Sermon
#14731 Miscellaneous Sermons
Title: “The Last Words”
Text: 2 Samuel 23:1-5
Readings:
Subject: The Blessed Comfort Of
Covenant Grace
Date:
Tape #
Introduction:
2 Samuel 23:1-5 "Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the
man who was raised up on high, the
anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2 The spirit of the LORD spake by me,
and his word was in my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of
Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must
be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4
And 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. 5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made
with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is
all my salvation, and all my desire,
although he make it not to
grow."
There was
a hush over the city of Jerusalem. There was a quiet stir in the king’s palace.
The people are fearful and anxious. The king is on his bed. His brow is wet
with a cold sweat. His palms are clammy. His pulse is weak. The king is David,
and he is dying.
For forty years David had
reigned as king over Israel. And it was a marvelous reign. He had led Israel in
battle after battle, from one conquest to another. He had ruled with
righteousness and justice in the fear of God.
For forty years David had
led the people both in civil righteousness and in spiritual devotion. He had
been both God’s king and God’s prophet. But now he was dying. What would become
of the kingdom when the king was gone? David had led them and David had spoken
to them in the name of God. Would they ever hear from God again?
David’s family and friends
were gathered around his bed, anxious to hear his last words. The people were
gathered in the palace halls and in the streets of Jerusalem, anxious for any
word from their beloved king.
“Now these be THE LAST WORDS of
David” They are the words of David
the son of Jesse, the man after God’s own heart. What will he say?
1.
He describes himself (v. 1).
2 Samuel 23:1 "Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the
man who was raised up on high, the
anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,"
·
“The son of Jesse” - A plain, ordinary shepherd
boy.
·
“The man who was raised up
on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob” (1 Sam. 16:1-12). David never got over the
wonders of God’s electing love and distinguishing grace (2 Sam. 6:21; Ps.
65:4).
·
“The sweet psalmist of
Israel.”
2.
He describes his Psalms and
prophecies
(v. 2).
2 Samuel 23:2 "The spirit of the LORD spake by me, and
his word was in my tongue."
3. He describes his rule (vv. 3-4).
2 Samuel 23:3-4 "The God of Israel said, the Rock of
Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must
be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4
And 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."
Read in
the preset tense, these two verses describe David as God’s faithful servant. He
was saying the same thing Paul said as he faced the end of his pilgrimage -- “I have fought a good fight, I have finished
my course, I have kept the faith.”
NOTE: There
is also a description of the one true and living God in this verse. He is set
before us here in the trinity, or tri-unity of his sacred Persons.
·
God the Holy Spirit –“the Spirit
of the Lord spoke by me.”
·
God the Father –“The God of
Israel.”
·
God the Son –“The Rock of
Israel.”
4.
He describes his Son, the
Lord Jesus Christ, too (vv. 3-4).
Read in
the future tense, these two verses speak of our great King, the Lord Jesus.
5.
He declares his dying hope (v. 5).
2 Samuel 23:5 "Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting
covenant, ordered in all things, and
sure: for this is all my salvation,
and all my desire, although he make it not to grow."
Proposition: When David lay on his bed
dying, he found hope and consolation in the covenant of God’s grace.
Divisions:
1. David’s Sigh
2. David’s Solace
3. David’s Salvation
4. David’s Satisfaction
I. DAVID’S SIGH
As he lay
on his death bed, looking within himself and around upon his family and friends,
David remembered many things which caused him much sorrow. He said, “Although my house be not so with God.”
A. David’s heart was heavy, because many in his
household neither knew nor worshipped his God.
·
Michal (2 Sam. 6:20).
·
Amnon and Tamar (2 Sam. 13:6-18).
·
Absalom killed Amnon (2 Sam. 13:19-29).
·
Absalom was expelled from the palace for three years.
·
Abasalom’s revolt and death (2 Sam. 18:33).
NOTE: We
must be made to know that it is corruption, and not grace, which runs in the
bloodlines.
NOTE: David’s
house was not as he wished while he lived. And He foresaw that it would be no
better after he was gone.
NOTE: David’s
house was typical of the church of Christ, which is his house - Often it is not
as we might wish.
B. David’s heart, I am sure, was also made to sigh,
because of his remembrance of sin.
·
His Vengeance Against Nabal (1 Sam. 25).
·
He Changed His Behavior Before Achish (1 Sam. 21:13).
·
The Matter Of Uriah The Hittite (2 Sam. 11 And 12).
·
His Mourning Over Absalom (2 Sam. 19:1-8).
·
The Numbering Of Israel - 70,000 Died (2 Sam. 24:1-14).
NOTE: David
found no hope or comfort in himself. His “good works” gave him no reason for
joy, but only sorrow.
II. DAVID’S SOLACE - “Yet!”
2 Samuel 23:5 "Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting
covenant, ordered in all things, and
sure: for this is all my salvation,
and all my desire, although he make it not to grow."
In time of trouble and sorrow, there is no pillow
for our aching heads, no balm for our breaking hearts, no solace for our
sorrowful souls like covenant grace. Here are the old paths, we
herein we find rest. Here are the still waters
beside which the Good Shepherd causes his sheep to lie down. Here are the green
pastures upon which the Son of God feeds our souls.
NOTE: David
knew something about covenant mercy - He and Jonathan.
NOTE: When
David looked on Mephibosheth, he saw Jonathan. When God looks on you, he sees
Christ.
Illustration: Dr. Gill’s Letter to His
Nephew
Let me
tell you about this covenant -
A. It is a covenant of pure grace (Psa.
89:19-37; Jer. 31:32-
34).
Psalms 89:19-37 "Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy
one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one
that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen
out of the people. 20 I have found
David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: 21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall
strengthen him. 22 The enemy shall
not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them
that hate him. 24 But my faithfulness
and my mercy shall be with him: and
in my name shall his horn be exalted. 25 I
will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. 26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of
my salvation. 27 Also I will make him
my firstborn, higher than the kings
of the earth. 28 My mercy will I keep
for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. 29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as
the days of heaven. 30 If his
children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; 31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; 32 Then will I visit their
transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will
I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. 34 My covenant will I not break, nor
alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. 36 His seed shall endure for ever, and
his throne as the sun before me. 37 It
shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah."
Jeremiah 31:31-34 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD,
that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of
Judah: 32 Not according to the
covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of
Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith
the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law
in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and
they shall be my people. 34 And they
shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying,
Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the
greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will
remember their sin no more."
B. It is an everlasting covenant -- Both
ways!
C. It is an
ordered covenant. --What ever the covenant
requires it promises.
D. It is a
sure covenant.
·
It will be performed.
·
Its blessings are sure to all who believe (Isa. 55).
III. DAVID’S SALVATION
·
“This is all my salvation!” (Jer. 32:38-40).
Jeremiah 32:38-40
"And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: 39 And I will give them one heart, and
one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their
children after them: 40 And I will
make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to
do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not
depart from me."
·
I place my hope upon nothing but the covenant.
·
Your salvation and mine depends upon the covenant.
IV. DAVID’S SATISFACTION
·
“This is all my desire.”
Mr. Henry said, “Let me have
an interest in this covenant and the promises of it, and I have enough. I
desire no more.”
To be an heir of the covenant means that -
·
I am redeemed.
·
I am forgiven.
·
I am justified.
·
I am born again.
·
I am sanctified.
·
I am an heir of God.
·
All is well!
Application: The gospel of Gods covenant
love, covenant grace, and covenant mercy provides everything you need --CHRIST.
“Almost
well!” Baxter.
“It’s good
to know that everything’s under the blood.”
1 Sermon #697, 1136, & 1137 - preached at Danville (4-6-86, 3-27-94, 3-27-94)
Sermon #1337 Danville (PM – 03/07/99)
Sermon #1473 – Danville Conference – September 2, 2001