*Below is Pastor Andrew’s teaching outline from Sunday evening’s church history study, not a word for word manuscript. This is meant as aid in seeing the thought and direction of the lesson.

Remember as we first entered this final section of the Samuels, I mentioned chapters 21-24 is an appendix, a poetic conclusion to the entire 1-2 Samuel story. We’ve spoken of the poetic structure of a chiasm before, often used to highlight a central point, and here we find another one:

A1 – A Three year Famine (21:1-14)

B1 – Valiant Warriors, part 1 (21:15-22)

C – David’s Songs (22:1 – 23:7)

B2 – Valiant Warriors, part 2 (23:8-39)

A2 – A Three day Plague (24)

The centerpiece being highlighted here is David’s praise to the Lord. Which is indeed a stout way to end his story because he is, despite his failures, a man after God’s own heart.

Again, this matters because it’s a map, and as such it tells us how to sail the seas we’ve entered into. This map reminds us we’re entering the final section of the storyline that is by its very design is crafted to tell us a great truth: king David was one of the greatest kings Israel ever had. But the greatness of king David had everything to do with David knowing and David loving the greatness of God. That is the theme we’ll see over and over in this final section of the Samuels. And we’ll see it today too as we have now come to the second Part of David’s Song.

And with it The Last Words of the King……

Famous Last words:

“Now, God be with you, my dear children. I have breakfasted with you and shall sup with my Lord Jesus Christ.”— Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland (7 June 1329)

Leonardo da Vinci, “I have offended God  and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.”

“We are beggars, this is true.” — Martin Luther,

“Is it the Fourth?”— Thomas Jefferson,

“Thomas Jefferson survives.” — John Adams,

“Swing low, sweet chariot.”— Harriet Tubman,

 

Something About Last words leave us with an overwhelming sense of the reality of the brief nature of life.

One reason we can see them being passed on and shared is they reveal to us the nature of the one who said them. In these words they may speak to us of their character or love. What was it they cherished and yearned to pass on.

 

David’s words to us today carry a similar weight. Though while our text opens with the reality of these being  the last words of David a more accurate assumption is the final address of David. 1 Kings 2:1-9 give us the final recorded words of David as he instructs Solomon on how to lead. However, as we will see these final statements reflect the heart of a man overwhelmed by the work of God in him and to him. David speaks of God’s goodness to him and looks forward to God’s continued faithfulness in every generation leading to the truth and lasting King who would reign forever.

 

The first thing we see when we come tot he text is a description of David (Whether this be his own thoughts or the thoughts of an editor it does reveal to us the nature of the man before us:  The message before us is an oracle from God: this is an official announcement given to and by David.

I. The King Described

2 Samuel 23:1 ESV

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:

A. The Son of Jesse

It ie easy to rush over the introduction to get to what some consider the meet of the text: the word from God but there is much gleaned in this title, especially in how David is perceived and ultimately we see the future King revealed.

Firstly we see him as the Son of Jesse. When we are first introduced to David in the book he is a lowly shepherd, the young son of a farmer in the city of Bethlehem. He is so ill suited to rule that His father doesn’t even consider him a possibility when Samuel comes looking for the Man God has called to be king.

Yet this is the reality of who He was, and the writer here begins by reminding the readers of the humble roots of this man, he was not born into royalty. He was not born into prestige and honor. He was not the oldest son.

Yet the only thing that being born the Son of Jesse meant is that he was of the Tribe of Judah from which Jacob blessed:

Genesis 49:10 ESV

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

B. Raised on High

God took him from a humble field and raised him up. Again the thing we are reminded of is where David’s prestige came from. All that has transpired is not of His own doing. David knows his help comes from the Lord. He was the one who called him out of the fields. He brought Him into the kingship, He preserved Him through trials and adversity. He was the one who brought Saul’s reign to an end.

C. Anointed

And from These humble beginnings he was anointed to be King over Israel. Not by the will of men but by God. Here we are again taken back to the introduction of David in 1 Sam 16.

1 Samuel 16:12–13 ESV

And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

D. Psalmist

The Last aspect we are to be reminded of is His love for music and through his music He praised the Lord. We know that a good many of the Psalms roughly 70were penned by him, and this is also a key aspect of his introduction to the royal court. He did not enter into the service of Saul to sing and ease His Soul.

Now why do we Linger here so long. Because in this introduction we see w man, who we know is broken and fallible. One who the rest of this Song will speak great things of, but By seeing his humble beginnings we are introduced to the wonder of the One who would come after him. The true Son who would be a blessing to all peoples and a curse upon those who reject Him.

II. The King Instructed

2 Samuel 23:2–4 ESV

“The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. 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, 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.

We are introduced now to the words David has been given. Here we are introduced to a three fold declaration of this unfolding wisdom. It has come from the Spirit of the Lord, the God of Israel and the Rock of Israel, in this we see a trinitarian arrangement speaking to David. And in this we see David hearing the Word, following the Word, And as a result being a blessing to the people.

A. Hear the Word fo God

The Lord Spoke to Him and he heard

-We hear the voice of God every day in the text of scripture

-We know God deeply because he speaks to us daily

The Words David Hears are not new words:

Exodus 18:21 ESV

Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

Deuteronomy 17:14–20 ESV

“When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

B. Follow the Word of God

The words He follows in the text is the declaration of God on How he is to rule the people, justly.

The term for rule here is not about kingship but life as well. It is about the kingship of David, but also applicable to the life of everyone in some form of authority: Parents, bosses, spouses, teachers, pastors, elders, politicians, ect….

The Picture of the Kingdom here is one ruled well, and David for the most part is the picture of this reality. (Though we have seen many lapses and when these lapse came to be we saw the fruit of them leading to destruction)

C. Be a blessing by the Word of God

Three fold picture of blessing:

Morning Sun: Casts out Darkness

Sun without Clouds revives the spirit

The Rain brings froth growth out of death

A Good ruler who loves God causes other to flourish and grow. as he serves their best interest as he serves the Lord. (This ultimately seen in Christ who gave himself up for us)

III. The King Assured

2 Samuel 23:5–7 ESV

“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? But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire.”

A. God Is Faithful to His Covenant

David is assured that that God is faithful to His promises.

His points her mark out the fact that this is the fruit of his kingdom.

(Unfortunately we will see his Kingdom is not alway ruled this way especially in the book of Kings)

B. God will Remove the  wickedness from His Kingdom

The Wicked will not succeed:

David’s Wicked men Destroyed:

Saul, Absalom, Sheba,

Under Solomon Joab will be killed for his crimes

There is no future for those who rebel against God.

The wicked who rule will be destroyed and in this imagery it will not be pleasant

In The end this whole text though points us forward to a true and lasting King: who would be a son of Jesse, Who rules righteously, and will destroy the wicked.

IV. The True King is the greater fulfillment:

The Son of Jesse

Isaiah 11:1–5 ESV

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

Fulfilled in Christ

Romans 15:12–13 ESV

And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Raised on High:

Ephesians 1:15–23 ESV

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Anointed:

Luke 4:17–21 ESV

And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

And He is the great Song sung over us.

He is the just ruler

His Reign Brings life to all who worship Him

1 Peter 3:8–17 ESV

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

His Reign Brings Judgment to those who reject Him.

Matthew 13:24–30 ESV

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

Matthew 13:36–43 ESV

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

 

The Greatest set of Last Words: “It is Finished”