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2 Samuel 23 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
David was never ashamed of who he was and where he came from. In a culture that was all about notoriety and popularity, David was still the youngest son of Jesse, the peasant and farmer from Bethlehem. David’s life is a story that illuminates the grace and favor of God. Just like God took the sneaky, manipulator Jacob and molded him into Israel, he took a young shepherd boy and elevated him to the King of God’s people. This was all accomplished to foreshadow the humble birth and beginning of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
David composed many Psalms that glorify God and speak personally to so many in their time of need. Peter beautifully articulates the divine intervention by which God inspired Old Testament writers to compose the Scriptures.
“And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
2 Peter 1:19-21 ESV
David was indeed carried by the Spirit. These two points (1) growing into the person God has called us to be and (2) being inspired and led by the Holy Spirit – are critical to our purpose in God’s Kingdom. We cannot fulfill our calling as a messenger of Jesus Christ in our own strength.
“A blessed end, when, in looking back upon the path of life that lies behind, one has nothing to utter but gratitude and praise; when, in looking around upon his own life’s acquisitions and his possession of salvation, all self-glorying is silent, and only the testimony to God’s grace and mercy, that has done all and given all, comes upon the lips.”
John Peter Lange