Snapshots from the Life of David — Week 4 Study Guide
“Maximizing your Impact”
Introduction
It has been said that death is the great equalizer. Rich and poor, presidents and ordinary people, all races and ethnicity have one thing in common—all will one day die. These verses tell the last scene in David's life on earth. As powerful and rich and strong as he was, David, like all of us, was mortal (meaning he would die). The Bible speaks of the mortality of man in many scriptures, notably Hebrews 9:27 and Ecclesiastes 8:8. A number of Psalms describe man as a flower who flourishes and then fades and is blown away by the wind (Psalm 103:15 and note also 1 Peter 1:24). The question then becomes: What will we do with this one life that we have been given by God? How will we invest our lives? What will our priorities be? Will we have an impact that lives on in the lives of others when we are gone?
The key concepts in this study are questions of legacy and focus. Albert Mohler has noted that death is not only the great equalizer but death is the great motivator. A healthy understanding of our mortal nature leads us not to despair but rather to responsibility and purpose.
Background Information
David has reached the end of his life in these verses. I Kings 1:1-4 indicate that David had to be cared for by the young Shunammite woman (Shunam was the name of a town, and she was from that town). This means she had to bathe David and feed him and provide for his personal needs, much as home health aides do today. What an incredible journey David has had. David experienced great joys, deep sorrows, exhilarating victories, and humiliating defeats. Through all of the seasons of his life, he walked with God. Was David perfect? Not even close in his action, yet in his heart orientation he was perfect.
The question at this point is what will happen after David dies. Who will be the next king of Israel? Would the next king be David's firstborn child, as was traditional in that part of the world, or would the next king be divinely chosen as David was chosen? If it was to be David's firstborn son, then things get very complicated. David had multiple wives and multiple firstborn sons. In fact, there had been significant rivalry between the firstborn sons as to who would be the next King. Absalom the firstborn of Maacah, had killed Amnon, the firstborn over all (son of Ahinoam). Absalom had betrayed his father and taken over the kingship and then been killed. Chileab (Daniel), the firstborn of Abigail, was assumed to be dead at this time by most scholars. The fourth firstborn son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. In these verses he declares himself King (1 Kings 1:5-10), without David knowing anything about it. Solomon, the son of Bathsheba (the woman David committed adultery with, murdered her husband and married), was a favorite of David and put forth to be the king by Nathan the prophet, who had great influence in David's life. From this brief description of David's family situation, one can see that it was a mess.
David had spoiled his sons and never corrected them (1 Kings 1:6; 2 Samuel 13:21; 2 Samuel 18:5). David had not provided for his legacy and seems to have been very passive in thinking about who would replace him as king. Finally he decides upon Solomon as his successor and in chapter 2 gives him a charge. Solomon—although known as a man of great wisdom—does not finish his life well. His many wives draw his heart away from God, and he worships false idols at the end of his life (see 1 Kings 11:1-13). One can speculate whether the impact of David's poor example in the area of sexuality and marriage had a negative impact on Solomon.
Key Points
Understanding and accepting the reality of death is the key to living your life for maximum impact.
Neglecting your legacy now diminishes your impact forever.
When you redeem your past, you turn Satan's strategy around. When you spiritually mentor others, you walk in God's strategy.
Digging Deeper Questions
1. How would you live your life if you knew you would die one year from today? What would you want to accomplish in that time? What would you do differently?
2. Read I Kings 1:6. Adonijah is David's son, and David had spoiled him by never disciplining him. How do people spoil children today? What is the effect of spoiling children? How should children be raised?
3. Read verses 28-30. Remember David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Solomon was Bathsheba's oldest living son. How is this an example of redeeming a bad situation? What situations have you redeemed in your life?
4. Read chapter 2 verses 1-3. What advice or charge does David give to Solomon. How would you give that same charge to your child or someone you know? Use your own words.
5. What would you like your legacy to be when you die? Why? What do you need to do now to make that a reality?
6. Who in your circle of acquaintances can you be a spiritual mentor to? How will you do that?
7. What do you want to apply in your life from this study?
This Week’s Challenge
Ask God to show you someone you can be a spiritual mentor to.