This is a study of the text which were David's last words, and they were the Holy Spirit speaking through him.

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE THROUGH DAVID
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
2 Samuel 23:2 2"The Spirit of the LORD spoke
through me; his word was on my tongue.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
David's Last Words
2 Samuel 23:1-3. - (JERUSALEM.)
B. Dale
[The closing years of David's life (after the insurrection of Sheba was
subdued, ch. 20.) were spent in peace. Having secured a site for the
altar (2 Samuel 24:25; 1 Chronicles 21:28), he made preparations for
the building of the temple (1 Chronicles 22.). At length his strength
began to fail; but, when made acquainted with the conspiracy of
Adonijah, he displayed something of his former energy in hastening
the accession of Solomon (1 Kings 1.). He also "gathered together the
princes of Israel," etc. (1 Chronicles 23:1, 2), made numerous
arrangements, sacred and civil (1 Chronicles 23:3-32; 1 Chronicles 24-
27.), addressed a convocation of princes, gave a charge to his
successor, and offered thanksgiving to God (1 Chronicles 28; 1
Chronicles 29:1-25). He subsequently gave further counsel to Solomon

2. (1 Kings 2:1-9). About the same time, probably, he uttered these last
prophetic words; and then, at the age of seventy, he "fell on sleep" (1
Kings 2:10; 1 Chronicles 29:26-28). "The omission of David's death in
the conclusion of this work is satisfactorily explained from the
theocratic character and aim of the composition, since in this
conclusion the fulfilment of the theocratic mission of David is
completed" (Erdmann).]
"And these are the last words of David:
An oracle of David, son of Jesse,
And an oracle of the hero highly exalted,
Anointed of the God of Jacob,
And pleasant (in) Israel's songs of praise.
The Spirit of Jehovah speaks within me,
And his word is on my tongue;
Says the God of Israel,
To me speaks the Rock of Israel," etc. How varied are the last words of
men! How significant of their ruling passion! And how instructive to
others (Genesis 48:21, 22; Genesis 49:1; Deuteronomy 33:1; Joshua
23:14; Joshua 24:27; 2 Kings 13:19; Luke 2:29; Acts 7:59; 2 Timothy
4:6-8)! Here is David, "the man of God's own choice," about to go "the
way of all the earth" (2 Samuel 7:12; 1 Kings 2:2). Highly exalted as he
was, he must die like other men. "We walk different ways in life, but
in death we are all united." Ere he departs his spirit kindles with
unwonted lustre, as not unfrequently happens in the case of others;
he is under the immediate inspiration of God (Numbers 24:3, 4), and
sings his last song of praise, sweet as the fabled notes of the dying
swan. "No prince, and certainly no one who had not acquired his
kingdom by inheritance, could possibly close his life with a more
blessed repose in God and a brighter glance of confidence into the

3. future. This is the real stamp of true greatness" (Ewald). "These are
the words of the prophecy of David, which he prophesied concerning
the end of the age, concerning the days of consolation which are to
come" (Targum). They show that he has in death (what it is also the
privilege of other servants of God in some measure to possess) -
I. GRATEFUL MEMORIES of the favour of God; which has been
manifested:
1. Toward one of lowly origin and condition. "A son of Jesse." "Who am
I?" etc. (1 Samuel 18:18). "I am the least in my father's house" (Judges
6:15). He recognizes his natural relationships, recalls his early life,
renounces all special claim to Divine favour, and is filled with
humility. "What hast thou that thou didst not receive?" (1 Corinthians
4:7).
2. In raising him up to exalted honour. "The man [hero] who was
highly exalted." Earthly distinction is the portion of a few, but spiritual
distinction is the possession of every good man; he is a partaker of the
Divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), raised; up with Christ, and made to sit
with him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), and an heir of all things
(1 Corinthians 3:23). "The Christian believes himself to be a king, how
mean soever he be, and how great soever he be; yet he thinks himself
not too good to be servant to the poorest saint" (Bacon, 'Christian
Paradoxes').
3. In appointing him to royal dominion over men. "Anointed," etc. He
has "an anointing from the Holy One," and shares in the dominion of
Christ. "To him will I give power over the nations," etc. (Revelation
2:26).
4. In conferring upon him excellent endowments, in the exercise of
which he quickens the spiritual susceptibilities of men, furnishes them
with "acceptable words" in their approach to God, and becomes a
helper of their noblest life and joy. Pleasant [lovely] in [by means of]
the praise songs of [sung by] Israel." "He was not only the founder of
the monarchy, but the founder of the Psalter. He is the first great

4. poet of Israel. Although before his time there had been occasional
bursts of Hebrew poetry, David is he who first gave it its fixed place in
Israelite worship" (Stanley).
"The harp the monarch minstrel swept,
The king of men, the loved of Heaven,
Which Music hallow'd, while she wept
O'er tones her heart of hearts had given;
Redoubled be her tears, its chords are riven!
It soften'd men of iron mould,
It gave them virtues not their own;
No ear so dull, no soul so cold,
That felt not, fired not to the tone,
Till David's lyre grew mightier than his throne!"
(Byron, 'Hebrew Melodies') Although his greatness was peculiar, yet a
measure of true greatness belongs to every one of the "royal
priesthood" (1 Peter 2:6, 9; Revelation 1:6) of the spiritual Israel. He
has power with God and with men, represents God to men and men to
God, employs his power with God on behalf of men, and his power
with men on behalf of God; and if, by the culture and use of the gifts
bestowed upon him, he has contributed to the highest good of men -
this (together with all the Divine benefits he has received) is a matter
of grateful remembrance and fervent thanksgiving (Psalm 37:25, 37,
39; Psalm 103.). "It is not what we have done, but what God has done
for us and through us, that gives true peace when we come to the
end."
II. GRACIOUS COMMUNICATIONS by the Spirit of God; inasmuch as he is:

5. 1. Filled with Divine inspiration. "The Spirit of Jehovah speaks within
me." Such inspiration is of various kinds and degrees, and given for
different special purposes. "Men spake from God, being moved by the
Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16). But every one who has
fellowship with God is inhabited, pervaded, inspired by his Spirit,
enlightening, purifying, elevating, gladdening, and strengthening him.
Some are "full of the Holy Ghost." In a dying hour, what a marvellous
elevation of thought and feeling have they sometimes attained! "Holy
men at their death have good inspirations" (see 'Last Words of
Remarkable Persons;' ' Life's Last Hours;' Jacox, 'At Nightfall,' etc.; S.
Ward, 'The Life of Faith in Death;' J. Hawes, 'Confessions of Dying
Men,' etc.).
2. Enabled to utter the Divine Word. "And his Word is on my tongue."
Even though there be no new, definite, and infallible revelation of the
Word of God, there is often a new indication of its meaning and
application, and a fresh, fervid, and forcible expression thereof. "As
the Spirit gave them utterance."
3. Made a recipient of Divine promises. "The God of Israel says." He
who entered into a covenant relation with Israel, and promised to be
their God, gave to David the promise of an everlasting kingdom (2
Samuel 7:12-16), and still gives it, with an inner voice that cannot be
mistaken. He also "speaks all the promises," not only in the written
Word, but also in the soul of every one to whom that Word comes in
"much assurance."
"Oh, might I hear thy heavenly voice
But whisper, 'Thou art mine!'
Those gentle words should raise my song
To notes almost Divine."
4. Constituted a witness of the Divine faithfulness in the fulfilment of
the promises. "To me speaks the Rock of Israel" (1 Samuel 2:2; 2
Samuel 22:2, 3, 32, 47). "He is faithful that promised" (Hebrews

6. 10:23). His faithfulness is the foundation of his promises. "And the
heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Jehovah: and thy faithfulness in
the assembly of the holy ones" (Psalm 89:1, 2, 5, 8, 24, 33). On this
the believer rests when all things fail, and of this he testifies in death,
committing his soul into the hands of God, as "unto a faithful Creator"
(1 Peter 4:19; Psalm 31:5).
III. GLORIOUS ANTICIPATIONS of the kingdom of God; wherein the glory
of the present merges into the greater glory of the future, and earth
and heaven are one (vers. 3-5; Psalm 85:11). He sees:
1. The majesty of the King of righteousness; like the splendour of the
rising sun. His view of the ideal theocratic ruler of the future has its
perfect realization in him who is "King of kings, and Lord of lords." The
chief object of the Christian's contemplation in death is the glory of
Christ. "Herein would I live; herein would I die; herein would I dwell in
my thoughts and affections, to the withdrawing and consumption of all
the painted beauties of this world, unto the crucifixion of all things
here below, until they become unto me a dead and deformed thing, no
way meet for affectionate embraces" (Owen).
2. The brightness of a heavenly day; "the drawing near of the kingdom
of the heavens," and abounding life and happiness forever (2 Samuel
22:51; ver. 5). "Nevertheless we according to his promise," etc. (2
Peter 3:13).
3. The realization of a blessed hope; the hope of personal salvation
(ver. 5), associated with and assured in the immortal life of the King
and his people (Psalm 16:9-11; Psalm 17:15; Psalm 49:15; Psalm
73:24; John 14:19).
4. The destruction of all iniquity. (Ver. 6.) The people shall be all
righteous. "The dying eyes see on the horizon of the far off future the
form of him who is to be a just and perfect Ruler; before the
brightness of whose presence, and the refreshing of whose influence,
verdure and beauty shall clothe the world. As the shades gather, that
radiant glory to come brightens. He departs in peace, having seen the

7. salvation from afar. It was fitting that this fullest of his prophecies
should be the last of his strains, as if the rapture which thrilled the
trembling strings had snapped them in twain" (Maclaren).
"They who watch by him see not; but he sees -
Sees and exults. Were ever dreams like these?
Those who watch by him hear not; but he hears,
And earth recedes, and heaven itself appears."
(Rogers) His funeral obsequies were celebrated with the greatest
pomp ever yet known in Israel, and his arms were preserved as sacred
relics in the temple; but the lapse of time only increased the
reverence in which his memory was held in the national heart, until it
finally culminated in a glowing desire to behold him once again upon
the earth, and to see the advent of a second David (Ewald). - D.
Biblical Illustrator
The Spirit of the Lord spake by me.
2 Samuel 23:2
The inspiration of the Scriptures
C. Clayton, M. A.
I. THE INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES. This may be shown by the
combined testimony of Moses, the Psalmist, the Prophets of our Lord,
and also of the Apostles and Evangelists. Consider:
1. The language of Moses. Now what does Moses say of his own
writings? "Thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to

8. keep His statutes and His commandments, which are written in this
book of the law."
2. The language of the Psalmist. David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel,
claims inspiration for those psalms which are of his own composition.
"The Spirit of the Lord," he says, "spake by me." And what are his
other testimonies respecting the word of God at large? Very
wonderful, he says, are its properties. It is the grand instrument, he
tells us, in the sinner's conversion. "The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul."
3. The language of the prophets. What does Jeremiah say concerning
his own writings? The Lord commanded Jeremiah to set down in a
book certain prophecies. Those prophecies Baruch read in the
audience of the king and the princes. And what is said respecting
Baruch's reading? "Then read he in the book the words of the Lord in
the house of the Lord." He read in the book "the words of the Lord."
4. The language of Christ. He met His adversaries with the Scripture.
5. The language of the Evangelists and Apostles. Our Lord, before His
departure, promised to send to His disciples the Holy Ghost. "And
when He is come, He will bring all things to your remembrance
whatsoever I have spoken unto you." The Evangelists and Apostles,
therefore, wrote under the controlling power of the Holy Ghost. "All
Scripture, wrote St. Peter," is given by inspiration of God," or, is "God-
breathed." That Scripture Timothy had known from a child; arid that
Scripture was able to make Timothy "wise unto salvation through faith
in Christ Jesus." By that term "Scripture," which was able to make its
readers savingly acquainted with Christ, was meant the Old Testament
writings. Now, these Old Testament books are directly quoted or
alluded to in the New Testament several hundreds of times. There are
more than eighty such references in St. Matthew; more than thirty in
St. Mark; more than fifty in St. Luke; forty in St. John; more than fifty
in the Acts of the Apostles; more than seventy in the Romans.
II. WORDS OF COUNSEL.

9. 1. Beware of the sin of unbelief. God has given us-a revelation. The
mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken. That revelation contains
difficulties and mysteries. Our Lord was satisfied with the Old
Testament, and we, therefore, should surely be satisfied. But we
have, in addition, a most clear commentary on the Old Testament. We
have the New Testament.
2. Cultivate a childlike spirit. Our Lord has plainly told us that, except
we be converted and become as little children, we shall not enter the
kingdom of heaven.
3. Receive all that the Bible reveals. In the Bible, as St Peter tells us,
there are many things "hard to be understood." This is no more than
we ought to expect, when the infinite God reveals Himself to a finite
being like man. Those things, however, which are necessary for our
salvation — sin, death, hell, heaven, the general resurrection, the
atonement of Christ, the work of the Spirit — are written so plainly
"that he may run that reads."
(C. Clayton, M. A.)
God the Author of Scripture
Who built St. Paul's Cathedral? So many masons, carpenters, iron-
workers, carvers, painters — and then there was Wren. Yes, there was
Christopher Wren. He was not a mason, nor a carpenter, nor an
ironworker. He never laid a single stone, drove a nail, or forged a
railing. What did he do? He did it all. He planned the splendid edifice:
inspired with his thought and purpose all their toil, and wrought
through every worker. They were his "hands," and people flock to-day
in their thousands from all over the world to see Christopher Wren's
masterpiece. Who wrote the Bible? Moses, David, Isaiah, John, Paul?
Yes. But the Holy Spirit did it all. "Holy men of old spake as they were
borne along by the Holy Ghost."

10. Plenary inspiration of Scripture
In an interesting little pamphlet, written by the late Dr. A. J. Gordon,
and called "Three weeks with Joseph Rabinowitz," there are several
striking expressions uttered by the Russian Jew. "What is your view of
inspiration?" we asked him, in order to draw him out concerning
certain much-mooted questions Of our time. "My view is," he said,
holding up his Hebrew Bible, "that this is the Word of God; the Spirit of
God dwells in it; when I read it, I know that God is speaking to me; and
when I preach it, I say to the people, 'Be silent, and hear what
Jehovah will say to you.' As for comparing the inspiration of Scripture
with that of Homer or Shakespeare," he continued, "it is not a question
of degree, but of kind.. Electricity will pass through an iron bar, but it
will not go through a rod of glass, however beautiful and transparent,
because it has no affinity for it. So the Spirit of God dwells in the Word
of God, the Holy Scriptures, because these are His proper medium, but
not in Homer or Shakespeare, because He has no affinity with these
writings."
David's Swan Song
J. R. Macduff, D. D.
2 Samuel 23:1-5
Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and
the man who was raised up on high…
And now comes the last "Lay of the Minstrel," with its flashes of
heavenly fire — the true "Swan song." If we treasure with peculiar
fondness the closing sayings of great men, with what devout interest

11. may we not listen to the concluding strains of the Laureate of the
universal church — the last cadences of that harp of a thousand
strings! The grandeur of earthly empire is fast waning. He has heaven
in view. But he would give to his people — to the world — this dying
"Confession of faith" farewell ode of victory. The whole poetry of his
nature seems summoned up for the expiring effort.
(J. R. Macduff, D. D.)
Last Wards
G. S. Bowes, M. A.
2 Samuel 23:1-5
Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and
the man who was raised up on high…
Dr. Preston: "Blessed be God! though I change my place, I shall not
change my company; for I have walked with God while living, and now
I go to rest with God." Matthew Henry: "You have been used to take
notice of the sayings of dying men, this is mine — that a life spent in
the service of God, and communion with Him, is the most comfortable
life that any one can lead in this present world." Rutherford: "If he
should slay me ten thousand times ten thousand times, I'll trust." "I
feel, I feel, I believe in joy, and rejoice; I feed on manna." "Oh, for
arms to embrace Him. Oh, for a well-tuned harp!" Rev. James Hervey:
"You tell me that I have but a few moments to live. Oh, let me spend
them in adoring our great Reedeemer! Oh, welcome death! thou

12. mayest well be reckoned among the treasures of the Christian." His
last words, "The great conflict is over: all is done." President Edwards,
after bidding goodbye to all his children, looked about, and said, "Now,
where is Jesus of Nazareth, my never-failing Friend?" And so he fell
asleep, and went to the Lord he loved. Rev. John Wesley: "The best of
all is, God is with us." Rev. Charles Wesley: "I shall be satisfied with
Thy likeness; satisfied — satisfied!" Dr. Payson: "The battle's fought —
the battle's fought; and the victory is won — the victory is won, for
ever! I am going to bathe in an ocean of purity, and benevolence, and
happiness to all eternity." "Faith and patience, hold out."
(G. S. Bowes, M. A.)
The Dying King's Last Vision and Psalm
A. Maclaren, D. D.
2 Samuel 23:1-5
Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and
the man who was raised up on high…
It was fitting that "the last words of David" should be a prophecy of the
true King, whom his own failures and sins, no less than his
consecration and victories, had taught him to expect. The dying eyes
see on the horizon of the far-off future the form of Him who is to be a
just and perfect ruler, before the brightness of whose presence and
the refreshing of whose influence verdure and beauty shall clothe the
world. As the shades gather round the dying monarch, the radiant

13. glory to come brightens. He departs in peace, having seen the
salvation from afar, and stretched out longing bands of greeting
toward it. Then his harp is silent, as if the rapture which thrilled the
trembling strings had snapped them.
1. We have first a prelude extending to the middle of verse 3. In it
there is first a fourfold designation of the personality of the Psalmist-
prophet, and then a fourfold designation of the Divine oracle spoken
through him. Similarly, the fourfold designation of the Divine source
has the same purpose, and corresponds with the four clauses of verse
1, "The spirit of the Lord spake in (or, 'into') me." That gives the
Psalmist's consciousness that in his prophecy he was but the recipient
of a message. It wonderfully describes the penetrating power of that
inward voice which clearly came to him from without, and as clearly
spoke to him within. Words could not more plainly declare the
prophetic consciousness of the distinction between himself and the
Voice which he heard in the depths of his spirit. It spoke in him before
he spoke of his lyric prophecy.
2. The Divine oracle thus solemnly introduced and guaranteed must be
worthy of such a prelude. Abruptly, and in clauses without verbs, the
picture of the righteous Ruler is divinely flashed before the Seer's
inward eye. The broken construction may perhaps indicate that he is
describing what he beholds in vision. There is no need for any
supplement such as "There shall be," which, however true in meaning,
mars the vividness of the presentation of the Ruler to the prophet's
sight. David sees him painted on the else blank wall of the future.
When and where the realisation may be he knows not. What are the
majestic outlines? A universal sovereign over collective humanity,
righteous and God-fearing. In the same manner as he described the
vision of the King, David goes on, as a man on some height telling what
he saw to the people below, and paints the blessed issues of the King's

14. coming. It had been night before he came — the night of ignorance,
sorrow, and sin — but his coming is like one of these glorious Eastern
sunrises without a cloud, when everything laughs in its early beams,
and, with tropical swiftness, the tender herbage bursts from the
ground, as born from the dazzling brightness and the fertilising rain.
So all things shall rejoice in the reign of the King, and humanity be
productive, under his glad and quickening influences, of growths of
beauty and fruitfulness impossible to it without these.
3. The difficult verse 5, whether its first and last clauses be taken
interrogatively or negatively, in its central part, bases the assurance
of the coming of the king on God's covenant (2 Samuel 7), which is
glorified as being everlasting, provided with all requisites for its
realisation, and therefore "sure," or perhaps "preserved," as if guarded
by God's inviolable sanctity and faithfulness. The fulfilment of the
dying saint's hopes depends on God's truth. Whatever sense might say,
or doubt whisper, he silences them by gazing on that great Word. So
we have all to do.
4. But the oracle cannot end with painting only blessings as flowing
from the king's reign. If he is to rule in righteousness and the fear of
the Lord, then he must fight against evil. If his coming causes the
tender grass to spring, it will quicken ugly growths too. The former
representation is only half the truth; and the threatening of
destruction for the evil is as much a part of the Divine oracle as the
other. Strictly, it is "wickedness" — the abstract quality rather than the
concrete persons who embody it — which is spoken of. May we recall
the old distinction that God loves the sinner while He hates the sin?
The picture is vivid. The wicked — and all the enemies of this king are
wicked, in the prophet's view — are like some of these thorn-brakes,
that cannot be laid hold of, even to root them out, but need to be
attacked with sharp pruning-hooks on long shafts, or burned where

15. they grow. There is a destructive side to the coming of the king,
shadowed in every prophecy of him, and brought emphatically to
prominence in his own descriptions of his reign and its final issues. It is
a poor kindness to suppress that side of the truth. Thorns as well as
tender grass spring up in the quickening beams; and the best
commentary on the solemn words which close David's closing song is
the saying of the King Himself: "In the time of the harvest I will say to
the reapers," Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to
burn them."
(A. Maclaren, D. D.)
The Last Words of David
C. Vince.
2 Samuel 23:1-5
Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and
the man who was raised up on high…
According to a commonly received interpretation of this passage,
David mourned over the ungodly state of his children, but exulted in
the assurance of his, own personal salvation. He first repeated the
description he had received from the Lord of the character which
kings and rulers should maintain, and it is supposed that he next
lamented the fact that his children did not answer to the Divine ideal.
It is further supposed that his sorrow on account of their shortcomings
instantly gave place to grateful joy in the hope that, through the

16. mercy and faithfulness of God, he himself should be secure and
blessed for ever. It might go ill with his children, but it would be well
with him. His family troubles were great and many. Some of his
children were anything but what his conscience could approve and his
heart could desire. They were thorns in his side and arrows in his
heart. Still, is it not incredible that David, as he contemplated the lost
condition of his children, could instantly get comfort by thinking of his
own safety? He was sometimes sadly unlike his true self, but assuredly
he was never so unlike himself as to say in effect, "My children may
perish, but, the Lord be praised, I shall get to heaven myself!" This
must be deemed impossible to David, even by those who take the
worst view of his conduct in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. There is
another interpretation of the passage which makes it chiefly and
almost exclusively a prophecy of Christ. It is supposed to regard Him as
the King ordained of God, and to describe the perfection of His kingly
character, the righteousness of His rule, the benignity of His sway over
those who submit to it, and the destructive effects of His sovereignty
upon those who are rebellious and disobedient. Those who adopt this
interpretation make certain changes in the translation of the passage
which remove from it everything like lamentation on David's part.
There is a third interpretation according to which David here sets
forth the Divine ideal of a ruler over men as he in early life received it
from the Spirit of the Lord. Now that he has reached the close of his
kingly career, he compares that career with the description of a good
king which God had given to him, and he finds that he has fallen far
short of it. When he speaks of his "house" not being "so with God," he
does not mean his domestic circle, but the reigning dynasty, and he
refers, not to the godless character of his children, but to the
imperfections of his own kingship. That had not been altogether such
as Gad had enjoined, and as he himself had desired and determined.
When he speaks of the "covenant ordered in all things," he exults, not
in the thought that he is personally safe despite the irreligion of his
children, but in the assurance that he shall be saved despite his
shortcomings and failures as a king.

17. 1. These "last words" reveal to us the lofty standard of kingly
character which was set before David in early life. Righteousness
towards men and reverence towards God are named as the two great
essentials in a good king. For lack of these, monarchs have been
curses instead of blessings, and peoples have been oppressed, and
kingdoms have been ruined. But where the authority of God has been
recognised, and the rights of the people have been respected, nations
have flourished, and kings have been a terror to evil-doers, and a
praise to them that do well. Stress is laid upon justice rather than
upon compassion, and history warrants the emphasis. The benignant
influence of a God-fearing and righteous ruler is described in
expressive figurative language. Gladness and growth shall characterise
his reign, for "he shall be as the light of the morning," etc. Several
years elapsed before the throne promised to David came into his
possession; and it is probable that this vivid picture of kingly
perfection was also placed before him some time prior to his
accession. These last words reveal to us the sad consciousness which
David had in his old age, that the lofty standard set before him in early
life had not been reached. His kingship was anything but a great
failure. It cannot be questioned that David's reign was a great blessing
to the Jews, and that in the review of his career there was much to
inspire him with joy and thankfulness. Earthly perfection is one of the
pleasant dreams of inexperience. It is generally the honest
determination of young beginners to do very great things, and they
firmly believe that all their lofty aspirations will be fully realised This
is one of the illusions of life by which every new generation is
fascinated despite all the disappointments of preceding generations.
Each fresh comer into the field is blissfully forgetful of human frailties
and heroically defiant of difficulties, and nothing but his own personal
experience will be able to shake his faith in the splendour of his
future achievements. There never lived but One in this world whose
review of His earthly life was free from all the sadness which sight of
fault and failure brings. When Jesus hung upon the cross, He could

18. think of such a work as had never been devolved upon man or angel,
and of that matchless work He could say, "It is finished!"
(C. Vince.)
The Last Words of David
W. G. Blaikie, D. D.
2 Samuel 23:1-5
Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and
the man who was raised up on high…
The song falls into four parts.
1. In the introduction, we cannot but be struck with the formality and
solemnity of the affirmation respecting the singer and the inspiration
under which he sang. The first four clauses represent David as the
speaker; the second four represent God's Spirit as inspiring his words.
The introduction to Balaam's prophecies is the only passage where we
find a similar structure, nor is this the only point of resemblance
between the two songs. In both prophecies, the word translated
"saith" is peculiar. While occurring between two and three hundred
times in the formula, "Thus saith the Lord:" it is used by a human
speaker only in these two places and in Proverbs 30:1. The second
part of the introduction stamps the prophecy with a fourfold mark of
inspiration.

19. 1. "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me."
2. "His word was in my tongue."
3. "The God of Israel said."
4. "The Rock of Israel spake to me."So remarkable an introduction
must be followed by no ordinary prophecy.
2. We come, then, to the great subject of the prophecy — a Ruler over
men. It is a vision of a remarkable Ruler, not a Ruler over the kingdom
of Israel merely, but a Ruler "over men." The Ruler seen is One whose
government knows no earthly limits, but prevails wherever there are
men. It is worthy of very special remark that the first characteristic of
this Ruler is "righteousness." There is no grander or more majestic
word in the language of men. Not even love or mercy can be preferred
to righteousness. And this is no casual expression, happening in David's
vision, for it is common to the whole class of prophecies .that predict
the Messiah. It is the grand characteristic of Christ's salvation in theory
that it is through righteousness; it is not less its effect in practice to
promote righteousness. To any who would dream, under colour of free
grace, of breaking down the law of righteousness, the words of "the
Holy One and the Just" stand out as an eternal rebuke, "Think not that
I am come to destroy the law and the prophets; I am not come to
destroy, but to fulfil." And as Christ's work was founded on
righteousness, so it was constantly done "in the fear of God" — with
the highest possible regard for His will, and reverence for His law.
Having shown the character of the Ruler, the vision next pictures the

20. effects of His rule. No imagery could be more delightful, or more fitly
applied to Christ. The image of the morning sun presents Christ in His
gladdening influences, bringing pardon to the guilty, health to the
diseased, hope to the despairing. The chief idea under the other
emblem, the grass shining clearly after rain, is that of renewed beauty
and growth. The heavy rain batters the grass, as heavy trials batter
the soul; but when the morning shines out clearly, the grass recovers,
it sparkles with a fresher lustre, and grows with intenser activity. So
when Christ shines on the heart after trial, a new beauty and a new
growth and prosperity come to it.
3. Next comes David's allusion to his own house. In our translation,
and in the text of the Revised Version, this comes in to indicate a sad
contrast between the bright vision just described and the Psalmist's
own family. The key to the passage will be found, if we mistake not, in
the expression "my house." We are liable to think of this as the
domestic circle, whereas it ought to be thought of as the reigning
dynasty. What is denoted by the house of Hapsburg, the house of
Hanover, the house of Savoy, is quite different from the personal
family of any of the kings. So when David speaks of his house, he
means his dynasty. In this sense his "house" had been made the
subject of the most gracious promise. But take the marginal reading —
"Is not my house so with God?" Is not my dynasty embraced in the
scope of this promise? Hath He not made with me an everlasting
covenant, ordered in all things and sure? And will He not make this
promise, which is all my salvation and all my desire, to grow, to
fructify? It is infinitely more natural to represent David on this joyous
occasion congratulating himself on the promise of long continuance
and prosperity made to his dynasty, than dwelling on the unhappy
condition of the members of his family circle. And the facts of the
future correspond to this explanation. Was not the government of
David's house or dynasty in the main righteous, at least for many a
reign, conducted in the fear of God, and followed by great prosperity

21. and blessing? David himself, Solomon, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah,
Josiah — what other nation had ever so many Christlike kings?
4. The last part of the prophecy, in the way of contrast to the leading
vision, is a prediction of the doom of the ungodly. While some would
fain think of Christ's sceptre as one of mercy only, the uniform
representation of the Bible is different. In this, as in most predictions
of Christ's kingly office, there is an instructive combination of mercy
and judgment. Nor could it be otherwise. The union of mercy and
judgment is the inevitable result of the righteousness which is the
foundation of His government. Sin is the abominable thing which He
hates. To separate men from sin is the grand purpose of His
government. Oh, let us not be satisfied with admiring beautiful images
of Christi Let us not deem it enough to think with pleasure of Him as
the light of the morning, a morning without clouds, brightening the
earth, and making it sparkle with the lustre of the sunshine on the
grass after rain!
(W. G. Blaikie, D. D.)
Pastor Gavin's Sermons
Occasional sermons preached to the Evangelical Covenant Church in
Albert City, IA.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
II Samuel 23:1-7 - David's Last Words

22. There’s something about hearing the last words that someone famous
has said. You think that you might learn something about someone by
what it is that they have to say when they know they have reached
the end.
Sometimes the last words someone speaks are profound. Joseph
Addison, a writer who died in 1719 ended his life with a statement,
“See in what peace a Christian can die.” He wanted his death to show
the peace that faith can bring. Sometimes the last words are complete
nonsense, or even ironic. J.M. Barrie, who wrote Peter Pan ended his
life with the statement, “I can’t sleep.” Sometimes there is humor as
in Lady Nancy Astor who awoke during her last illness and found her
family around her bedside and asked, “Am I dying or is this my
birthday?” Oscar Wilde also felt there was a statement to be made and
said clearly that “Either that wallpaper goes or I do.” The wallpaper is
still there. Some worry about what history will think. Pancho Villa, the
Mexican revolutionary told those with him to “Tell them I said
something.” And Henry Ward Beecher, an evangelist in the 1800s, as
he looked to what was to come, said, “Now comes the great mystery.”
Kings throughout history have had their last words recorded. Julius
Caesar is famous for his, “Et tu Brute?” You too Brutus? Charles II of
England told those around him to make sure his mistress, Nelly, didn’t
starve. Louis 14 of France was confused by those around him who
wept and reminded them that he too was mortal. Another king in
France felt that kings should die standing up. And there was one
Roman Emperor who, as he felt himself dying, stated that he felt
himself becoming a god.

23. We are told that King David had some last words to share with those
around him. And though his last words did talk about the greatness of
his reign, they did not aspire to godhood. But we are told in 2 Samuel
that the last words of David were inspired, and therefore something
that we should listen to and learn from. And so today we are going to
look at the last words of David and see what we can learn from this
man after God’s own heart, even in his death.
I. Being God’s
We have spent the last three weeks looking at King David. We have
seen his start as a young shepherd boy, who is called out from among
his brothers to be the future king of Israel. We saw him trust God in
impossible odds as he took on Goliath with a slingshot and rocks. And
we saw David fall last week as he let his sin take control and build up
on itself so that he was responsible for the death of someone;
basically, murdering one of his subjects, and sending his army into
disarray.
But this is not the end of David, and his great sin is not the end of his
relationship with God. David repented and asked for forgiveness and
God removed his sin from him completely, something God is willing to
do for each of us.
And so we come to the end of David’s life. It wasn’t an easy life. He
spent the first part of it running from the King of Israel, King Saul. He
spent the middle of it at war with the Philistines, his neighbors. And
he spent the end of his life dealing with his own sons who were
warring with each other and even went to war against him in order to
become the next king. David faced difficulty throughout his life, spent

24. much of it on the run and constantly had to rely on the Lord because
he knew he couldn’t handle everything that was happening to him on
his own.
I think it is important to remember this when we look at David’s last
words. It is important to avoid imagining that he lived the perfect life
and everything went perfectly well for him. On the contrary, his life
was quite difficult. He faced enemies on all sides.
David would be looked upon today as a self-made man: someone who
took a difficult situation and made the most of it, someone who
persevered when all was lost and amazingly found victory in the midst
of it. But David’s last words aren’t about his own greatness, though
they may first seem like it. David’s last words are about the one who
was with him throughout his life. They are about who it is that allowed
him to do the things he did, and helped him create the kingdom he
created. Unlike that Roman Emperor, David did not see himself
becoming a god, but David did see the work of God throughout his life.
II. Famous Last Words
From the beginning of the chapter, David puts the glory in God’s hands
and not his own. It could sound like he is bragging, “I was so great and
so wonderful that the Spirit of the Lord spoke through me.” Or, David
could be telling those around him, “It was not me who spoke while I
ruled, it was not me who made wise discernments, rather it was the
Spirit of the Lord that spoke through me. I am not the great one here,
it is the Lord that is the great one.” He goes on to tell his people that
God told him that if he ruled in righteousness, if he ruled with fear of
God, then he would be like the light of morning at sunrise, like the

25. brightness after rain. Again, this could be read as if David were
bragging. “I followed the Lord and therefore I was like the light of
morning at sunrise.” But again, this is not the case. David knows what
it is that made his rule great. He knows who it is that is responsible for
his greatness, and it is not himself. It is the God whom he feared; it is
the righteousness that God commanded.
David continues by telling people that there is a reason for his success.
It isn’t his good looks, it isn’t his height or his ruddy good looks (hey,
that’s how the Bible describes him). The reason for David’s success is
that his house is right with God. David is telling the people of Israel.
“You see my greatness. Yes, I am great. I have brought peace to this
land. But this is not because of anything I did, rather it is because of
the God who I follow.” And so we come full circle. We hear at the
beginning, when Samuel is attempting to choose the next king; that
God doesn’t look at that which people look at, but rather God looks at
the heart. God looks at what we cannot see and God blessed David
because David was faithful.
In David, who lived in the Old Testament, about 1000 years before
Christ came and there was anyone known as a Christian, we see the
example of what Christian faith is all about. David knew that he
couldn’t earn God’s favor. He knew that he didn’t have to follow a
bunch of rules to earn God’s favor. Instead, he loved his Lord, he
trusted his God and he relied on his savior to, well, save him.
Again, it sometimes is hard to connect with someone like David. He
lived 3000 years ago. The stories we read about him are legendary,
larger than life, hey he’s in the Bible of all things. And he was the king
of a country. Maybe when George Bush reads about David he can
relate to him, but what about us, living here in Iowa in our small town

26. of Albert City? How do we relate to this great man of God? How does
his life connect with ours?
Well, obviously, I believe it does, or I wouldn’t be preaching about
him. And I don’t see the connection in his ruling or in the great deeds
he did. I see the connection in the small things. I see the connection in
the way that he talks with his Lord. King David shows us what it means
to have a personal relationship with God. David didn’t let his faith be
something that he just accepted because he was born into it. For
David, the faith was personal. It was real.
And this faith, this personal relationship with God is something that
isn’t only for kings and rulers. God has told us that it is available for
each of us as well. All the outward trappings are not important to God.
He looks at your heart and he is ready to have that heart-relationship
with you. We read Psalms that David wrote because they connect with
our hearts. We have that same love and faith open to us as much as it
was open to King David. Jesus, when he died on the cross and rose
again, was sacrificing as much for you and for me as he was for the
kings and rulers of this world.
So, let us learn from the king. Let us allow his example of faithfulness
speak to each of us and guide us in our own faithfulness to God. And
help us to remember that, like David, God is with each of us and God is
the one responsible for helping us through our difficulties and
troubles. We have not made it on our own, it is God who has been with
us and helped us and brought us to where we are. I pray that we can
always remember this and remember to give God the credit instead of
trying to take it for ourselves.

27. III. Looking at that which is from God
There is something else we can learn from David and his final words.
It’s something that I’ve been alluding to throughout this message.
David didn’t lead the perfect life. The blessings he received from God
were him being saved from his enemies and surviving battles as often
as those blessings were riches. He didn’t live the American dream, and
always have all his needs met. Actually, the crazy thing about him is
that it was precisely when he did try to live the good life, sending his
troops off to battle as he loafed around at home on his roof and
sleeping until evening, this is when everything went so wrong for him.
If we look at David’s Psalms, he isn’t thanking God for riches or
leisure. Rather, he is thanking God for saving him from evil, for
sparing his life, for delivering him from those out to kill him.
And yet David, at the end, doesn’t focus on the negative that his life
suffered. Instead he remembers those places where God was with him,
where God worked on his behalf.
David didn’t have a better life than what we face. He dealt with a lot
in his time as king. But he doesn’t let this get to him. He doesn’t allow
himself to get overwhelmed by the negative. Instead he chooses to see
where God was with him in the positive. He chooses to give God credit
where it is deserved.
We face difficulties in this world. We struggle with many things that
King David struggled with, we also struggle with things that were
completely foreign to King David. But we need to know that these

28. things are just temporary. They will not last, though it doesn’t always
feel like that.
These things will too pass, and in the end we will be in the presence of
our Lord, we will be with all those who love the Lord, and we will be
filled with praise for our Lord.
David, at the end of his life, saw with clarity that God had been with
him throughout. And he saw that all his own greatness had come from
the Lord, and he even saw that God was with him in the midst of his
struggles. And his last words, his final thoughts were not on the pains
of the world, which he had faced and which were many, but rather
they were on the God who brought him through these pains. Let us
work in our lives to remember to give God the glory. Let us know that
the pains of this world aren’t going to be the things that we remember
in the end. And let us live lives that are inspired by David’s love for
God and David’s faithfulness. Let us try to be people who are known to
those around us as someone after God’s own heart. Amen.
Posted by Gavin at 10:00 AM
2 comments:
Anonymous said...
Hey, It's Gary here. I've got a couple of sermon notes I've just done. I
have this one and a few others down the line also.

29. Davids Last Words
David repents, asks God for fogiveness. God removes all sin from David
completely. David spends his life running from King Saul, fighting
against Philistines, and at the end of his life, dealing with his own two
sons that went to war with each other and also against him in order to
become the next king. David has to rely on the Lord all throughout his
life because he knew he couldn't handle everything himself.
David gives God all the credit during his last words. He tells the people
that God told him to rule with rightousness and with fear of God, so
that he would be great. He tells the people that he was great, only
because of the God he follows. David knew that he didn't have to
folow a set of certain rules to receive God's favor, but to rely, trust,
and love his one and only Lord. King David shows what it really means
to have a personal relationship with God. God is the one helping us
through all our difficulties and troubles.
David focuses on all the positive that has happend in his life, thanking
God for everything. Intstead of remembering all the bad things God
has allowed happen to him.
8:14 PM, March 21, 2005
Anonymous said...

30. Other Holy books exist.....seek them out and you too might make
sense.
8:56 PM, March 21, 2005