Year 1, Week 40, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 40, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Samuel 22-23.

Today’s reading provides some measure of concluding reflections on David and about David. 2 Samuel 22 is essentially the same Psalm 18. 1 Samuel began with a song (1 Samuel 2:1-10); 2 Samuel, as the half-way point, included a song (2 Samuel 1:19-27), and now 2 Samuel near the end concludes with a song. Hannah prayed: “My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:1-2). And now David prays: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies” (2 Samuel 22:2-4). Hannah, in her lowliness, experienced victory over her enemies by trusting in the LORD. David, in his lowliness, experienced victory over his enemies by trusting in the LORD. 1 & 2 Samuel start with, come to the conclusion of, and running throughout, highlight that strength is found in the LORD. Thus, the LORD is to be praised. 2 Samuel 23 records the final (public) words of David, but also records David’s mighty men. It is interesting to see the last man named: “Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all” (2 Samuel 23:39).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the prophetic nature of the words contained in David’s final words: “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, 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” (2 Samuel 23:3-4). Whereas 2 Samuel 22 (Psalm 18) primarily looks back to consider how the LORD established the kingdom through David, 2 Samuel 23:1-7 looks ahead to contemplate how the LORD will consummate the kingdom through David. The forward looking nature of 2 Samuel 23:1-7 is picked up in the Psalms and restated after David’s time: “For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.” You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations” (Psalm 89:2-4). But, of course, the origin of when the LORD made the covenant harkens back to the earlier years of David’s rule: “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16). The certainty of the covenant made with David rests on the certainty of the LORD who made the promise: “For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure” (2 Samuel 23:5).

However, not everyone wants the kingdom promised to David to come: “But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire” (2 Samuel 23:6-7). When we think of the promises made to David of an eternal kingdom, we should think of restoration and redemption; but we must also think about the consummation of the kingdom to include destruction and judgment. Destruction and judgment are a part of the kingdom because there are those who resist and oppose it: “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:41-42). The godless will be outside the kingdom and will face destruction and judgment. But the citizens of the kingdom will be welcomed: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates” (Revelation 22:14). But not everyone enters: “Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:15). Restoration and redemption reaches its consummation: “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43). That pairs nicely with: “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” (2 Samuel 23:4).

The Bible doesn’t budge on the matter that some will face destruction and judgment, while others will receive restoration and redemption. We should heed what is clearly stated: “The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said… He who has ears, let him hear” (2 Samuel 23:3a; Matthew 13:43b).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe