“Then David slept with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. David had ruled Israel for forty years — seven years in Hevron and thirty-three years in Yerushalayim.”-1 Kings 2:10-11
Verse 10 almost brings me to tears.
Why?
Because I’m told of the end of one of my favorite Bible heroes: the great King David.
We’re told he ruled over Judah for 7 years and then ruled over the entire kingdom of Israel for 33 years, totaling 40 years.
Now I know people get all excited over Biblical numerology and the numbers mentioned here.
But here’s the truth.
These numbers aren’t precise.
Want proof?
Check out this verse from 2nd Samuel:
“In Hevron he ruled over Y’hudah
seven years and six months;
then in Yerushalayim he ruled thirty-three
years over all Isra’el and Y’hudah.”
– 2 Samuel 5:5
So which is it?
Seven years?
Or seven and a half?
Look, the Bible isn’t being sloppy.
Sometimes Scripture is precise.
Sometimes it isn’t.
This tells us something important about how the Bible communicates.
It ain’t obsessed with giving you perfectly rounded, hyper-technical timelines the way our modern mindset is.
Ya feel me?
Scripture will give you what you need based on context.
Sometimes the big picture.
Sometimes the fine detail.
One other thing.
Don’t you find it interesting that, as great as King David was, there’s literally only one sentence dedicated to his death?
Verse 10 quickly tells us that David passed and was buried in the City of David.
That’s it.
No fanfare, no nothing.
This is so typical of the Scriptures.
Whenever a major Biblical character dies (or any Biblical character for that matter), we’re quickly told that so-and-so went to sleep with his or her ancestors, and that was that.
Why?
Well, this leads us to our wonderful takeaway for today.
The Bible is a book of LIFE, not death.
I dunno about you, but I find that to be incredibly inspiring.
In a world always fretting about death and illness and how to prevent these things, the Bible is focused on the one thing that really matters.
It’s focused on life…or LA CHAIM in Hebrew.
And not just your life here on earth, but on the life thereafter.
In fact, Scripture says those two are linked!
So that’s your lesson for today.
The Bible doesn’t dwell on death.
It keeps moving forward.
Its focus is on life…on what God is doing and on what comes next.
That’s a mindset shift worth considering, don’t you think?
Instead of always worrying about death and trying to delay it or control it…
Or trying to secure your future through money, plans, and ridiculous safety nets.
What a ridiculous way to live your life!
Hell man, if you think about it, some of the richest people in the world have committed suicide because they never found peace for their souls.
That peace can only come from a relationship with the one and true living God.
So place your hope in the Lord and Him alone.
Then, all else will fall into place naturally.
Can you really believe that?
Or are you gonna fall into a fit of worry because you came across some YouTube video at 3:36 AM about the horrors of being homeless in old age or something?
Ya feel me?
Done.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Therefore, take no thought, saying,
What shall we eat? or,
What shall we drink? or,
Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)
for your heavenly Father knoweth
that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness;
and all these things shall
be added unto you.”
-Matthew 5:31-33
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