撒母耳记下

Meditative Reflection
The Last Wish of David

“These are the last words of David…Israel’s singer of songs:” (2 Sam. 23:1)

We are not sure if these were the last words uttered by David or if they were the last “inspired words” by David. In either case, as the “last”, these words are both significant and they expressed the last desire of David.

Based on the contents of these words, the NIV translates it as an “oracle” of David, because he expressly pointed out that “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me, His word was on my tongue” (2 Sam. 23:2). However, it also expressed the dying desire of this godly king in that God would “bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire” (23:5).

Based on the contents of this song, his desire was to see God honor the covenant He promised him through Nathan (in 2 Sam. 7:11-16) in establishing his house as an everlasting kingdom in righteousness and putting an end to evil. In the process, David understood that this would be brought about by a future ruler after him, who will rule over men (not just Israel) in righteousness and will bring about salvation that is like the morning sunrise breaking through the darkness of the night—like the brightness after rain causing life to grow. This is obviously the desire of the Spirit of the Lord as well and we have the blessing of seeing it fulfilled in the death and resurrection of the Son of David, our Lord Jesus Christ.

However, I wonder, when we face death as David did one day, what might be our last desire? How different or similar would it be from David’s?

Food for thought!

Meditative Reflection
Not Just Mighty Men!

“These are the names of David’s mighty men…” (2 Sam. 23:8)

The list of mighty men of David was recorded both in 2 Samuel 23:8-39 and in 1 Chronicles 11:10-47 which was expanded in the latter by 16 names (vv. 41-47). Both lists have some variations which commentators are quick to attribute to scribal errors or corruptions of the text. However, it is customary to these days in the Oriental culture for a person to have more than one name — both my grandfather and my father had more than one name. In any case, the recording of the names of these mighty men, I believe, does not mean that the Bible follows Ancient Near East traditions in giving exaggerated legends of mighty men. Rather, as inspired words of God, it shows the following:

- How blessed David was in having so many mighty men loyal and devoted to him;

- David’s success was not just his, but that of all his fellow men; and

- Ultimately, it was through them that “the Lord brought about a great victory” (23:10, 12).

In fact, the way the list was compiled clearly shows that these men were honored first and foremost not by their unusual might, but by their usual loyalty to their king. Abishai and Benaiah could easily out-fame the first three mentioned. In fact, Abishai was the chief of all 37 mighty men (v. 18). However, the Three were mentioned first and were honored above all other mighty men, primarily not because of their mighty deeds, but because of their loyalty and love for their king (the “Thirty Might Men” appeared to be a fluid term at times covering all the mighty men of David). I do not believe David was totally without water, he was just expressing his desire that he could drink from the well of Bethlehem — his home town. He was simply home-sick, and the three men heard not just his words, but his heart’s desire and they were willing to risk their lives to give comfort to the heart of their king! How blessed David was! I do not think “loyalty” even comes close to describing the virtue of these three mighty warriors!

Meditative Reflection
Pride before a Fall

“The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.” (2 Sam. 24:4)

Israel did not have a large full-time army under David; the fighting men were only called upon when a war broke out. As a result, David did not have a clue as to the exact number of fighting men he could muster should a major war happen. So it is only prudent for any ruler or government to ascertain in advance the size of the army, and in David’s case, also where the strength of his army was, except that he was not just any ruler. He was a king anointed by God to rule over His people; as a result, according to his own words to Goliath, “it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Sam. 17:47). To number his fighting men could only be both a matter of pride and a sign of trust not in the Lord, but in the strength of men.

But David’s pride was further displayed in not listening to the advice of Joab. Spiritually speaking, Joab was certainly no saint and so David did not respect him, especially when it came to things spiritual. If it were Gad who came to rebuke him in the first place, David might have listened, but his pride prevented him from  listening to a man like Joab.

It is indeed hard for a person in a high position to accept rebuke, but thankfully David did have a conscience that could be awakened. Although the resulting calamity proved to be very disastrous, the loss of 70,000 lives — there was a lesson for both David and the people of Israel:

- As David sought to take pride in his number of fighting men, he ended up having a smaller army — I would not be surprised if most of the dead were fighting men; and

- The people of Israel were also punished for their sins: Although the reason for the burning anger of the Lord was not given (24:1), this was obviously a punishment for their sin as was the famine in chapter 21. Some commentators opine that it was God’s way of dealing with their sins of rebellion under Absalom and Sheba (21:14; 24:25).

Meditative Reflection
The Merciful Hand of God

“Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great….” (2 Sam. 24:14)

David knew his numbering the fighting men in his nation was a great sin, because he followed the practice of the kings of his neighboring nations. On the one hand, it was certainly a sign of pride, desiring to take satisfaction in flaunting the huge size of his army, a total of 1.3 million fighting men in all (24:9). On the other hand, it was a blatant act of rejection of the Lord as the true king of Israel. If he put his trust in the size of his army, he did not have to trust in the Lord. It took this otherwise godly king nine months and twenty days to come to be “conscience-stricken” (24:8, 10). At least, he came to repentance before the prophet Gad was sent to declare to him the punishment. So, his repentance had nothing to do with the severe punishment.

It is interesting to note that the Lord gave him three options to choose from: three years of famine, three months of fleeing from the enemies or three days of plague. Well, he had experienced three years of famine already in chapter 21. Although we have no idea how many people had died in those three years, the number must have been significant, and it was only natural that those who died from famine first were the children and the aged. David had already spent a good part of his life fleeing from his enemies, and not only was he tired of fleeing, but he knew first-hand how painful that experience was and the shame that had been brought to the glory of the Lord. As much as a plague was equally horrific, at least it would only be for three days, and as David put it, he would rather fall into the hands of the Lord — that is what a natural disaster amounts to!

And David was right. Although the Bible says the plague lasted from that morning until the end of “the designated time”, many commentators opine that because of the lack of an article before “designated time” (K&D, 709), it does not necessarily refer to the three days of “appointed time”, but perhaps the designated time for evening sacrifice which would have coincided with the offering by David subsequently on the threshing floor of Araunah. Further, since God stopped the angel saying, “Enough! Withdraw your hand” (24:16), it is likely that the plague did not even last a complete day, although 70,000 lives had been lost already.

There was a time in my life when I had to make a very difficult decision, a result of some foolish action that I took. One morning I was reading this particular passage and I underlined these words in 24:14, and I made a decision that put myself at the mercy of God. Looking back, like David, although I did suffer much because of my own folly, that decision I made has led me to experience nothing but grace — indeed, mercy upon mercy. Therefore, whatever choices we may have to make, “let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great.”