Chapter 23

Labeled "The Last Words of David".

I think this is talking only about the first 7 verses.  They are set off in a different format in TCR. 

vvs 2 says these words are from God.  I think it means in the same way that God speaks through prophets.  An Oracle of David is what it says. 

David says God spoke these words to him - these final words:

3 The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, 4 he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. [2Sa 23:3-4 ESV]

This is what happens with a nation that is ruled by a godly man.  This is what David spoke as his last word.

And then look at these verses about ruling over the worthless:

6 But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; 7 but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire." [2Sa 23:6-7 ESV]

Worthless men cannot be dealt with in a gentle manner, in a cooperative manner.  If you try to deal with them that way, you will only damage your own hands.  Men like this must be dealt with in a way that keeps us from getting so close we use our hands.  Iron isn't hurt by them, a spear shaft keeps them at a distance.  And then, they must be utterly consumed.  We can't leave thorns lying around, or they will just regrow, thicker and nastier than before. 

MSB says this reference is to the final judgement of God when all the wicked that ever were are cast into hell.  Probably so, since this is an oracle of God, not a Proverb for daily living.

MSB has a lot to say about these final words.  They are about the perfect King, ruling in perfect harmony with the will of God.  The words are about the Messiah who will come.  David admits that his house was not the house of the perfect King.  Nevertheless, God made a covenant that such a king would arise from the house of David, because God's covenants cannot fail.  He makes them work.  The coming Messiah would be the fulfillment of the covenant God made with David.

This would make a really good study, based on MSB notes, and could likely find a John MacArthur sermon or 10 on these verses.

Then we get a description of David's mighty men.

The last one named is Uriah the Hittite.  Uriah was one of David's 37 mightiest, surely a prized asset in the army.  Yet David sent him to his death to cover his own sin.