2 SAMUEL 23 - THE FINAL REMEMBRANCE
Chapter 23 begins by claiming that “these are the last words of David”. But they are clearly not his dying words, and it is soon made clear that these are the last inspired words of David. Verse 2 tells us “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me…”
Chapter 23 therefore is a final inspired remembrance of this simple shepherd boy, whom God raised to great heights because of his faith and his heart for the Lord.
In Chapter 23 David celebrates, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, his everlasting covenant with God and the “increase of both his salvation and delight” in the Lord? In David’s most famous psalm, Psalm 23, David tells us the source of his confidence. In verse 6 he tells us:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
David was confident in God’s goodness and mercy on this earth, and the promise of his eternal dwelling, in the house of the Lord, which was to come. Further, David concludes that his life has not only been a blessing to Him, but to all those who benefited from his reign.
“When one rules justly over men,
ruling in the fear of God,
he dawns on them like the morning light,
like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning,
like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.”
And then, beyond the blessing that of his own reign, David points to the reign of the coming messiah. This was God’s everlasting covenant with David.
This is the promise of a Godly life and a worthy reflection as David’s last inspired words. God calls us to live as a shining light on this earth, with the promise that the best is yet to come.
David contrasts all of this to worthless men, who are like thorns which must be handled carefully. They pin and prick any who dare to get to close. He warns everyone to arm themselves with iron and spear before we get to close to such men. Jesus, likewise, warns us that we are to walk in this world as sheep among the wolves, being wise as serpents but innocent as doves; remembering that the end of such men is destruction—for, as David says, they shall be “ burned with fire in their place”.
Like David God offers to each of us an everlasting covenant, as detailed by Jesus in Matthew 26:28:
for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus’ covenant is simply that if we will accept his sacrifice, God will forgive us of all wrong doing and grant us a place in his Kingdom. David’s confidence was great, as he declared God’s everlasting covenant as “ordered and secured”. But we can have even greater confidence in this covenant, because since David that covenant is now written and signed in the blood of Jesus, the son of God.
Chapter 23 ends with a recounting of David’s mighty men. It is a wonderful conclusion to David’s final inspired words. It is a good reminder that for all of David’s achievements, they were not accomplished alone. Though God’s hand had guided David and raised him up, God also raised up men around David that would help David achieve the heights to which he would attain.
God does not send us out alone. We are called to community. We too must surround ourselves with good men and women who can support us in achieving our God given calling.
What is David’s final testimony? Simply this: rest secure in God’s covenant, with our eyes towards heaven, our deeds displayed on earth, and working together with those with whom God has surrounded us.