11-20-13. 2 Samuel 23:1-7.  ISRAEL’S SINGER OF SONGS- my devotional

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Key Verse: 23:2                                                                                                                                                       Kevin E. Jesmer

“The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue.” (ESV)

Lord God, you keep me “even keel” in the raging seas of life. You are my rock and my source of strength. With you I can overcome this world and taste spiritual victory. Without you I am simply existing, waiting for the end to come. But because Jesus died and rose again, and because you are Immanuel God, every day holds more, around every corner. Thank you for your blessings. Lord, I am in the midst of several work shifts. Grant me your wisdom and your word in the midst of business of life. Grant me your word in my heart today. I pray in Christ’s name. Amen!

Part 1: “The Spirit Spoke Through Me” (1-2).

Verse 1-2, “Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: 2 “The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue.” (ESV)

David was granted the privilege of uttering some profound last words. He was able to share them with the people he loved and cared for, both on a personal level and on a national level. His last words became part of “Word of God.” We mediate on his last words for 3,000 years and seek God’s wisdom and direction from those words. What a blessing to be able to utter godly last words.

This is not to be taken for granted. Few people, in our age, in our culture are granted the opportunity to share last words. We may have sudden illness, like a heart attack or a stroke where you may instantly loose consciousness. You may die suddenly in a car crash. You may die slowly from cancer and spend the last days of your life under the influence of ativan and morphine. You may embrace the “long good-bye” of Alzheimer’s and not even know where you are. You may not be able to think clearly because of the health issues confronted at the end of life. You may not have disciplined your mind over the years to be able to utter some meaningful last words. Think of Saul, David’s pursuer. What were his last words? 1 Samuel 31:4, “Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.” (ESV) This is not a very glorious end. The words, “Please kill me” do not impart a blessing those Saul left behind. It is not easy to be able to utter some famous last words. But what a blessing it is when we are able to do it. It is God’s gift to us and to future generations.

What were the general contents of David’s last words? 2 Samuel 23:2 reads, “The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue.” He spoke the words of God that God himself revealed to him. What is better to utter at the end of our lives, but the things revealed to us by the grace of God. I read of one US leader in the 1800’s. His last words were, “Your Kingdom Come.” The best last words are the words given to us by God. Billy Graham is in his 90’s. He really wanted to give his last words to the people of America and the world and so he had a broadcast, “My Hope- America” which could be his last crusade. (see http://myhopewithbillygraham.org/)  I pray that God may help me to be able to utter his word and the Gospel as my last words. I pray that I can pass on a blessing to the next generation. I pray for the adults of this nation, to embrace Christ, discipline their hearts and minds in the word of God and utter the words that bless, the words of God, in their final days.

Part 2: A King Who Feared God (3-7).

Verse 3-7, “The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, 4 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. 5 “For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? 6 But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; 7 but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire.” (ESV)

What grace of God to communicate to human beings. Look at verse 3a, “The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me:…”  What a blessing to have the God is Israel, the Rock of Isreal to actually communicate with sinful humanity. Who are we in ourselves, but grains of sand on the beach. But God chooses to speak to us. God chooses to relate to us on a very personal level. This is God’s grace.

David was a mighty warrior and a powerful king. He was a poet and a musician. He was a good son to his father Jesse. He pleased God and that is why he could be raised on high. He was anointed by God. Most importantly, he was a shepherd who taught his people the word of God; the Lord’s Spirit spoke through him. Some people become proud when they get power and authority. They use their power indiscriminately, at their own pleasure. But David was a king who ruled in righteousness because he had the fear and love of God in his heart.

When he was such a godly leader the people were blessed. Verses 3b-4, “When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, 4 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.” He was like the light of the morning sunrise which promises a beautiful day. All people were blessed by him, even the people who would live after his time on earth was done. For David knew that God laid a firm foundation for his house. His house is the House a line of David of which, Jesus was a part of.  Look at verse 5 “For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?”  God’s covenant with David looked toward the future. His house would be the source of God’s blessing for all people, for from his house would come the Messiah, who would bring to fruition salvation for a world lost in sin. I pray that many godly leaders may be raised up, who have the mind of Christ, who can lead this community and this nation and think about their influence to the people who will come after them, long after they are gone.

So far, this passage is so full of good things. But there are also consequences for rejecting the God of Israel who seeks to bless our lives and the people of the land and future generations through us.. Look verses 6-7, “But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; 7 but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire.” (ESV) There are consequences for how we related to God. There will be judgment. Such people can not be a blessing to others. In fact anyone who comes close to them to touch their lives could be harmed. Those who reject the Lord will be burned up like thorns on the day of God’s wrath. We just cannot sit on the fence and live a life apart from Jesus thinking we are doing the “smart” thing. It is imperative that we become right with the Lord, as King David was right with the Lord, by his grace.  

Prayer: Lord, let your word be on my tongue, and love for you be in my heart.

One Word: A kingly leader is a blessing for generation after generation