Read: 2 Samuel 23
King David is nearing the end of his life. 2 Samuel 23:1-7 contains
David’s final psalm. In it, the just ruler is compared to the worthless man.
One who rules justly with a fear of the Lord is like light and life to his
people. But worthless men will be cast away and consumed with fire. He doesn’t
know all the details of the afterlife, but David knows that his hope is in the
Lord after death just as it has been on earth. And the promise of an eternal
throne brings much joy to his heart. He knows that God will cause his desires
to prosper. David’s desires were to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, and
God’s promise will allow this to be so.
The rest of the chapter lists David’s mighty men – the men who stood
faithfully by his side all of his days as king. Of the men, there are three
that stand out: Josheb-basshebeth, Eleazar and Shammah. These three showed
exceptional strength and dedication. Abishai and Benaiah are also noted for
their skill and leadership, though they did not attain to the distinction of
the three. David was beloved by his people. Men were eager to fight for him and
defend his throne. Verses 13-17 even tell of the lengths three men went to in
order to get David a drink of water. David was easy to serve. Level-headed, he
sought the council of his commanders and ultimately of the Lord. Throughout 2
Samuel we overhear conversations between David and Joab showing a very open and
candid relationship between the two. While David was honoured, his men were also
able to speak their minds without fear. Unlike Saul, he was not given to fits
of rage or outbursts of jealousy.
This list is given to encourage and inspire us. We must recognize the
necessity of friendship and teamwork. Even the most skilled person cannot
accomplish his task alone. David was a talented leader and a mighty warrior –
long before kingship, he had shown his strong abilities while defending his
flocks from predators. But the lions and bears were nothing compared to the
Philistine armies! He needed warriors who had both skill and devotion. The
Bible never ceases to show us reality, and deception is a prime component to
the kingships of the Old Testament. And while David experienced much of this at
the hand of his children, we are encouraged to read this list of men who stood
faithfully by his side. The name of Uriah in verse 39 brings a pang with it:
deceived by the king whom he fought for. Again, we are subtly reminded of
David’s weaknesses.
As leaders we must acknowledge, praise and encourage those who stand
beside us. Encouragement and affirmation bring out the best in those we lead,
whether in business, ministry or the home. If those who follow us feel that
nothing they do is ever good enough for us, we will lose them. Employees and
volunteers will quit or shirk their duties and our children will emotionally
detach. But if they feel that their efforts will bring encouragement,
recognition and pleasure, they will be inspired.
And for those of us who follow… we are encouraged to love the ones we
follow, to love our employers and leaders and parents. Perhaps these men listed
didn’t always agree with David’s actions. Certainly some did not feel too fond
of David’s reaction on the day they defeated Absalom only to find their king
weeping and refusing to acknowledge their victory. And yet they served him. We
are not told how many of them died in battle, but they all put their life on
the line for their king. Our roles are somewhat different. Most of us are not
literally putting our lives on the line for our bosses, but we are called to
honour and serve them with all our strength, to work with joy and fervour. If
your boss or leader were King David, would your name be listed among his mighty
men?
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. David is
nearing the end of his life with a sound mind and devoted heart. Spend some
time meditating on the theme of finishing
well. Are you set on a path to end your life well? If you found out today
that you had only a short time left, would you feel prepared?
a. Ask God
to show you any changes you need to make towards a good ending.
b. Spend
some time praying for someone whose lifetime you know will end soon. Pray that
they could end life well. Ask God how to pray for them specifically.
2. Ask God
to show you how you can specifically start to encourage people more. Plan to do
this today.
3. Ask God
how you can joyfully and fervently serve those who lead you. Plan to do this
today.
