2 Samuel Chapter 23-24

Davids Last Words and Actions

Dr John C McEwan

Davids Last Words to His People

Verses 1 7
David honours the Lord in
all his doings. He recognizes grace and mercy in
the Lords dealings with him. It is the fear of the
Lord that alone keeps kings and pastors safe
from arrogance.
Verses 8 38
This is a roll call of brave
men. These men were true heroes and fought
like the Proto-Greek warriors of Homer, and date
from the same time frame.

Davids last Great Error

Verses 1 9 The census appears to have
been a smart move before handing over
the kingdom to his son Solomon, but it was
not with numbers that God intended
Solomon to rule. It was wrong to count
bottoms on seats, and it still is! It was
the heroes of faith that made Davids
kingdom great, and they still make
Churches wonderful places, not numbers.

David Faces a Choice

Verses 10 14 Gods man comes to
speak to him. The prophet Gad, like
Nathan before him, tells the truth to the
king.
Verses 15 17 David wisely chooses
Gods discipline ahead of mens. the
plague that sweeps away those who are
evil stops at a spot that becomes the site
of the altar of the new temple.

David Understands
Verses 18 25 David buys the land off
the Jebusite owner at the point the angel
stood and the plague stopped. He notes
an important point in vs 24. Read that
verse again and reflect upon it. Read
slowly and prayerfully Psalms 11, 12 and
16, and close this book in prayer, as David
closed his working life. Read 1 Chronicles
22 to see the priestly commentary also.