2 Samuel 23 & 24: The Last Words
Verse of the Day: (23:1) Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised upon on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said

1. Last (23:1-7)
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. (23:3)

Our last words are very important because they sum up what we believe. David’s last words not only thanked God for who He is, but he also exhorted his leaders that they must be fair and fear God. He shared from his experiences that God only blessed his leadership when he feared Him. In fact, David was, is and shall always be the best king of Israel. Let our last words be thanking God that we have always feared Him. (Proverbs 1:7)

2. Lion (23:8-39)
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow: (23:20)

David’s last words included his commendation of his 37 mighty men, as without them he would never be a great king. 3 of his 37 men ventured into enemy’s territory just to draw water for David to drink, and when he found out, he refused to drink, but poured it out as an offering to God. Another, Benaiah, not only killed 2 lionlike Moabites, but he also killed a lion in a pit in time of snow. Indeed, with God we fear nothing. (2 Timothy 1:7). 

3. Land (24:1-25)
And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. (24:25)

However, at the end of David’s life, he and Israel became proud, and God allowed him to number Israel, and thus sinned against Him. God through Prophet Gad commanded David to choose one of the 3 kinds of punishment for his sins, namely, 7 years of famine or 3 years of fleeing from his enemies or 3 days’ pestilence. David chose to fall into God’s hand, and God then sent a pestilence that wiped out 70,000 men. In order to stop the pestilence, David had to buy a threshingfloor of Araunah and offered burnt and peace offerings at that particular site. When Aarunah offered to give his land, David refused as he knew that he must pay for the penalty of his sins. Subsequently, the threshing floor became the site of God’s temple, which Solomon, David’s son, built, and it was also the site where God’s Son was crucified for the sins of the world. Let us therefore humble ourselves to know that all that we have truly belong to God and His grace. (James 4:6-10)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, may my last words be, Thank You, Lord, and, Lord, I need You!