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!”

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.”