David's Last Words

In today’s reading we see the way the Holy Spirit was at work in the Old Testament – we hear of the anointing of David (the work of the Spirit), the inspiration of David’s words (the work of the Spirit), bringing about salvation (the work of the Spirit) and the transformation and fulfillment of David’s desires (the work of the Spirit). As you read, ask the Holy Spirit to be at work in this way in your life – filling you, leading you, transforming you and sustaining you.

STUDY THE SCRIPTURE

 

Click here to access the reading from 2 Samuel 23:1-7

 

 

REFLECTION

 

An Uncomfortable Last Word

by Dan Kidd

  

If I’m being honest, I find this passage a difficult one. Not difficult to follow, but hard to read because of how uncomfortably oblivious David comes across in it. I cringe in my embarrassment for David when he seems to misunderstand himself and his relationship with God. What makes it all the more cringey is that it includes the Spirit speaking prophetically through David. Let me show you what I mean.

The passage begins by stating that the Lord honored David, anointed him to be king, and made him the hero of Israelite songs. Then the Spirit speaks through David about righteous leadership: leading others in the fear of the Lord; to be a light that brings life and flourishing. Who among us wouldn’t want a leader bowed before God and whose light radiates over us, securing our flourishing? But does this accurately describe David? 

Sure, at times David profoundly feared and trembled before the Lord. In Psalm 51 he cries out “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me!” He’d seen firsthand, in the madness of Saul, what it meant for God to give someone over to their sinfulness and depart from them, and he was desperate for God’s forgiveness and salvation. The Lord spared David’s life and did not abandon him. But, he didn’t fear the Lord when he beckoned Bathsheba from her bath, or sent her husband to his death.

Likewise, David isn’t exactly a king of life or flourishing. How many people in David’s atmosphere died tragically? Consider again Uriah, who vowed allegiance to David, but was betrayed unto death; or his countless enemies, and his family (or those who were both)—who died in David’s wake. Even in David’s final breath he directs Solomon to exact revenge on Shimie ben Gera (1 Kings 2:8-10). In fact, even though David states here that the Lord had granted David his every desire, God denied David’s request that he might build God’s Temple, stating, “You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood in my sight.” (1 Chronicles 22:8b)

How could King David prophesy so truthfully and succinctly what it means to be a righteous king and then believe himself to be one? 

This leads me to suspect that v. 5 is crucial to understanding the passage. “If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant..”  I wonder if David overestimated his role in that? I wonder if his house was only right with God because God anointed David and chose to love and bless him in spite of himself?

I’m humbled by this thought.

Humbled by how easily I become self-important, operating as though my rightness with God hinges on my achievements or failures. Humbled that God would love and include me despite my dismal blunders and terrible blindspots. Once again, I’m left deeply grateful for the salvation and reconciliation I simply don’t deserve but receive nonetheless. 

 

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER – TUESDAY

UNITY: God of peace, we pray for de-polarized, non-defensive pursuit of truth, unity, and equality. We pray for well engaged minds. Set us free from the competing narratives of our culture wars that funnel us into opposing camps and make of us a house divided. Kindle in us a desire for your truth that is larger than our desire to have been right