No 10.THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS. David’s last years and His Death.

David reigned over Israel for forty years. He was a royal man, born to be a king, anointed of God, and never to be forgotten. He is mentioned throughout the Word of God because his Covenant was Everlasting between him and his God.

The greatness of God and the frailty of man is contrasted in the book of Isaiah.

See lsa 40:6-8. “ALL FLESH IS GRASS, AS THE FLOWER OF THE FIELD IS GOODLY.”

“SHOUT THAT PEOPLE ARE LIKE THE GRASS. THEIR BEAUTY FADES AS QUICKLY AS THE FLOWERS OF THE FIELD.”

David was an older man now. He could not keep muscle in his bones. His flesh folded down upon itself in flaps of unwanted skin. We do not like watching our bodies deteriorate and the fading of our youthful beauty.

Reason tells us we are going to die.

Experience also tells us we are going to die.

God warns us we all must at one time DIE! He has appointed death.

“THE GRASS WITHERS AND THE FLOWERS FADE BENEATH THE BREATH OF THE LORD.” Hebrews 8:27.

And so it is with people. The silver chord of life one day will “snap,” and we will pass away.

Look at this verse in Psalm 89:48.

“SHOW ME A MAN THAT CONTINUES TO LIVE AND SHALL NOT SEE DEATH. CAN HE DELIVER HIMSELF FROM THE GRAVE?”

Sin entered our world through the rebellion of Adam and Eve against God Almighty, so we are all under the power of sin, and sin brings death.

FACING OLD AGE.

It is not easy to grow old because it was not the original plan of God for us to age, get sick, and die.

In the Word of God, Paul teaches in the book of Romans that,

“THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH”

The consequence of both physical and spiritual death

One day you will die, and so will everyone else because death has passed upon all men. But when you know the Lord, the end has no sting, and you can speak of it openly and without fear.

CHRIST TOOK OUR PUNISHMENT! Praise His holy Name.

Roms 3: 23,24. He freed us from the punishment of sin and made us right with God.

“JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, COMES TO THE FATHER; NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER, BUT BY HIM” John 14:6.

LIVING IN OLD AGE.

It is hard to live during the challenges of old age because it happens slowly.

The time used to cope increases having to visit Drs, Dentists, Specialists, Physiotherapists, and Optometrists. And who else?

Then as our hearing fades, the need to wear Hearing Aids is necessary.

We endure Laser treatments for cataracts that appear on our eyes, purchasing glasses and more glasses for improved sight.

We suffer bone and muscle pain from diseases such as Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Diabetes, etc, slowing us down and causing us to become dependent upon walking aids.

Of course, you may have to wear Dentures, which can be a jolly nuisance!

Think about the millions of dollars spent on medications we consume daily to keep our heart beating, our stomachs digesting, and our Bowels moving!

These health problems are merely the tip of the iceberg; hundreds of ailments can cause us misery and despair in our old age.

This information is negative and depressing but accurate. You may be thinking,

“Does God still heal today? Do I have to end life this way?”

NO, YOU NEED NOT! YES, HE DOES HEAL TODAY!

Sickness is ‘not’ synonymous with old age. Yet many people grow old and die. It is hard to understand why some faith-filled Christians die and God heals nonbelievers.

These considerations are another subject, and we will search it out more fully at another time.

The Lord encourages us through the pen of Isaiah.

See Isa 53:5.

“IT IS BY THE WOUNDS THAT WOUNDED HIM; WE WERE HEALED.” (old or young). Jesus HAS HEALED YOU; BELIEVE IT AND WALK BY FAITH.

We believe in TRUTH over facts. THE GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH LIVES IN YOU IN ALL HIS POWER AND GLORY. THERE IS NO SICKNESS IN HIM. He lives in us in all His Glory. There should be no room for sickness! We must allow Him to dwell in every part of our lives—Spirit, Soul, and Body.

COPING WITH O-L-D AGE.

1. KEEP AWAY FROM MIRRORS.

2. DON’T COMPLAIN AND SPEAK NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF.

3. HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE, AND LAUGH A LOT.

4. KEEP YOUR MIND ACTIVE.

5. EAT AND SLEEP WELL, AND AS MUCH AS YOU ARE ABLE, DO SOME LIGHT EXERCISE.

6. CARE FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

7. DON’T SPEND ALL YOUR MONEY ON EXPENSIVE PLASTIC SURGERY AND COSMETICS.

8. It has been recommended by Specialists too. MOISTURIZE – MOISTURIZE AND MOISTURIZE! Use cheap, effective moisturizers to help slow down the aging process.

9. ACCEPT COMPLIMENTS AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS.

10. USE YOUR SPARE TIME TO READ GOD’S WORD AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE LORD IN PRAYER.

11. THEN BLESS OTHER PEOPLE.

THERE IS A WONDERFUL TV GUIDE FOUND IN THE BIBLE! Please read PHIL 4:8. This will help purify your mind.

DAVID’S LAST WORDS.

See how he was remembered by those who knew him.

“DAVID THE SON OF JESSIE, THE MAN WHOM GOD RAISED ON HIGH, THE ANOINTED OF GOD OF JACOB, THE SWEET PSALMIST OF ISRAEL.”

What a lovely memorial of an extraordinary man after God’s heart.

David, now very aged (approximately 90 years ), was cold, so very cold, nothing could keep him warm. He shivered most of the time, even in his bed covered in warm woolen blankets. His servants suggest that they find a young virgin who would minister unto him by laying bodily close to him to keep him warm. They found Abishag, a beautiful Shunamite woman.

This suggestion was very successful. David had no sexual relations with her.

I Kings chapter 1:1-4. David recalled the covenant he made with God and accepted that soon, he would be gathered to his forefathers after his death.

In his old age, David didn’t lay around, not doing anything. He was productive till the very last breath, planning the building of the Temple, the house of God. The Temple was ready to be erected; Solomon, his son, was young and tender, and David ensured that people knew and understood that he would need support.

THIS HOUSE OF THE LORD MUST BE EXCEEDINGLY MAGNIFICENT, OF FAME AND GLORY, THROUGHOUT ALL THE EARTH.”

So he prepared abundantly before his death and collected vast building materials for the God of Israel’s House. He gave instructions to Solomon to follow God’s blueprint for the building.

Please read 1 Chronicles chapter 22 for a detailed account of David’s instructions to Solomon.

Also, his incredible generosity of donations came from his riches.

David was productive up to the end of his life. As death beckoned him, I think he would have recalled,

Psalm 23:4. “YOU ARE WITH ME. YOUR ROD AND STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME.”

Death must come to us all in God’s time unless we bring it about!

Isa 57:1,2.” GOOD PEOPLE PASS AWAY; THE GODLY OFTEN DIE BEFORE THEIR TIME. BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE OR WONDER WHY.”

“NO ONE SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND GOD IS PROTECTING THEM FROM EVIL TO COME.”

“FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW GODLY PATHS WILL REST IN PEACE WHEN THEY DIE.”

David died, and they buried him in the city that bears his name. THE CITY OF DAVID.

He had fulfilled his God-given destiny.

GOD SAW DAVID THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE AND FORGIVENESS.

See 2 SAM 23:1-5. “LIKE A GLORIOUS SUNRISE” AND LIKE A CLOUDLESS MORNING.LIKE THE GLEAMING OF THE SUN ON NEW GRASS AFTER THE RAIN.”

Isn’t that so beautiful? GOD SEES YOU THE SAME WAY. Yes YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!

OLD AGE CAN BE FULFILLING.

OLD AGE CAN BE PRODUCTIVE.

OLD AGE IS NOT THE END. It is a step into eternity, from one dimension to another.

TIME IS A GIFT FROM GOD; USE IT WISELY. Accept your age. Embrace your age despite how you look and how you feel.

TIME IS TEMPORARY; ETERNITY IS PERMANENT.

JESUS IS THE WAY TO HEAVEN.

He is the Truth and the Life. There is no other way. If you are not sure that when you die, you will go to Heaven, here is a prayer you can pray.

It doesn’t mean you have to earn your way by doing good things for people; you come as a sinner to the One who can save you from the penalty of Spiritual death.

“Heavenly Father, I come to you in the Name of Jesus Christ through His Blood that was shed for me. I am a sinner; please forgive my sin, save my soul, and take me to Heaven when I die. I choose to live my life for You. Empower me and fulfill the destiny you have planned for me.”

Pray this prayer request now! Before it’s too late.

You are now, SAVED!!

Share it with your loved ones, and then reach out to others.

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heatherdalzell777@gmail. com.