We may contemplate the close of David’s life under two aspects — one historic and the other moral and typical.
The first is found in 1 Kings 2:9, where the last recorded word of the aged king is, “His hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.” “Blood” is the word on the lips of the dying warrior, “a man of war from his youth,” as Philistine enemies and Amalekite foes could testify. Memories of holy righteous victories mingled with those of sin, shame and sorrow crowd together, as we think of Elah’s valley and Ziklag’s sorrow, of righteous judgment on the messenger of Saul’s downfall, and of the sons of Rimmon, the Beerothite. Would that the picture could end here! But Uriah’s cruel death and Nathan’s “Thou art the man” cast their sad and somber shade over all, as we hear the judgment pronounced on the king’s enemies.
How refreshing, then, to turn to the other scene, where the Spirit of God introduces us to “the man after God’s own heart,” in quite a different atmosphere. As we listen to the holy breathings of the prophet in 2 Samuel 23, we find that every word carries us beyond the narrated facts, and the scene becomes a “gate of heaven” to our souls, as we view the Lord Jesus Himself. Our hearts are led to the manger at Bethlehem and the home at Nazareth, to the Son of a carpenter! Such was David, and such was Jesus — lowly in heart, a companion of the poor of the flock. “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head” (Matt. 8:2020And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Matthew 8:20)).
But now in spirit we are carried on to the opening chapter of the Acts, where the lowly Son of Jesse is presented as “the man raised up on high.” In lowliness He had humbled Himself and gone down into death; then, “He was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father” (Rom. 6:44Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)). And His ascent was indeed glorious and exalted, for He was set “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Eph. 1:2121Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (Ephesians 1:21)). He is no longer the despised “Nazarene”; Peter announces, “God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:3636Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)).
Melodies From the Anointed
This once despised but now exalted One is likewise “the anointed of the God of Jacob” (2 Sam. 23:1), the Center and the sum of all God’s purposes for Israel and for the Gentiles — as indeed of the heavenly counsels also. David was speaking of the things “touching the king,” truly “inditing a good matter” (Psa. 45:11<<To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.>> My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. (Psalm 45:1)). David had been anointed with Samuel’s “horn of oil,” but he too, with Abraham, looked on to the day of glory and saw Him who is at once David’s “Son” and David’s “Lord” — to Him who is “the Prince of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:55And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5)).
The next note of the dying patriarch directs us to another glory connected with the One who was thus to manifest God’s ways in rule — the expression “the sweet psalmist of Israel.” David had sung sweet melodies, but never such music as that which sounded through the lips of Jesus, as He “piped” in the midst of Israel melodies of grace, compassion and love. Alas! Israel’s ears were dull, and “the voice of the charmer” was unheeded. Instead of the “garment of praise,” the sweet singer has to wrap Himself in the “robe of heaviness,” and, thus robed, He sits to weep that touching lament over the rebellious city, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem ... how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, but ye would not” (Luke 13:3434O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! (Luke 13:34)).
Soon that voice of compassion is hushed in death upon Calvary’s mount, but it was to awake in the morning of resurrection glory. Taking His place in the midst of His “brethren,” the voice is again heard, not now to win a rebellious nation, but “in the midst of the church” He sings praises to God. We who are the favored ones in that heavenly choir answer, as Miriam did Moses, giving back to Him all the glory of His “glorious triumph.” But this is a note altogether heavenly, and so the Spirit of God tells us that after this wondrous melody there is yet another to rise from “the great congregation” (Psa. 22:2525My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. (Psalm 22:25)). Israel shall praise Him in millennial days yet to come and shall proclaim His worth.
Communications
Concerning Christ
Again He is brought before us as the instrument of divine communications, for “the Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue” (2 Sam. 23:2). So the Lord Jesus, while on earth, was ever the humble, dependent Man, led of the Spirit in every word, act and deed, so that all He did was by the direct power of the Holy Spirit. More than this, we are directed to the moral qualities essential in the One who was to reign over all and of whose kingdom there shall be no end. The qualities requisite in the one who is to rule for God’s glory and man’s benefit are righteousness, obedience and dependence — alone found in that blessed One, who came not to do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him. “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God” (2 Sam. 23:3).
David has to own, “My house be not so with God,” and so we have to turn to Him who is alone worthy, and beautiful indeed is the picture drawn. “He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain” (2 Sam. 23:4). Thus refuge, protection, refreshment and rest will be found in Him who “shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth” (Psa. 72:88He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. (Psalm 72:8)). All now is praise and adoration as David entered into the blessedness of that reign, and as the vision filled his soul, he could devoutly and fervently say, “This is all my salvation, and all my desire” (2 Sam. 23:5).
The Day of Patience
Are we found in “the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:99I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:9)), in company with the beloved Apostle John, content to let opposition, violence and oppression take their course, until the rightful King comes forth? “The thorns thrust away” (2 Sam. 23:6) tell of righteous indignation on those who resist the mighty Conqueror, in His day of vengeance. It is significant that the names, the valor and the victories of David’s associates in the day of his rejection find a connecting link with the holy breathings of our prophet. In a coming day the kingdom will be the theater for the display of recognition of those who, knowing the Beloved whom earth rejected, seek to walk in heavenly association with Him now during the time when the sons of Belial are in power. In view of all this, it becomes us to be “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:1313Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13)).
H. N., adapted