Last Words
2 Samuel 23
All scripture marked (NIV): The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan: Grand Rapids
All scripture marked (NLT): Holy Bible : New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House, 1997.
Over the last month, I have attended 7 “change of command” ceremonies. “Change of Command” ceremonies are and important part of Army life as we see the guidon passed from one leader to the next. It sets a time for the change to take place. Everybody knows where they stand before and after the change.
At these ceremonies I have heard many different speeches about how well the units performed during this last year and how well they will perform in the future.
As you look to the future, with new commanders and new situations, what do you find important? What would be your last words of wisdom be to your unit, to your friends, or to your family? Would you forget what was most important?
This morning we are looking at 2 Samuel 23, which you can find on page ____ in the Red Bibles in front of you.
These are the last words of David. This is not to say that he said this on his death bed, rather these are understood as David’s last inspired words for the people of Israel. I think of these words as David’s “Change of Command” speech. He knows that he will be dieing. He knows that he will be turning his kingdom over to Solomon. In I Kings 2:1-9, David gives his last instructions to Solomon. But, in the 23rd chapter of 2 Samuel David is talking to his people.
2 Samuel 23:1 is the introduction to his statement. They were probably dictated to a scribe and this first verse identifies the author; David, therefore articulating that this message is one with the authority of David himself.
2 Samuel 23:1;
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 (2 Sam. 23:1, NIV)
David has an important message for the people of Israel. He wants to be completely sure that the people of Israel know whom it is making this statement.
These wise words of David give us an example of what we should see as important in our lives as well, whether we are new in a position or whether we want to see a revival in our hearts and our mission.
His first message is that
1. The Righteous Receive Honor
Verse two:
2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me;
his word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel spoke,
the Rock of Israel said to me:
‘When one rules over men in righteousness,
when he rules in the fear of God,
4 he is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings the grass from the earth.’ (2 Sam. 23:2-4, NIV)
One of the most impressive sights in Iraq was the Iraqi Sunrise. I used to enjoy running in the early morning, just in time for the sun to be rising over the FOB. Everything was still and quiet. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Slowly the sun would lift itself over the earth and begin to brighten the day.
David says “When one rules over men in righteousness is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning.” Just as I am recalling the greatness of those clear mornings—those who rule with righteousness would be remembered and honored.
There are times when there is darkness; times when the rain must fall but those who rule with righteous, even in the harshest of times, will be honored.
This is a question of character. There is a tendency to rule with power and force, but David teaches to rule with righteousness and in the fear in God.
Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary defines character several ways. One of these definitions describes character as
“one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual”.
We typically describe character in positive ways, but one can be described with good character traits, or bad character traits.
How do you want your character to be remembered?
There is a wonderful book in the PX called “And you know you should be glad”, by Bob Greene. The book is a true story of the author and his friendship with Jack, a boyhood friend. They had been friends for years; in fact, Jack was Bob Greene’s very first boyhood friend. Jack, near he beginning of the book, receives word that he terminal cancer. While dealing with this illness, Greene revisits their lives as friends.
The book is a story about friendship. But, I also see that the friendship is grown out of the gracious character of Jack. He is remembered with fondness and honor. He was a man of character and those around him see that “he is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning.” Jack is remembered and he is honored.
David asks, in verse five;
5 “Is not my house right with God?
Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant,
arranged and secured in every part?
Will he not bring to fruition my salvation
and grant me my every desire? (2 Sam. 23:5, NIV)
David sees that God has blessed him. God has seen his heart and knows his character. And he notices, also that while The Righteous receive honor,
2. The Wicked Receive Cursing
Verse 6;
6 But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,
which are not gathered with the hand.
7 Whoever touches thorns
uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear;
they are burned up where they lie.” (2 Sam. 23:6-7, NIV)
We see the contrast of the wicked and the righteous. The wicked are “to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand.” These are weeds that have grown up and need to be cleared. These are thorns that I think of when I think of thorns. They are the “wait-a-minute” vines that trap you while you are walking through the woods. To grab the by hand would cut you hand to pieces. The Bible says; “Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron.” These are some serious vines. (You will have to pull out your Gerber to get these taken care of.)
My daughter Elizabeth Anne sometimes uses a pacifier. Her twin sister, Mary Catherine, does not. In fact, the pacifier disgusts her. Both of them, however, want Monica and me to keep a cleaner house, so they often walk around picking up.
One of objects that winds up on the floor is one of Elizabeth Anne’s pacifiers after she has gotten bored with it. For Mary Catherine to clean it up, it requires her to pick it up and bring it to one of us. She picks it up by her two fingers and holds it at far away as possible, which looks a whole lot like the way I pick up her dirty diapers to put in the trash.
While we want the righteous people to be held close, the wicked we hold as far away as possible.
We saw an example this week, when the beloved Seinfeld star Michael Richards , who played Kramer, lost his temper at a comedy club. He began to yell obscenities and racial insults. I was listening to FOX News on the way to work and one of the commentators made the remark that Michael Richards is forever linked to that racial tirade. There is a good chance that his high profile career is over, because every time someone sees him the will think of this moment.
The Bible says that the wicked are all to be cast aside like thorns, not gathered with the hand. And when they are gathered, they are burned were they lie.
Now, I look at this passage and see that the story just stops. There is a pictured of the righteous and there is a picture of the wicked. The Righteous receive honor and the wicked receive cursing.
But, the question remains
3. How does one become righteous?
There are many good people out there, doing good things, but are they righteous?
The definition of righteous is to act “in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin” (Merriam-Webster, I. 1996, c1993. Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary.)
The definition in its self includes a paradox.
We see first that someone who is righteous is acting in accordance to divine law. So first, we see, that God’s law is the law the righteous are obeying.
And second, that the righteous are free from guilt.
The Bible clearly states in Romans 3:23;
23 For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Rom. 3:23, NIV)
So what we find is that acting righteously is not enough. If acting in accordance with God’s law was enough then we would all fail, because ALL have fallen short. We are all condemned to died and spend eternity in hell because of our sin. So how do become free from that guilt?
We are not guilty because God declares us “not guilty” through his son.
Romans 3:24;
24 Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. 25 For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. 26 And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus. (Rom. 3:24-26, NIV)
Through Christ’s payment on the cross, we are declared “not guilty”. We are made right with God through Christ Jesus.
But, we must accept this payment. In order to be righteous you must take the definition to heart. You must righteous is acting in accordance to divine law. You must understand that there is a God, who has laws, and seeks for us to follow them. Then, we must understand that we can never be guilt free on our own. We must accept the payment that Christ freely gave to us through his death.
Thursday, was Thanksgiving. There are several other holidays that get commercialized and we know that Butterball makes a killing during this time of year. Thanksgiving, however, seems to hold its own. It is celebrated many times by people who don’t have any clue who to thank for their blessings. But, the understanding is that we are to give thanks.
As Christians we give thanks to Our Father in Heaven. But, for what? Material things? The huge amount of stuff that we possess? Those things that will pass away with our earthly bodies?
I find it funny that we say thanks, but there very next day we begin four weeks of saying, I want. I thought of this on Friday morning, where I waited for the PX to open at 0600. After going by Best Buy at 0430 and they where already sold out of the item we were looking for. Monica and I had a great time being in the middle of it all, adding to the chaos.
I had already written this message and as I saw hundreds and maybe thousands of people waiting to get that few hundred dollars of savings. I thought about the many people that are all wrapped up in the wants of Christmas rather than the Thanks of Thanksgiving.
We see from scripture that we have much to be thankful for. We are made righteous through Christ on the cross.
Through Christ, we are able to look at verse five and say as the New Living Translation writes;
“It is my family God has chosen!
Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me.
His agreement is eternal, final, sealed.
He will constantly look after my safety and success.
(2 Sam. 23:5, NLT)
Let Us Pray
