King David’s Farewell Prayer
Below is the Message Audio. It is followed by Typed Notes.
Event that led to King David’s Farewell Prayer.
King David initial plan was to build a Temple for God, a house of rest for the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, but God told him by the prophet Nathan that he shall not build a house but that his son Solomon would build the house. 1 Chronicles 17:1-12. The Ark was built according to the pattern that God gave to Moses when the Israelites were encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai one year after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt in 1446 B.C about 400 years before David became king.
Before his Farewell Prayer, King David gathered the leaders of Israel and tells them that he had “hoped to build a house of rest for the Ark of the Covenent of the Lord…but God said to me thou shall not build a house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war. Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son and I will be his father. Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgement, as at this day.” 1 Chronicles 28:1-7.
Events that are mentioned that led to David’s Farewell Prayer. 1 Chronicles 29:1-8 & 18-19.
King David said to all the assembly: “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen to build God’s Temple is capable of doing so.” vs.1
David had made preparation for building the Temple by providing the needed gold, silver, brass, wood, stones, etc. He did this because he had “set his affection to the house of his God…” vs.2-5.
The leaders of the nation of Israel had expressed their desire to contribute and do the work. vs.6-8.
David expressed his awareness and thankfullness for Israel’s God that has been faithfull to keep His promise to Abraham and his seed to bless them and prepare their hearts to serve Him and to “give Solomon his son a perfect heart…” vs.18-19.
King David’s Farewell Prayer was recorded in 1 Chronicles 29:9-20.
9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
10 Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
11 Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
16 O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.
17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
18 O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:
19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
20 And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God. And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king.
Events that followed David’s Farewell Prayer. 1 Chronicles 29:20-25.
In response to David’s instruction, the congregation blessed the Lord, made sacrifices to God, and had a great celebration on that day. vs.20-21.
They made Solomon the son of David king to succeed his father. vs.22-24.
The Lord magnified and empowerd Solomon in the sight of all the people. vs.25.
David had reigned over all Israel 40 years and he died in a “good old age”. Seventy years old, 1040-970 B.C.
Below is the underlined link to the Notes pdf