David's Last Words: Accountability to God (2 Samuel 23)

1. David's Last Words: Accountability to God (2 Samuel 23)

2. David’’s Last Words Last will and testament of king David Last words - worthy to be in a special manner remarked and remembered He could have presented us with plenty in every aspect of life: Poverty and Wealth Love and Hate Righteousness and Weakness Repentance and Chastisement He lived as a prophet, a king, a judge, a man of war, a psalmist, a husband, a father, a shepherd of a few sheep, as well as a king.

3. David’’s Last Words His final speech was very concise He gave an account for his life with God He ended it with the names of his mighty men and their works Most prominent attributes of the prophet David, was making use of all the energies within his hands. This is the role of every true spiritual leader: not to be self-centered, but to motivate others to work, with no individualism, or selfishness.

4. David’’s Last Words 2 Samuel 23: 1- David, the sweet psalmist of Israel 1 - 2 2- Ruling in the fear of God 3 - 4 3- Entering into an everlasting covenant 5 4- The perdition of the sons of Bilaal 6 - 7 5- David’s mighty men 8 - 39

5. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel 1 Now these are the last words of David.      Thus says David the son of Jesse;       Thus says the man raised up on high,       The anointed of the God of Jacob,       And the sweet psalmist of Israel:

6. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel “Thus says David the son of Jesse” He would not forget his origin and his status: the youngest son, a shepherd; not acknowledged even among his own family “Thus says the man raised up on high” He was unknown to men, but known to God “the Most High”; “The anointed of the God of Jacob” His mission and work was assigned by god. He is the anointed by the God of Jacob;

7. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel The sweet psalmist of Israel: He was sweet in his psalms: praises, thanksgivings and prayers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, for the Church to live, and to sing in its prayers. David’s life in its wholeness came as a spiritual guitar, on whose strings the Spirit of the Lord played

8. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel He wrote the psalms, set the tunes, appointed both the singers and the instruments of music The singing of psalms is a sweet rite, to those that delight in praising God. David’s greatest honor: a psalmist “Through the prayers, of David the psalmist…” (Lobsh of the First Hos)

9. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel David demonstrates three aspects in his personality: 1- His humble origin as the son of Jesse; “Thus says David the son of Jesse” so as not to feel exalted, or haughty

10. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel 2- His anointment for the ministry of God’s people: “The anointed of the God of Jacob” God anointed him for the sake of God’s people; for the edification of the congregation; 3- He has a pious mission: “The sweet psalmist of Israel” To lift the people up to the heavenly life, of continual praise.

11. Ruling in the fear of God 3 The God of Israel said,      The Rock of Israel spoke to me:       ‘He who rules over men must be just,       Ruling in the fear of God.  4 And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises,      A morning without clouds,       Like the tender grass springing out of the earth,       By clear shining after rain.’

12. Ruling in the fear of God “And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises” He was granted authority through his fear of God; God gave him enlightenment, to give light like a shining sun in the morning after hours of darkness His strength, greatness, and fruition, are a gift from : Sun of righteousness (the Lord Christ), and the divine rain (The Holy Spirit), No believer will enjoy the shining of the Sun of righteousness in him, nor the fruits of the Spirit (the rain), unless he enjoys the fear of God.

13. Ruling in the fear of God + Fear of God is the paternal rod, that guides us on our way, until we reach the spiritual paradise of goodness; after which, fear will then leave us and turn back. The paradise is the love of God. + Repentance is the ship; fear is its skipper; and love is the divine harbor. Thus fear would bring us to the ship of repentance; cross with us over the sea of dirt of this life; and lead us to the divine harbor, which is love.(St. (Mar) Isaac the Syrian)

14. Ruling in the fear of God Fear of children (love) Love of children who care not to hurt the feelings of their parents; Fear of a laborer Anxiety that he may lose the reward or the wages; Fear of slaves from their masters Dread of punishment By union with our Lord Jesus Christ, we enjoy the fear of children: fear of God “I do not fear God, because I love Him” (St. Antony the Great)

15. Entering into an everlasting covenant 5 “Although my house is not so with God,      Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant,       Ordered in all things and secure.       For this is all my salvation and all my desire;       Will He not make it increase?

16. Entering into an everlasting covenant The goal of men of the Old Testament was to enjoy a covenant with God: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Israelites This everlasting covenant that was realized through the blood of Christ; By its worthiness, man became a dwelling place and a sanctuary for God.

17. Entering into an everlasting covenant “Although my house is not so with God” David felt his unworthiness to enjoy that everlasting covenant with God; His house - his parents and brothers; and his children in particular - do not walk with the fear of God. David's heart was concerned for his children, that they might be right with God, faithful to him and zealous for him. He foresaw it would not be so when he was gone

18. Entering into an everlasting covenant “Although my house is not so with God” Accountability to God: For ourselves: “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom 14:12) For our service: “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;” (1 Pet 5:2-3)

19. Entering into an everlasting covenant Accountability to God: For our service - faithfulness: “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” (1 Cor 4:1-2) “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1 Cor 3:12-15)

20. Entering into an everlasting covenant “Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant” Comfort through the covenant, even within troubles: “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor 4:8-9) The divine covenant is a free divine gift – by grace, not worthiness God has made a covenant of grace with us in Jesus Christ

21. Entering into an everlasting covenant “Everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire;” 1-Everlasting: Eternal 2-Ordered: To manifest the glory of God 3-Secure: The promised mercies are sure on the performance of the conditions 4- For our Salvation 5- Our desire

22. Perdition of the sons of Bilaal 6 But the sons of Bilaal shall all be as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands.  7 But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.

23. Perdition of the sons of Bilaal David had fear that any of his descendants, would become a son of Bilaal (Baal); Neither his relationship to David, nor his position as a ruler over the people of God, will intercede for him; He will be thrust away as uselessthorns, to be burned with fire;

24. Perdition of the sons of Bilaal They are rejected, abandoned they cannot be managed or dealt with by a wise and faithful reproof, but must be restrained by law and the sword of justice Those in authority must use their power for the punishing and suppressing of wickedness

25. Perdition of the sons of Bilaal Commandment to the kings, rulers, and all those of authority, to be alert, lest they become chastised and removed. St. Jerome: “The city of the Lord is the Church of the saints, the congregation of the righteous” The wicked of the world (sons of Bilaal) are to be uprooted.

26. David’’s mighty men of war If David, refers to the Lord Christ; his mighty men, likewise, refer to the men of faith affiliated to the Lord Christ. Their names were mentioned for the following reasons:

27. David’’s mighty men of war 1- To be mentioned in the Holy Book, is considered as the greatest of rewards; “Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (Matthew 26: 13); “... But rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10: 20).

28. David’’s mighty men of war 2- This list is considered as glory to David himself, who trained them on strife and conquest ... Every victory and conquest we get, is to the account of our true king, The scholar Origen: “He is the One who calls us to strive, and He is the One who works striving in us; He presents the crown to us, and accepts it in us ! And on the contrary, every failure and slothfulness in our life, will become a cause for blasphemy on Him.”

29. David’’s mighty men of war 3- This list is considered glory and honor to the mighty men concerned, who strove with David, to establish his reign; At the same time, it is considered as an invitation for men along the ages, to have the Son of David reign over their hearts, and to have His kingdom established in them.

30. David’’s mighty men of war 4- Mentioning their names, is not based only on their military excellence; but that, and their courage went had in hand with their faith. The name of ‘Joab’ -- David’s highest commander -- is not on this list; His persistent evil actions, emerging from his hate and envy; having killed Abner and Amasa, and dared to talk indecently to David, his king. Glory of Children of God is based on their works and faith.

31. David’’s Last Words In his last words, David remembers: His humble origin as the son of Jesse His anointment for the ministry of God’s people His mission: “The sweet psalmist of Israel” He was granted authority through his fear of God He gave an account of his life: His house is not set properly with God His unworthiness to enjoy that everlasting covenant with God His Comfort in God’s grace His warning against the sons of Balaal He remembers and honors those who labored with him.