracious, and righteous nature.  Additionally, David recognizes the certainty of death.
David reminds his son of the importance of following the commands of the Lord, and assures him that life will be much better if he obeys God’s laws.  David knew firsthand that God forgives sin but the consequences still remain.  David also left Solomon with several names of those whose actions assumed certain consequences.
What would your last words emphasize?

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?

Bible Discussion Guide:

Job said, “When I looked for good, evil came instead.  I waited for the light, but darkness fell” (30:26).  We have made similar statements in our life, e.g.: “When I thought this would happen, something else happened instead.”  “When I thought things were looking up they really weren’t.”  Have you ever made a statement like these?

What is it that makes our view so uniquely different from reality or God’s view?

Imagine being able to stand at a high vantage point and look back over your life.  If you could see each of the high points and low points how would you feel?  Were there benefits to the low points?

Continue imagining your perspective from that high vantage point.  What were some of the things you learned along the way?  Perhaps more specifically, what were some of the things you learned about yourself and God along the way?

Considering the list of descriptors from the May 1st devotional, what adjectives would you add to the list?

God helps us through those low points in our life.  However, what takes us to those low points?  Can God take us there?  Can poor choices take us there?  Be specific.

As you consider some of the ways we can take ourselves to places we should not be (i.e. King David’s complacency nearly resulted in the loss of Solomon’s reign), what things, attitudes, or decisions should you avoid?  In making it specific and personal, it may be something different for each person.

Personal application:  We may have a unique view compared with God’s, but each of us often have views unique from one another.  Nathan and Bathsheba had a different perspective than David (May 5th reading).  Do you ever wrestle with the fact that others have a different take on things than you do?  Have you ever found yourself saying or doing something distasteful because of it?