Establishing God’s Kingdom 

Pastor Jim Thomas

1 & 2 Kings: The King of Redemption History

“I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong… If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favour will not be taken from him… Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.” 
– 2 Samuel 7:12-16

“Of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons), He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him. I will establish his kingdom forever if he resolutely performs My commandments and My ordinances.’”  
– 1 Chronicles 28:5-7

Verses 1-12:  David’s dying words and advice to Solomon

Verses 1-4:  Advice regarding character and spiritual life

1. Be strong.
2. Show yourself a man.
3. Keep the charge of the LORD your God.
4. Walk in His ways.
5. Keep God’s statutes/laws, commandments, ordinances/rules and testimonies/admonitions.
6. According to what is written in the Law of Moses.
7. That you may succeed in all that you do/wherever you turn.
8. That the LORD may carry out His promise.

“Kingdom stability is not anchored in our experiences or profession, not in our education or pedigree, nor in our ministerial achievements, but only in obedience to the clear word we have long possessed.” 
– Dale Ralph Davis

God’s kingdom will be established in us as we…

1. study God’s Word.
2. walk in God’s ways.
3. seek God’s glory.

1 Kings 2

Establishing God’s Kingdom 

1. God’s kingdom will be established despite formidable opposition from without.
2. God’s kingdom will be established despite significant failures within.
3. God’s kingdom will be established despite undesirable circumstances and unseemly events.
4. God’s kingdom will ultimately be established by one greater than King David and greater than King Solomon. His name is Jesus.

“Christ is everywhere throughout the Old Testament. It speaks of Him explicitly and implicitly, in promises, patterns, types, hints and images. Through these various ways, the Old Testament reveals and anticipates the richness of His character:  His work, His life, His glory, His hope, His might, His love, His suffering, His wisdom, and so much more, and it does this all before the historical event of His incarnation.” 
– Scott Redd

“Stressed? Scared? Anxious? Distracted? Remember King Jesus. Take time to avert your eyes from everything else and look squarely at Him. Look to His perfect life in your place. Look to His death on the cross for your sins. Look to His resurrection victory. Look to His exaltation as king. Look to His promise to come again.”
– Trevin Wax

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel.” 
– 2 Timothy 2:8

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
to his feet thy tribute bring;
ransomed healed, restored, forgiven,
who like me his praise should sing?
Praise him, praise him,
praise the everlasting King.

Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress;
praise him still the same for ever,
slow to chide and swift to bless:
Praise him, praise him,
glorious in his faithfulness.

Henry Francis Lyte, “Praise, my soul, the King of heaven” (1834)

“The Bible tells us that God did not originally make the world to have disease, hunger and death in it. Jesus has come to redeem where it is wrong and heal the world where it is broken. His miracles are not just proofs that He has power but also wonderful foretastes of what He is going to do with that power. Jesus’ miracles are not just a challenge to our minds, but a promise to our hearts, that the world we all want is coming.” 
– Tim Keller, The Reason for God