2. David ’s charge to Solomon
1 Chronicles 28
Near the end of his life, King David gave a solemn charge to his son Solomon. This charge pertained to the building of the temple:
(1 Chronicles 28:1-10) READ
(1 Chronicles 28:9), “As for you, my son Solomon, [1 – Solomon’s Duty before God] know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; [2 – Motivation for Solomon to fulfill his duty] for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. [3 – Promises, dependent upon his fulfilling his duty] If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.”
Applications for us today, regarding our own service to God…

3. Our Duty to God To Know God
Jeremiah 9: Hosea 4:1,6; Romans 1: Psalm 19:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-2
Our Duty to God
David tells Solomon to "...know the God of your father"
Nothing is more important in life than to truly know God
(Jeremiah 9:23-24), “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the Lord.”
God is displeased when people do not know Him
As was the case in Hosea's day, (Hosea 4:1,6), (1), “Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land.” (6), “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
As was the case in Paul's day, (Romans 1:18-28) Summarize (Gentiles no longer retained God in their knowledge)
God has made himself known through His creation, and His will revealed to men!
(Psalm 19:1-3), “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.”
(Hebrews 1:1-2), “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.”
Have we made a serious effort to know God?

4. Matthew 22:36-38 cf: 2 Corinthians 8:12; 9:7 cf: 1 Peter 5:1-2
To Know God
Jeremiah 9: Hosea 4:1,6; Romans 1: Psalm 19:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-2
To Serve God
Matthew 22: cf: 2 Corinthians 8:12; 9:7 cf: 1 Peter 5:1-2
Our Duty to God
To Serve God, “With a loyal heart” (NKJV); “With a whole heart” (NASB, ESV); “With wholehearted devotion” (NIV)
[The Greatest Commandment] (Matthew 22:36-38), “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?“ 37 Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.”
To Serve God, “With a willing mind”
“cordially and sincerely, cheerfully and freely, neither in an hypocritical manner, nor through force and constraint, nor with loathing and weariness” (John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible).
This is the kind of service God expects today (All Christians in giving, 2 Corinthians 8:12; 9:7; Elders in shepherding, 1 Peter 5:1-2)
(2 Corinthians 8:12), “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.”
(2 Corinthians 9:7), “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
(1 Peter 5:1-2), “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.”
Are we committed to serving God completely and willingly?

5. Our Motivation to Serve God
He searches all hearts
1 Kings 8:39 John 2:24-25; Revelation 2:23 Hebrews 4:12-13
Our Motivation to Serve God
David tells Solomon "...for the Lord searches all hearts"
Solomon later confesses the same in his prayer at the dedication of the Temple upon its completion
(1 Kings 8:39), “then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men.”
Today it is still the same…
[Jesus knew the hearts of men during His earthly ministry], (John 2:24-25), “But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.“
[Jesus continues to search the minds and hearts of all] (Revelation 2:23), “I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”
[There is no way we can hide our hearts from God] (Hebrews 4:12-13), “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

6. Our Motivation to Serve God
He searches all hearts
1 Kings 8:39 John 2:24-25; Revelation 2:23 Hebrews 4:12-13
He understands intents
There is no way we can hide our motives from God!
Our Motivation to Serve God
Since we cannot hide, why not serve Him willingly?
GOD UNDERSTANDS THE INTENTS...
The Lord "understand all the intents of the thoughts"
He understands "every motive behind the thoughts" (NIV)
"not only the thoughts of the heart, when regularly formed and ranged in order, but even the very beginning of them, the first motions of the mind, and before they are well formed" – Gill
There is no way that we can hide our motives from God!

7. Our Promises received from God
If we seek Him…
2 Chronicles 15:2 Jeremiah 29:13 James 4:8-10
Our Promises received from God
IF WE SEEK HIM... He will be found by us (This not the only time this promise was given)
(2 Chronicles 15:2), [Azariah’s words to King Asa] “And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”
For the Lord is seeking those whose heart is loyal to Him
The key is to seek Him with all our heart
[Jeremiah’s letter to the elders and people in captivity in Babylon] (Jeremiah 29:13), “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
(James 4:8-10), “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double- minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Are we making a diligent effort to find God, to learn and do His will?

8. Our Promises received from God
If we seek Him…
2 Chronicles 15:2 Jeremiah 29:13 James 4:8-10
If we forsake Him…
Isaiah 1:28 John 15:1-2,6
Our Promises received from God
IF WE FORSAKE HIM... He will cast us off forever
(Isaiah 1:28), “The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.”
Even as Jesus warned His disciples if they did not bear fruit
(John 15:1-2, 6), “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (6), “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
How sad and terrible to go through life and death without God at our side!

9. If we want the promises spoken of by David, we must do our duty!
Conclusion
If we want the promises spoken of by David, we must do our duty!
How wonderful it is to go through life, and eventually face death with God, rather than without Him!
(Isaiah 41:10), “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Consider David’s encouraging words to his son Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:20), “And David said to his son Solomon, ‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God— will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.’”
If we want the encouraging promise spoken of by David, accept the duty spoken of by David...!

10. “The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth… 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:16,18)