David’s Last Words

2 Samuel 23:1-7 NLT
David’s Last Words
^23:1 These are the last words of David:
“David, the son of Jesse, speaks—
David, the man who was raised up so high,
David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob,
David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.
² “The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me;
his words are upon my tongue.
³ The God of Israel spoke.
The Rock of Israel said to me:
‘The one who rules righteously,
who rules in the fear of God,
⁴ is like the light of morning at sunrise,
like a morning without clouds,
like the gleaming of the sun
on new grass after rain.’
⁵ “Is it not my family God has chosen?
Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me.
His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail.
He will ensure my safety and success.
⁶ But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away,
for they tear the hand that touches them.
⁷ One must use iron tools to chop them down;
they will be totally consumed by fire.”

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 23:1-7 NLT
David’s Last Words 

^23:1 These are the last words of David:

David’s “last words” were not necessarily the last words he actually spoke.

Most likely his last words were recorded in 1 Kings Chapter 2.

1 Kings 2:1-10 NLT
David’s Final Instructions to Solomon
^2:1 As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon:
² “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. ³ Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. ⁴ If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’
⁵ “And there is something else. You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace,
^a staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood. ⁶ Do with him what you think best, but don’t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace.
⁷ “Be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Make them permanent guests at your table, for they took care of me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
⁸ “And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him. ⁹ But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”
¹⁰ Then David died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.

• These “last words” of David were most likely his final formal, Spirit-inspired declaration to Israel. 

Many scholars view this passage of scripture as David’s final poetic oracle (a prophetic speech from the king), similar in tone and structure to a psalm. 

“David, the son of Jesse, speaks— 

David as a boy.

1 Samuel 16:10-11, 13 NLT
¹⁰ In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” ¹¹ Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” 

¹³ So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.

When Samuel came to anoint the next king, Jesse didn’t even bring David at first. He was considered the least likely in the family.

• • • David was youngest of eight sons. (1 Samuel 16:10)

• • • David was not considered important enough to attend the sacrifice (the celebration) with Samuel, Jesse, and his older brothers.

• • • David was out tending the sheep.

This shows David began life in humble obscurity.

• David began life in humble obscurity. 

David, the man who was raised up so high,

David became the king of Israel.

David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob,

• David was anointed by God to be the king of Israel. (1 Samuel 16)

1 Samuel 13:14 NLT
¹⁴ But now your (Saul) kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart (David). The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

Those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

Daniel 2:21 NLT
²¹ He (God) controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars. 

Romans 13:1 NLT
^13:1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

John 19:11
Jesus to Pilate:
¹¹ Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” 

• It was God who enabled David to rule righteously.

David ruled as an agent of God. 

• Those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 

David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.

• David was not only a king, he was a musician and poet.

David wrote about half of the psalms in the book of Psalms.

• David identifies himself as a poetically gifted king of Israel. 

² “The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me;

David was aware of God’s Spirit at work in him enabling him to speak under the Spirit’s guidance. 

his words are upon my tongue.

David describes himself as a prophet, whose songs and wise sayings come from God.

2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT
²⁰ Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, ²¹ or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

Acts 1:16 NLT
¹⁶ “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David.

Acts 4:25 NLT (Quoting Psalm 2:1-2)
²⁵ you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying,
‘Why were the nations so angry?
Why did they waste their time with futile plans?
²⁶ The kings of the earth prepared for battle;
the rulers gathered together
against the Lord
and against his Messiah.

• The Spirit of the Lord spoke to David and through him to the nation of Israel. 

³ The God of Israel spoke.
The Rock of Israel said to me:

The Rock of Israel

‘The one who rules righteously,
who rules in the fear of God, 

• A ruler is to rule righteously.

A good ruler acts with justice, fairness, and moral integrity. 

• A ruler is to rule in the fear of God, recognizing God’s ultimate authority.

⁴ is like the light of morning at sunrise,
like a morning without clouds,
like the gleaming of the sun
on new grass after rain.’

• David stated that a king who rules as an agent of God is “like the light of morning at sunrise
  on a cloudless morning” and “like the brightness after rain
  that brings grass from the earth”.

This gives us a reason to pray for our president.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT
^2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. ² Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 

⁵ “Is it not my family God has chosen?

Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me.

See chapter 7:12-16

2 Samuel 7:12-16 NLT
⁸ “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! ¹⁰ And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, ¹¹ starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. 

“‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! ¹² For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. ¹³ He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. ¹⁴ I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. ¹⁵ But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. ¹⁶ Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”

•  God’s covenant with David points beyond David to the future Messianic King, Jesus Christ—the perfect righteous ruler.

Jesus is the everlasting king who is the “son of David”.

Matthew 1:1 NLT
¹ This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:

Psalm 89:29, 34-37
²⁹ I will preserve an heir for him;
his throne will be as endless as the days of heaven. 

³⁴ No, I will not break my covenant;
I will not take back a single word I said.
³⁵ I have sworn an oath to David,
and in my holiness I cannot lie:
³⁶ His dynasty will go on forever;
his kingdom will endure as the sun.
³⁷ It will be as eternal as the moon,
my faithful witness in the sky!”  

His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail.

He will ensure my safety and success. 

• David believes and trusts God’s covenant.

• God’s promises stand.

In contrast:

⁶ But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away,
for they tear the hand that touches them.
⁷ One must use iron tools to chop them down;
they will be totally consumed by fire.”

The enemies of God will be cast aside in judgment.

Matthew 13:30 NLT
³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”

Matthew 13:41 NLT
⁴¹ The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 

Psalm 1:4-5 NLT
⁴ But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
⁵ They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly. 

Psalm 2:9 ( Speaking about nations who plot against the Lord.)
⁹ You will break them with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.’” 

• God’s kingdom brings blessing to the righteous but judgment on the unrepentant.