2 Samuel 23:1-7 | David’s Legacy | Sermon 45
A Strange Place For Last Words
David's "last words" in 2 Samuel 23:1-7 appear before his story ends, raising questions about their placement. Despite the label, David continues to make important decisions afterward. This unusual positioning suggests a deeper significance beyond chronology. Focusing on righteous rule and God's covenant, these words seem disconnected from David's remaining actions. This invites us to view these "last words" as a meaningful summary of David's reign and prophetic insights, rather than just a chronological endpoint.
A Distinct Possibility For The Sweet Psalmist
These words may serve as an epilogue to David's Psalms, summarizing his role as Israel's "sweet psalmist." They distill key themes from his journey as a divinely inspired composer and prophet.
As Israel's psalmist, David encapsulated prophetic themes in his works, highlighting God's covenant promises and the Messiah's reign. This passage in 2 Samuel 23:1-7 likely concludes his psalmic contributions, capturing the essence of his worship and prophetic ministry.
With up to 85 psalms potentially authored by David, this passage acts as a summary of his works. It offers a framework for understanding David's psalms as a unified composition, emphasizing God's righteousness, leadership, the Davidic covenant, and Messianic triumph.
What We Learn From These Words
There is a great deal to learn from the “last words,” contained in 2 Samuel 23:2-7.
David’s Recognition of Divine Inspiration:
David acknowledges divine inspiration: "The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue" (v. 2). This elevates his psalms to Scripture, placing them alongside other inspired writings before a formal canon existed.
This aligns with the New Testament concept of inspiration in 2 Timothy 3:16. David recognizes the Holy Spirit's role in guiding his words, highlighting the Psalms' prophetic nature and his connection with God. Through this divine inspiration, David conveyed truths about righteous rule, worship, and prophecy.
A Description of the Ideal King or Righteous Person:
David describes the ideal ruler in verse 3: "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." This sets a high standard for kingship, emphasizing justice and reverence for God. Verse 4 further illustrates this ideal: "he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds," portraying the king as a source of life and prosperity.
However, this perfection surpasses human capability. These verses not only describe an ideal earthly king but also prophesy the Messiah—the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic covenant. Jesus Christ, as the perfect King, embodies this description, bringing light and renewal to the world in a way no human ruler could.
Thus, David's words set a standard for his lineage and point to the coming of Christ, who will reign with perfect justice and bring everlasting peace and righteousness.
Reflections on God’s Covenant or Promises:
In verse 5, David reflects on God's covenant: "Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure." This acknowledges his family's imperfections while affirming God's promises. The "everlasting covenant" refers to God's pledge to establish David's throne forever.
David's reflection highlights God's faithfulness over his lineage's righteousness. Despite his house's failures, David trusts God's word, understanding that the Messiah would ultimately fulfill this promise. This covenant confidence anchors Israel, ensuring the future Messiah will fulfill this eternal covenant regardless of historical challenges. David's trust points Israel to the coming King, offering hope for an enduring Messianic kingdom.
The phrase "Although he make it not to grow" reiterates that even if David's sons fail, the promise remains. David's faith transcends circumstances, trusting in God's "ordered and sure" covenant despite potential faltering of his descendants.
Judgment on the Wicked and Deliverance from Enemies:
In verses 6-7, David uses thorns to symbolize the wicked: "But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away." These thorns represent those destined for destruction, illustrating the inevitable judgment awaiting those opposing God's order.
This imagery foreshadows the fate of those opposing God's people before Christ's Second Coming. The Day of the Lord, as described in Scripture, is when God's wrath falls on nations rising against Israel, culminating in the battle of Armageddon (Zechariah 14:2-3, Revelation 16:16, 19:11-21).
David's words point to this future judgment, with the "sons of Belial" representing all who align against God and His covenant people. The burning thorns in 2 Samuel 23:7 symbolize the destruction of God's enemies during the Day of the Lord. Thus, 2 Samuel 23:6-7 reflects both David's understanding of justice and prophetically indicates the fate of the wicked when Christ returns.
The Psalms: A Gift of Insight
David's "last words" in 2 Samuel 23:1-7 summarize key themes of the Psalms. These prophetic utterances echo Messianic righteousness, God's covenant, and divine judgment—core ideas throughout the Psalms. David's inspired writings offer profound prophetic insights. The Psalms are more than prayers and worship songs; they're prophetic revelations of God's plan. They foreshadow Christ's coming, suffering, resurrection, and eternal reign, providing unparalleled insight into God's redemptive work. Through the Psalms, David leaves a lasting prophetic legacy. His "last words" reaffirm these truths, showing that the Psalms are not just ancient songs, but divine revelations for the future.
