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by Gary Sims
11/16/03
Not For Sale
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The Scriptures
2 Samuel 23:1-7 – Famous Last Words

Key Verses: (NIV)

1: “These are the last words of David: The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs.” – As David’s last words, these verses speak of David as a man of God, blessed beyond measure because of his faithfulness.
2: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; His word was on my tongue.” – David was always conscious of God’s presence in His life; working through him and enabling him to lead with Israel as God would have him lead.
3-4: “When one rules over men in righteousness…, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning…” – Ruling justly and in the fear of God results in shining clarity and brilliance.
5: “…Has He not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part?” – The covenant David refers to is the promise that the descendants of David will rule forever – this covenant is secured through Jesus Christ.
6: “But evil men are cast aside like thorns…” – Imagery of what takes place with leaders who do not fear the Lord.

Points to Contemplate:

“These are the last words of David…” Should they hold special significance? When a life comes to a close and all that has transpired within that life is before us like an open book, do those last words hold unique insight, purpose, and meaning? Could these words of David’s mean as much to us if we did not have the images of a shepherd boy defeating a giant, a boy king rising victorious over all his enemies, an extreme worshiper of God dancing through the streets, or a deceiving transgressor against a soldier's wife in our minds as a point of reference? Should we consider all those things as we read these verses?
Is the word of God on your tongue? Should it be? Or is it sacrilegious to consider this as a possibility? Can you, a common person amidst a sea of humanity, speak for God? If you accept that David was “a man after God’s own heart” and was provided special opportunity to know and trust God, why would God not do the same for each of us? In your special status with God, are you certain that there are not times where He is using your tongue, your gift of speech, to portray His Word to those He sends you? Can your words be “like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning” to those struggling in the darkness?
Are you a king? Are you ruling in righteousness? Do you understand that righteousness comes from focusing on God and becoming aligned with His perfect will for your life? As this happens, can you see that your influence on the people around you grows and that they begin to see evidence of God’s actions in their own lives? Isn’t this building God’s kingdom? Isn’t this the type of “ruling” or leadership we are all called to do?
In what way does God’s promise to David (the Davidic Covenant) affect your life? Do you focus on God and the plans he has for your life? Do you glorify Him and praise Him with all your heart? Has He blessed you in amazing ways? Has He redeemed you by forgiving the unforgivable and by forgetting the unforgettable? Has He assured you that your throne will live forever? Can you see illustrated in the life of David that God’s promise of everlasting life is available to each and every one of us? Will you grasp onto this promise, fearing the Lord, or will you become like a branch of thorns being gathered for the fires of eternity?

Promises of the Gospel:

Famous last words… they hold special significance to us. Our libraries are filled with biographies that outline people’s lives in an attempt to illustrate their impact and influence on society. These biographies act as the last word, a shining testament, that imparts wisdom for generations to come. We also place an inordinate amount of importance on people’s last will and testaments, especially in terms of the distribution of wealth. David’s final words impart God’s wisdom and wealth for all the world to glean. Have the Word of God on our lips, fear the Lord, walk in righteousness, and our days will be blessed by His everlasting promise.

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