2 Samuel - Chapters 23-24 with Psalm 32 and 110

In the final chapters of 2 Samuel, there is an artistic structure called a chiasm. Chapter 23 focuses on David's last words and his role as a priest and prophet. The last chapter tells of David taking a census and his subsequent confession and repentance. Throughout, the importance of ruling in righteousness and the fear of God is emphasized. David's mighty men are also mentioned, highlighting their loyalty and courage. The reading of Psalm 110 further shows David's prophetic role and references to Jesus. Ultimately, David's kingdom will have no end. I am Julie Callio, your host, and thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to tune in with me today. If by chance you want to contact me, you can do that at bab.bc.pc at gmail.com. Today we are ending the book of 2 Samuel. And as I said yesterday, the last four chapters of this book are an epilogue that is set up in an artistic form called a chiasm. This was explained in Robert D. Bergen's commentary on these books. Chapters 21 and 22 were sections A, B, C, where David stopped a divinely sent famine. Section B was a section on David's mighty men. And chapter 2 was section C, which was a song of David that is almost identical to Psalm 18. Today's last two chapters have the second half of the chiasm starting with C, the last words of David in chapter 23 verses 1-7, then B in verses 8-39 with David's mighty men, and back to section A in chapter 24 where David stopped a divinely sent plague. Of course we should add that David also started the plague too. With David's last words, verse 1 is the title or the explanation which states, The oracle of David, son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man appointed by the God of Jacob, Israel's singer of songs. That can also be translated Israel's beloved singer. Just a little bit of background, Jacob's name was changed to Israel so he is the father of the nation. Back in Genesis chapter 49, Jacob blessed his 12 sons, and when he spoke to Judah in verses 8-12, he said in verse 10, The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs, and the obedience of the nations is his. Way back in Genesis, one from the tribe of Judah would be king, for it is a king that holds a scepter. So David is king, he is the son of Jesse, which means he is from the tribe of Judah, he was anointed by God as king through Samuel, which exalted him by the God that is the Most High. In David's songs, there is a clear understanding that God is the supreme ruler over all rulers. The Lord God is the ultimate sovereign. Now, an oracle is usually considered a prophetic word through a priest from God. This gives us a hint that David has served as a priest. Plus, in the New Testament book of Acts, the apostle Peter preached at Pentecost in chapter 2, and he said in verse 3 about David, but he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him an oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. This is one of the reasons that David heard from the Lord on his own, but there were also times that David heard from the Lord through other prophets as well. Also, in 1 Chronicles chapter 25 verse 1a, it says, David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jedison for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres, and cymbals. Here we see that some musicians were also considered to use their gifts of music with prophesying. David was also one of those men who had the ability to put to music words that many would be in reference to Jesus Christ and his life, death, and resurrection over 1,000 years later. It is through his leadership that music became a central part of worship, and the majority of the Psalms are attributed to David. Seventy-three bear his name. Forty-nine are not labeled with any name, but Jesus attributes some of them to David, and then 28 have other names attached to them. David's last words were written in a poetic form, and it goes like this, The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me. His word was on my tongue. 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, 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. 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? But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear. They are burned up where they lie. As Ben F. Filbreck Jr. said in his commentary, When the king ruled according to God's leadership, he brought the whole nation into a right relationship with the Lord. Ladies, this is key to the history of the nation of Israel and the story of the Bible. Even though David was not perfect, he tried to rule in righteousness and in the fear of God. One thing that was great about David was when he messed up, he was quick to confess it and repent because he knew he would answer to God. This book of 1 and 2 Samuel also ends without knowing David's descendants who will take his throne when he dies. Will he lead with righteousness and the fear of God? Section B covers David's mighty men. It begins with three of David's chief soldiers and their mighty victories in verses 8 through 12. The rest of chapter 23 covers his mighty men which were called the Thirty. It is thought that this number may have fluctuated throughout his reign as various men died and new men were elected. The next story, David and his men were fighting the Philistines who had taken the city of Bethlehem, David's birthplace. He was not given a command but wished for a drink of water from the well in his hometown. And one night, three of the mighty men snuck out of camp, entered Bethlehem unnoticed, got water from the well and brought it back to him. When David received it, he could not drink it and said, Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this. Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives? Instead, David poured it out before the Lord as a drink offering, like a priest would do. Now, just a few more notes about David's mighty men. Joab is not mentioned, but his brother Abishai was, and he was noted as the commander of the three, but not one of the three. Benaiah was a Levite, the son of a priest, Jehoiada, and he oversaw David's bodyguards. Then in the list of thirty, Asahel, the brother of Joab is mentioned, but if you remember, he died when David was king of Judah, but not of all Israel, in 2 Samuel chapter 2, which helps us understand why the number of thirty would fluctuate. Plus, it shows that David counted his men from the very beginning of his leadership. In verse 34b, Eliam, son of Ahithophel the Gilanite, was Bathsheba's father, and the last mighty men mentioned was Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba's husband. The last line says, there were thirty-seven in all. Now, I'd like to pause and read a Psalm of David, Psalm 110. The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion. You will rule in the midst of your enemies. Your troops will be willing on the day of battle, arrayed in holy majesty. From the womb of the dawn, you will receive the dew of your youth. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. The Lord is at your right hand. He will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook beside the way. Therefore, he will lift up his head. This is one of those Psalms that has many references to Jesus, and Jesus himself quoted this Psalm to stump the religious leaders of his day, to reveal that the Lord, God in heaven, said to the Lord, Jesus Christ, that he would be victorious over the enemies of God. When Jesus said this, he was declaring that he was God. Then the reference to Jesus and David being a priest after the order of Melchizedek gives a hint that David was a prophet, priest, and king, and then ultimately so was Jesus, and his kingdom has no end. Finally, in the last chapter of 2 Samuel, number 24, David took a census of Israel and Judah. Joab asked him not to, but the king did not listen. Joab and his men surveyed all the land of Israel, and it took nine months and twenty days. When Joab returned and reported the number, verse 10 says, David was conscious stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing. Now, it's unclear if David was guilty because he took the census for his pride, or I wondered if it had to do with hearing the numbers of Judah and Israel, that the comparison brought more division to the land instead of bringing them together. Bergen reminded me that in Exodus chapter 30, verses 11 through 16, were the requirements of taking a census, and part of that was that they were to bring offerings to the Lord. Maybe they didn't do that part. This time, the Lord sent Gad the prophet to David, and gave him three options of punishment for his sin. Three years of famine, three months of fleeing from his enemies, or three days of plague in the land. David chose the three days of plague in the land and said, Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great, but do not let me fall into the hands of men. The Lord sent the plague. David cried for mercy on the people since it was his fault, and Gad the prophet came again to David, and told him to purchase the threshing floor of Arunah the Jebusite. So David went there, said he needed to buy the land in order to give a sacrifice to the Lord. Arunah was willing to give him the land and the items for the sacrifice, but David said, No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing. After David built the altar, gave the burnt offering and sacrificed offerings, then the Lord answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped. I'd like to end today with the reading of Psalm 32, of David, a mascal. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him, and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away. Through my groaning all day long, for day and night your hand was heavy upon me. My strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgression to the Lord, and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found. Surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place. You will protect me from trouble, and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding, but must be controlled by bit and bridle, or they will come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous, seeing all you who are upright in heart. Ladies, David said to the godly, Pray to God while he may be found. King Saul was a great example that sin can cause a barrier in our lives to God, and there may be a day we cannot hear him. Let's not be like Saul. Instead, if you have heard his voice today, rejoice. Let's acknowledge our sin, let's not cover it up, and let us pray to the Lord who so eagerly wants to forgive. Then we can be the women who are surrounded by the unfailing love of the Lord. Then we will rejoice and be glad and sing. Until next time, and thank you so very much for listening.