The author begins our chapter like this: "These are the last words of David: 'The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel's songs.'" (2 Samuel 23:1) These are not the last words David ever spoke in conversation with his fellow man but are considered his final "inspired" words---words given to him by revelation from the Holy Spirit. This psalm contains prophetic words having to do with the future of the house of David.
But before David looks to the future, he looks back to the past and recalls his humble beginnings. He refers to himself not as the king of Israel but as "David son of Jesse". He was the youngest of seven sons of Jesse, often overlooked as the baby of the family, assigned the menial task of watching over the "few sheep" (as his brother Eliab put it) in the wilderness. But the Lord chose him as Israel's king and instructed the prophet Samuel to anoint him as such. The Lord took him out of obscurity and made him well known as a mighty warrior---"the hero of Israel's songs"---before eventually placing him on the throne---"exalted by the Most High".
When the Lord raised David up to be king, David tells us what the Lord said to him. "The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: 'When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.'" (2 Samuel 23:2-4) David was commanded to rule justly and in the fear of God. A leader who rules justly and in the fear of God is a blessing to the people.
Next David will make mention of a promise the Lord made to him. We studied this promise in 2 Samuel 7 when David announced his desire to build a temple to house the Ark of the Covenant. A parallel account can be found in 1 Chronicles 17. After David spoke of building a temple, the Lord told him it would be his son and successor who would build the temple. It may have been disappointing to David to be told he wasn't the man chosen to construct the house of God, but if so the next piece of information must have cured any sadness he might have felt, for the Lord promised him: "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever." (2 Samuel 7:16) David says, "If my house were not right with God, surely He would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secure in every part; surely He would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire." (2 Samuel 23:5)
What does he mean about his house being right with God? We noted earlier in the week that when he makes references to himself as being righteous or as having clean hands, he is speaking of the Lord's redemptive work on his behalf. He's not saying he's lived a perfect life. I think also, in today's passage, he's speaking about having a heart that is right with the Lord. David made mistakes during his life and some of his mistakes were quite shocking. But he didn't make these mistakes because of a lack of love for the Lord. He made these mistakes because he gave in to the weakness of his flesh which temporarily made him forget he was not like the kings of the other nations. He was not to do the things heathen kings did. His power and his wealth did not give him license to satisfy sinful desires. But we've noted that even though David made mistakes, he was quick to repent as soon as he realized he error of his ways. And when he repented he realized that nothing satisfied the desires of his heart like his relationship with the Lord. In verse 5 above, when he says that the Lord has granted his every desire, he's not speaking of any wrong desires. I believe, in the context of the verses before and after, he's talking about his desire to see his family line and his royal house continue. This desire was in his heart before the Lord ever made him the promise. When the Lord made the promise, David believed Him and David still believes Him. He knows that whatever the Lord says is as good as done, so he states that this promise is "arranged and secure in every part".
In contrast to how the Lord deals with those who love and reverence Him, the wicked cannot say as David did, "My house is right with God." The wicked cannot expect the blessings of those who have been made right with the Lord by faith. "But evil men are to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie." (2 Samuel 23:6-7) Thorns cannot be dealt with gently. If the wicked persist in their wickedness, they cannot be dealt with gently. But the Lord deals gently with those who trust in Him. The Lord is a shield and a refuge to those who trust in Him. David didn't live a sinless life but he trusted in the Lord by faith. Because David was a man with a heart for the Lord, the Lord heard his prayers of repentance. The Lord heard his cries for help. The Lord made him a beautiful promise that He intends to keep: the Messiah---a direct descendant of David---will someday sit on David's throne and reign over the world forever. In that day it will be said, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever." (Revelation 11:15) The prophecy of old will come true: "The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and His name the only name." (Zechariah 14:9)
No comments:
Post a Comment