Rise and Fall of the King: Davids Last Words

September 15, 2024         Rev. Thomas M. Cox

2 Samuel 23 * David’s Last Words

1) OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK

1. PURPOSE: To point God’s people to the One True King! (And also to show that God’s people should look to the line of David for the messianic king.)

1. KEY PEOPLE: David, Bathsheba, Absalom

1. TIMEFRAME: c. 1000 BC

• SUMMARY: In The Rise of the King (our study of 1st Samuel), we focused on the prophet Samuel, a deeply flawed king named Saul, and a Christ-like figure in brave David. Now, in 2 Samuel we will see David ascend to the throne. His reign will very much be a mixed bag, with many great victories but also checkered with personal failings, for he too is flawed (and in need of forgiveness!).
  

2) TODAY’S CHAPTER

1. The annals of the king (and prophet) include words of ruling with J________ and in J_________. Jesus, the Son of David, is our perfect Prophet, Priest, and King.

1. David had a group of “M__________ men” that served him and protected him.

       Jesus was followed by the Twelve. He prayed for the Father to K______ them (and us!).

• How do these cross-references help to inform us?

   (OT) Genesis 18:25, Deuteronomy 32:1-4, Isaiah 61:1-2

   (NT) John 14:12-17, 15:1-8, & 17:15-21; Acts 2:29-32 & 13:36-39; and Hebrews 1:1-3

3) APPLICATIONS:  Read Chapter 24.

• Are you more like one of the mighty men or the W________________ men?
• Give consideration to how we can participate in “G____________ W________” together as a church.

2 Samuel 23:1-8, 13-17  (ESV, emphases mine)

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:

2 “The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; His word is on my tongue. 3 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, 4 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. 5 “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? 

6 But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; 7 but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire.”

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.

…13 And three of the thirty chief men went down and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 15 And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 16 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the Lord 17 and said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.