ISRAEL'S SINGER OF SONGS

Passage: 2 Samuel 23:1-7

Key verse: 2

NIV

David’s Last Words

23 These are the last words of David:

“The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse,
    the utterance of the man exalted(A) by the Most High,
the man anointed(B) by the God of Jacob,
    the hero of Israel’s songs:

2 “The Spirit(C) of the Lord spoke through me;
    his word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel spoke,
    the Rock(D) of Israel said to me:
‘When one rules over people in righteousness,(E)
    when he rules in the fear(F) of God,(G)
4 he is like the light(H) of morning(I) at sunrise(J)
    on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain(K)
    that brings grass from the earth.’

5 “If my house were not right with God,
    surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant,(L)
    arranged and secured in every part;
surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation
    and grant me my every desire.
6 But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,(M)
    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.”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Last Words of David

23 Now these are the last words of David:

The oracle of David, the son of Jesse,
    the oracle of (A)the man who was raised on high,
(B)the anointed of the God of Jacob,
    the sweet psalmist of Israel:[a]

2 (C)“The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me;
    his word is on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel has spoken;
    (D)the Rock of Israel has said to me:
When one rules justly over men,
    ruling (E)in the fear of God,
4 he (F)dawns on them like the morning light,
    like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning,
    like rain[b] that makes grass to sprout from the earth.

5 “For does not my house stand so with God?
    (G)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[c] 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.”[d]

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Samuel 23:1 Or the favorite of the songs of Israel
  2. 2 Samuel 23:4 Hebrew from rain
  3. 2 Samuel 23:6 Hebrew worthlessness
  4. 2 Samuel 23:7 Hebrew consumed with fire in the sitting
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The Spirit spoke through me (1-2)

David was a mighty warrior and a powerful king. He was a poet and a musician. Most importantly, he was a shepherd who taught his people the word of God; the Lord's Spirit spoke through him.

2. A king who feared God (3-7)

Some people become proud when they get power and authority. They use their power indiscriminately, at their own pleasure. But David was a king who ruled in righteousness because he had the fear and love of God in his heart. He was like the light of the morning sunrise which promises a beautiful day. God's covenant with David looked toward the future. His house would be the source of God's blessing for all people, for from his house would come the Messiah who would bring to fruition salvation for a sinsick world. But those who reject God's servant will be burned up like thorns on the day of God's wrath.

Prayer: Lord, let your word be on my tongue, and love for you be in my heart.

One Word: A kingly Bible teacher