Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro: We’re finishing up this wonderful account of the life and the reign of king David…and today we come to chapter 23 which is described as David’s final words…

Now, though they were probably not the very last words of David

These words are of great importance...

The word Oracle twice in the introduction - Divine revelation communicated through God’s spokesperson (prophet, priest, or king) so it’s important

Oracle.

Divine revelation communicated through God’s spokesperson (prophet, priest, or king), usually pronouncing blessing, instruction or judgment

Think about it like this…the story of David finished in chapter 20, yet the author found it important to add these 4 chapters, and this passage is right in the middle of these which means it was given significance

Think about it like this…the story of David finished in chapter 20, yet the author found it important to add these 4 chapters, and this passage is right in the middle of these which means it was given significance

Think about it like this…the story of David finished in chapter 20, yet the author found it important to add these 4 chapters, and this passage is right in the middle of these which means it was given significance

Think of it as David at the end of his life, saying, he lets grab some coffee…and He says “this is what wants me to tell you about leadership…and serving God...

(Prop) And thats what this is all about...christian service and leadership...

David’s last words...

Notice how David refers to himself…

Notice how David refers to himself…

The son of Jesse Jesse the shepherd - A farmer, not an aristocrat, not high society…and he was the youngest one in his family of farmers…nothing much

The son of Jesse Jesse the shepherd…yet in spite of his lowly upbringing He was the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of JacobApp: No matter who you are or where your from, If God has called you to a task, he will equip you for the workThe reference to Jacob is fitting as well - David’s anointing by the God of Jacob implicitly connected David’s career with Jacob’s Jacob was used of God to found a nation; David, to found the royal family that ruled Jacob’s nation.

Yet in spite of his lowly upbringing He was the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob

App: No matter who you are or where your from, If God has called you to a task, he will equip you for the work

The reference to Jacob is fitting as well - David’s anointing by the God of Jacob implicitly connected David’s career with Jacob’s ...Jacob was used of God to found a nation; David, to found the royal family that ruled Jacob’s nation.

Then David, says one one more thing about himself…

This give us one more important function of David…he was a Prophet….and

confirms that…

So taking all of 1&2 Samuel into account we see that David is viewed as a “Prophet” a “Priest” () and a “King”…

This give us one more important faction of David…that he was a prophet….and

confirms that…so taking all of 1&2 Samuel into account we see that David is viewed as a “Prophet” (here) a “Priest” () and a “King” (2 Samuel) and with that in mind it seems appropriate that Jesus should not only be depicted by the New Testament writers as inheriting these roles but superseding David’s accomplishments in them.

With that in mind it seems appropriate that Jesus should not only be depicted by the New Testament writers as inheriting these roles but superseding David’s accomplishments in them.

Here’s the point: Jesus is the great fulfillment to of what’s foreshadowed in the book of Samuel…

App: And in the same way…Jesus is the great fulfillment of all things…

Look at what he says…

Look at what he says…

Now some believe this is messianic, but I believe it’s actually both, I belief David could have been speaking about his life, but speaking prophetically about the one would be the greater fulfillment of this picture...

But here he gives a picture of what a good leader looks like…He rules justly And in the fear of the Lord

Lets talk about the fear of the Lord...What does it mean to fear the Lord?For the unbeliever - It’s a fear of eternal separation from God -

Lets talk about the fear of the Lord...What does it mean to fear the Lord?

In Proverbs we’re told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

In other words, before you can know who you are, and what you are supposed to do, you must know who God is, His holiness, and how he has called you to live…

For the unbeliever - It’s a fear of eternal separation from God

But here he gives a picture of what a good leader looks like…

For the unbeliever - It’s a fear of eternal separation from God

Think about what Jesus said in about himself

luke 12:

But For the Christian it’s a different kind of fear

This is what the author of hebrews was saying to a group of believers...

Heb

He rules justly And in the fear of the Lord - What does it mean to fear the Lord?For the unbeliever - It’s a fear of eternal separation from God -

- (ESV) 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Here’s the funny thing about it all…the fear of the Lord is the most empowering thing in the world…

It makes me think about the account found in 2 chronicles 14…Asa is king and he’s doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord…and this man named Zerah came against the people of God with an army of a million and 300 chariots and Asa prayed and the fear of the Lord fell upon the people of God and they wiped them all out…

App: Here’s the thing…fear is human…but fear the right thing….A Godly leader will function in the fear of the Lord…

For the Christian it’s a different kind of fear - (ESV) 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.And then in Proverbs we’re told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom - In other words, before you can know who you are, and what you are supposed to do, you must know who God is, His holiness, and how he has called you to live…Here’s the funny thing about it all…the fear of the Lord is the most empowering thing in the world…It makes me think about the account found in 2 chronicles 14…Asa is king and he’s doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord…and this man named Zerah came against the people of God with an army of a million and 300 chariots and Asa prayed and the fear of the Lord fell upon the people of God and they wiped them all out…App: Here’s the thing…fear is human…but fear the right thing….A Godly leader will function in the fear of the Lord…

Now look at what that produces…in the godly leader

A few things here..

David gives us a contrast between a good leader and a bad leader - David compares Someone who leads in the “fear of the Lord” as a light and as rain…

David gives us a contrast between a good leader and a bad leaderDavid compares Someone who leads in the “fear of the Lord” as a light and as rain…Think about that…for David who ruled in a land where farming was a way of life…he would have thought of both of those things are life giving elements that brought about massive benefits for othersThis is contrast to the worthless leader who is like “thorns that are thrown away and eventually burned with fire” v.6-7This tells us that the measure of a good leader is not their gifting, there personality, but their people This is what a “God fearing leader” is to beWe are to understand that leaders in God’s economy are servants of others…our chief goal should never be to find ourselves, or to fulfill your true potential, it’s to bless and benefit others…Jesus came to serve othersWe are called to benefit othersThen David talks about God’s faithfulness in his life…Though David was a man through the course of his life who was devoted to God, it wasn’t HIS devotion to God that made him successful, it was God’s devotion to him that made him successfulThink about this…though David’s reign was not perfect it was blessedFrom one perspective David’s reign was a disaster.

He suffered from a dark scandal during his reign, he suffered under repeated family crises, under an attempted insurrection from his own son, under another civil war, and from three years of famine…yet according to scripture he would be the gold standard for the kings after himIn contrast to David, his son Solomon’s reign seemed perfect.

Solomon enjoyed a reign of peace, great prosperity, prominence, and glory.

But Solomon is barely mentioned in the rest of the Scriptures and when he is, it is almost in a backhanded way (see and ).God doesn’t deal with David on the bases of his performance, He dealt on the bases of his promises…App: The difference between David and Solomon was found in their different relationships with God.

David’s passion in life was simply to be with God (), while Solomon’s passion was personal improvement ().

We can also say that David endured to the end, loving and serving God in the final chapters of his life (), while Solomon forsook God in his later years ().

Think about that…for David who ruled in a land where farming was a way of life…he would have thought of both of those things are life giving elements that brought about massive benefits for others

This is contrast to the worthless leader who is like “thorns that are thrown away and eventually burned with fire” v.6-7

This tells us that the measure of a good leader is not their gifting, there personality, but their people This is what a “God fearing leader” is to be

We are to understand that leaders in God’s economy are servants of others…our chief goal should never be to find ourselves, or to fulfill your true potential, it’s to bless and benefit others…Jesus came to serve othersWe are called to benefit others

Then David talks about God’s faithfulness in his life

Though David was a man through the course of his life who was devoted to God, it wasn’t HIS devotion to God that made him successful, it was God’s devotion to him that made him successful

Think about this…though David’s reign was not perfect it was blessedFrom one perspective David’s reign was a disaster.

He suffered from a dark scandal during his reign, he suffered under repeated family crises, under an attempted insurrection from his own son, under another civil war, and from three years of famine…yet according to scripture he would be the gold standard for the kings after him

In contrast to David, his son Solomon’s reign seemed perfect.

Solomon enjoyed a reign of peace, great prosperity, prominence, and glory.

But Solomon is barely mentioned in the rest of the Scriptures and when he is, it is almost in a backhanded way (see and ).

God doesn’t deal with David on the bases of his performance, He dealt on the bases of his promises…

App: The difference between David and Solomon was found in their different relationships with God.

David’s passion in life was simply to be with God (), while Solomon’s passion was personal improvement ().

We can also say that David endured to the end, loving and serving God in the final chapters of his life (), while Solomon forsook God in his later years ()

Now we move on from the leader…to the men who followed him…

David’s mighty men

Let’s get a sense of how these men started...

1 sam

Thats who these guys were, they were a group of broken men who didn’t have much to offer but they were radically changed because of their closeness to leadership of God’s anointed king

Thats who these guys were, they were a group of broken men who didn’t have much to offer but they were radically changed because of their closeness to leadership of God’s anointed king

Two things here…

App: This is a picture of us of a life that that comes under that leadership of Jesus

Sin has broken us, but Jesus has invited us…to come under his leadership and he takes us, and makes us better then we could could have ever been on our own…

App: This also tells us that David didn’t accomplish all of this on his own…though no doubt God raised him up to be the man, he was gonna need other men around him

This is usually the way God accomplishes things…he raises up the leader…and then he surrounds him with leaders to support…I’m so thankful for the leaders that the Lord has put around me…to support me and keep me in line need them…and every leader does as well…

So lets look at these guys and we begin with David’s 3 champions…

2 sam 23: