David s Final Words 2 Samuel 23:1-39 Introduction

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Hillary Dean
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1 Introduction Chapter 23 has been called David s last song or David s final words. The chapter is divided in two parts; the song of David (vv.1-7) and the soldiers of David (vv.8-39). Famous Last Words: Voltaire, on his deathbed addressed his doctor; I am abandoned by God and man. I will give you half of what I am worth, if you will give me six months life. The doctor replied, Sir, you cannot live six weeks. Voltaire replied, Then I shall go to hell, and you will go with me. Soon after he died. Sir Francis Newport, the head of an English infidel club said to those gathered around his dying bed, You need not tell me there is no God for I know there is none, and that I am in His angry presence! You need not tell me there is no hell, for I already feel my soul slipping into its fires! Wretches, cease your idle talk about there being hope for me! I know I am lost forever. Compare that with Francis Havergal, the song writer. She lived and moved in the Word of God. On the last day of her life, she asked a friend to read to her from Isaiah 42; when the friend read Isaiah 42 verse 6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee. Miss Havergal stopped her; she whispered, Called, held, kept...i can go home on that! And she did go home on that. David s Last Will And Testament (vv.1-7) 2 Samuel 23:1 (NKJV) Now these are the last words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse; Thus says the man raised up on high, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel: Many OT Patriarchs gave final blessings. When Jacob came to the end of his life, he called his sons and blessed them (Gen.49:1-33). When Moses came to the end of his career, he gave a blessing to each of the tribes of Israel (Deut.33:1-29). Moses also composed a song (Deut. 32:1-52). Joshua called the tribes to himself when he was nearing death and made a covenant with them (Josh. 24:1-28). Look at the titles David wished to be remembered by: the son of Jesse; the man raised on high; the anointed of the God of Jacob; and the sweet Psalmist of Israel. David describes his humble origins and how God raised him up! HERE WAS BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE 1

2 OF THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA BORN APRIL 2, 1743 O.S. DIED JULY The titles of David reflect humilty; David s father was a humble farmer; David s rise came from the Lord; David was anointed by God; not through some self serving or self seeking gain. The sweet singer of Israel reflects the heart of a poet and a person who sought deep personal intimacy with the Lord. The future Son of David causes every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to experience something of that wonder; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God. 2 Samuel 23:2 (NKJV) The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue. David realized God used to David to speak for God. David claims God gave him words; a divine revelation; a specific revelation; a supernatural communication. The Bible claims to be the Word of God. This is one of the clearest claims for inspiration made anywhere in the Bible. David did not simply speak his own words, he was speaking the Words of God. God s Spirit guided David. David did not channel God. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2 Peter 1:21 (NKJV) for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Samuel 23:3 (NKJV) The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God. Does David make an Old Testament reference to the Trinity? The Spirit of God is on David s tongue. Who is the God of Israel? Jehovah! Who is the Rock of Israel? David s future famous Son! The Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Rock. He is the Chief Cornerstone. 2

3 Jesus never referred to extra-biblical references to bolster his teachings. Ed Young described the approach that Jesus took to the Bible as forming a whole; an organic unity; and that in both the parts and the whole the Revelation was binding and complete in authority. The authority extended to the whole thought, the particular words down to the specific phrases; down to the very letters. Jesus had access to the popular literature of the past and the contemporary writers but he never appeals to them. Jesus Christ relied solely on the Canon of Scripture. Jesus believed the Bible to have intrinsic authority, that it was powerful and inviolate (the Scripture cannot be broken). Jesus Christ believed the Scriptures to be true, authoratative, reliable and his method of interpretation and application means He believed God s Word. Jesus rejected the false man made traditions that contradicted or circumvented the Word of God. Jesus never quotes apocrypha literature. Jesus quotes from the Septuagint; the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. This does not mean that Jesus believed the version was inspired but that the Word of God was God breathed. Jesus believed the Scripture was the Commandments of God (Mark 7:8). Jesus called the Scripture the word of God in Mark 7:13; making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do. Jesus received the Scriptures. How did David view rulers? David learned through divine revelation and experience a ruler must be just. A leader must lead the people in the fear of God. Rulers must be just and rulers must fear the Lord. The Bible says Do not pervert justice (Lev. 19:15). Thomas Jefferson who denied the Jesus of the Bible still had enough sense to say; I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King wrote; True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice. Blaise Pascal wrote; Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful and whatever is powerful may be just. God s people depended on the ruler the same way the earth depends on sunlight. The King was to be like tender grass coming up out of the earth. What does that mean? Palestine is a desert. It kind of looks like the remote places in Utah or Wyoming--brown baked desert. Patches of grass are what kept the livestock alive. The rains brought rich lush green grass. 2 Samuel 23:5 (NKJV) Although my house is not so with God, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire; Will He not make it increase? David knows the truth about his own reign. David knows he has fallen short in the area of justice and complete blessing. But David appeals to the fact that God has made a covenant with him. The Covenant was made on the basis of God s perfect faithfulness. The Covenant was not 3

4 made on David s imperfect faithfulness. David knew that his own obedience was not enough to be a foundation for all his salvation and all his desire (David Guzik--notes on 2 Samuel). Guzik goes on and says David s light dimmed towards the end of his life, but it was by no means extinguished. He shined until the end. He then quotes G Cambell Morgan; In the Divine dealing with us, there is no mistake, no lapse. Nothing has been permitted which has not been made to serve the highest purpose. This is so even of our failures, if like David, in true penitence we have forsaken them and confessed them. It is certainly so of all our sorrows and trials. Is that how you approach your failures? (vv.6-7) The sons or rebellion are the sons of Belial. Rebels may be the mascot at Columbine but rebellion is not looked on favorably by God in the Bible. David contrasts the righteous ruler with the shameless sons of Belial. He likens them to the idea of picking up thorns without any gloves! What do you do with thorns? You burn them. They are weeds and pests. The Role Call Of David s Mighty Men (vv.8-39) See also 1 Chronicles 11:10-47 Three hundred is the reading in Chronicles and seems to be the true one (Clarke). We live in a time when heroes are in great demand. Hollywood loves to do films about comic book hero characters. Every culture and society has its heroes. In every great city in America you can see people sporting their favorite jerseys with members of professional sports teams. Who were David s mighty men? David had a list of officers who were in charge of the affairs of state; or the branches of government. They are listed in 2 Samuel 8:14-18; 20: In addition to these leaders David had three chief officers and 34 other mighty men. The officers are listed in 1 Chronicles 11 and 1 Chronicles chapter 27. David did not accomplish mighty deeds alone. He had help. David s mighty men. Paul in the NT had help. Paul did not preach the gospel as some kind of loner. Paul had help from Timothy, Titus, Barnabas, Silas and John Mark. Other people not so well known include; Onispherous, Epaphras, Epaphroditus, Tertius, Tychicus and Urbane. Look at just three of the mighty men; Adino (v.8); Eleazar (vv.9-10) and Shammah (v.11). What did they all have in common? In each case--each won a victory in the face of overwhelming odds! Each triumphed or won in the face of utter exhaustion. Each won was victorious when the people of God, the children of God were in confusion and retreat. These were victories that were won in the power of the true and living Lord (vv.10-12). 4

5 2 Samuel 23:8 (NKJV) These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb- Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time. Adino--sounds Italian! He presided over the counsels of war. He is the chief military advisor. Note: Before he advised on how to fight--he fought! He had wisdom, strength valor. Like Sampson--the guy had supernatural strength. He was an ancient Israeli version of Walker-Texas Ranger-Rambo-pick your hero. Like Paul the Apostle in the New Testament--who considers himself the least of the NT apostles; yet he is chief because Paul is pulling down strongholds of the enemy. (v.9) Eleazar the son of Dodo--we do not know much about him. He was one of the three who stood in the face of overwhelming odds; and then took the offense! With confidence in the Lord he killed hundreds of enemies. Eleazar manifested great courage when courage is needed most-- when others are backing down and running (and the men of Israel had retreated). Why did the others run away? Fear? Overwhelming odds? Unbelief? This is the time when true courage manifests itself. We need the most courage when others display the least amount of courage. It is easy to trust Jesus in Church--surrounded by a gang of praying Christians; it is more difficult to trust Jesus at school, at work, in the gym; or on the job. Eleazar s hand was glued to the sword. When our hands are tired we run the risk of dropping our sword. Eleazar would not--could not--drop the sword until the job was done. Spurgeon; Remember Mr. Sankey s hymn; Dare to be a Daniel! Dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known! Dare to be an Eleazar, and go forth and smite the Philistines alone; you will soon find that there are others in the house who have concealed their sentiments, but when they see, you coming forward, they will be openly on the Lord s side. Many cowards are skulking about, try to shame them. Many are undecided, let them see a brave man, and he will be the standard-bearer around whom they will rally. For the Christian our Sword is the Word of God. (v.11) A band of marauding Philistines attacked the food supply of the people of Israel. One guy refused to give up the source of nourishment; the food supply for his people. Acts 14:3 (NKJV) Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. Dr. King in a speech said; 5

6 Courage is an inner resolution to go forward in spite of obstacles and frightening situations; cowardice is a submissive surrender to circumstance. Courage breeds creative self-affirmation; cowardice produces destructive self-abnegation. Courage faces fear and thereby masters it; cowardice represses fear and is thereby mastered by it. Courageous men never lose the zest ofr living even though their life situation is zestless; cowardly men, overwhelmed by the uncertainties of life, lose the will to live. We must constantly build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear. (vv.13-17) the caves and David s drink from Bethlehem. He would not drink it but poured it out to the Lord; David was so honored by the self-sacrifice of these mighty men; David believed the water to good for him; so he poured out the water as a sacrifice to the LORD. He believed the great sacrifice of these men could only be honored by giving the water to the LORD. (v.34) 2 Samuel 23:34 (NKJV) 34Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, The man deserves special attention; he was the father of Bathsheba. When David heard of Bathsheba s relaton to Uriah and Eliam and Ahithophel (2 Sam. 3:11); he should have put any thoughts of betrayal completely out of his mind. Instead--he went completely out of his mind. You will also notice the mention of Uriah the Hittite. 37 men. They did not come to David as great men. God used the leadership of David to transform them into great men. Remember--these were the men who were in distress, in debt, and discontented. G Cambell Morgan: More than all his victories against outside foes, the influence of his life and character on the men nearset to him testify to his essential greatness. Perhaps your greatest legacy will not be what you did--but rather the influence you had on the people closest to you. Conclusion A lady who s husband was absent lost both her children to a cholera epidemic. She laid them out with a mother s tenderness; spread a sheet over them and waited at the door for her husband s return. A person lent me some jewels she told her husband on his return; and now He wants me to give them back. What shall I do? Return them by all means said the Husband. Then she led the way and silently uncovered the forms of their children. Alan Redpath: 6

7 The triumph of the church as a whole depends upon the personal victory of every Christian. In other words, your victory, your life, your personal testimony, are important to the cause of God today. What happens out in New Guinea, down in the Amazon jungle, over in disturbed Congo, is not unrelated to what happens in your own personal relationship with God and your personal battle against the forces of darkness. Victory for the church on the whole world-front depends upon victory in your life and in mine; home and foreign situations cannot be detached. 7

The Last Words of David & The Deeds of Three of His Mighty Men

The Last Words of David & The Deeds of Three of His Mighty Men 2 Samuel 23:1-12 Now these are the last words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse; Thus says the man raised up on high, The anointed