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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 6 September 2025:
2 Samuel 23:1-4 — Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: “The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.”
David’s “last words” are not his final utterances before death but his final prophetic testimony. He acknowledges his humble beginnings (“son of Jesse”) and God’s gracious elevation of him as Israel’s king. David confesses that his words are Spirit-inspired, affirming the divine origin of Scripture (2 Peter 1:21). His oracle sets forth a vision of true kingship: ruling justly in the fear of God. Such a ruler brings life, blessing, and flourishing, like sunshine after darkness or refreshing rain. This ideal is never fully realized in David’s reign, but points forward to Christ, the perfectly righteous King whose reign brings true peace and restoration (Isaiah 9:6-7).
“When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.” God has called us to be the primary influence on earth for His glory, for the world’s benefit, and for our fulfillment, to ‘govern’ [lead] world affairs through our influence that “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” It is impossible to rightly govern world affairs, a household, or any situation apart from a “fear of the Lord” and the power of the Holy Spirit. When Christians obey God, and influence others to obey God, they are the light of the world, and they promote life.
“The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; His word is on my tongue.” The Bible is the inspired (God-breathed) word of God given to men to record. We were created by God in the physical form for the express purpose of translating (through word and deed) His Spiritual truth and will into the physical world for His purposes and for His glory. When David operated in the Spirit, he performed His purpose. As stated previously, Jesus only spoke and did what the Father told him to say and do. He is our example. We should seek to do the same.
2 Samuel 23:5 — For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?
David reflects on the covenant God made with him in 2 Samuel 7. Despite his sins and failures, God’s covenant is everlasting, secure, and ordered by His steadfast love. David’s confidence rests not in his own record but in God’s unbreakable promise. For believers, this covenant finds its fulfillment in Christ, the Son of David, who secures our eternal hope (Luke 1:32-33; Hebrews 13:20).
Is your house a house of God?
2 Samuel 23:6-7 — But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire.
In contrast to the blessing of God’s covenant and the reign of the righteous king, those who oppose God are like thorns — useless, destructive, and destined for burning. This is a sober reminder of the eternal end of the unrepentant (Matthew 13:41–42). The covenant offers blessing and security, but rebellion against God leads to judgment.
Some people will refuse to accept the authority of God or the truth of God’s word. You will not be able to convince them because they have rejected the conviction of the Holy Spirit. In their rebellion, they have rendered themselves worthless, and they will only destroy themselves and influence others to follow the path of destruction. We will face inevitable conflict with such people as we seek to promote God’s will on earth and as they seek to counter it. We must resist evil and counter the influence of evil people, but we must never condemn those trapped in evil, always praying and hoping for their salvation, not knowing what God might do with them.
2 Samuel 23:8-12 — These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time. And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo…. He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the Lord brought about a great victory that day…. And next to him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi…. He took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory.
Here begins the honor roll of David’s mighty men. Each act of valor is recorded, not simply to glorify their courage, but to show that God gave the victories. Josheb’s one-man stand, Eleazar’s hand clinging to his sword, and Shammah’s defense of a field illustrate the Lord’s strength through human weakness. These warriors point us to spiritual truths: our battle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), and victory comes not by our might but by God’s power working through us (Zechariah 4:6).
“These are the names of the mighty men whom David had….” God ensured that the names of the faithful were recorded for eternity. Their reward was eternal. Note that Uriah the Hittite is the last name listed. (2 Samuel 23:39) Also, note how God sets the record straight in the lineage of Jesus recorded in Matthew: “And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah.” (Matthew 1:6) God makes it clear, even though David married Bathsheba and had children with her, she was Uriah’s wife. What God joins together, no one can separate. A man and a woman who marry are married in God’s eyes until one of them dies. Jesus was clear about divorce and remarriage, though it is common today — “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.” (Luke 16:18)
“He took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory.” The faithful are willing to face impossible odds, trusting God with the outcome, which is hope. Are you?
2 Samuel 23:13-17 — And three of the thirty chief men went down and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam…. And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well…. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the Lord and said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?”
This moving scene shows both the devotion of David’s men and the reverence of David toward God. Their loyalty drove them to risk their lives for a simple longing, but David recognized the cost of their sacrifice and refused to consume it selfishly. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. This models for us the importance of honoring the sacrifices of others and recognizing that ultimate devotion belongs to God. Christ Himself poured out His life as a drink offering for us (Philippians 2:17), and our response should be to offer our lives back to God in gratitude (Romans 12:1).
David reflects on several leadership lessons in these verses. First, leaders must be very careful not to communicate in a self-centered way to others, even casually. Second, all good leaders are first great followers, willing to do whatever it takes to be obedient and to obey their leader — our Leader is Jesus who always seeks the perfect will of the Father. Finally, leaders must never put their own desires ahead of the needs of others. David refused to drink water that was not available to his troops. Leaders take care of themselves last. This, of course, is contrary to the example of worldly leadership. Do our politicians have more or less than those they presume to lead? Does your pastor have a bigger or smaller house than those within his congregation? Did Jesus have more or less than those who walked with him day by day? Note that coincident with the fall of David was his pursuit of materialism and comfort.
2 Samuel 23:18-23 — Abishai and Benaiah are highlighted as valiant warriors. Benaiah in particular is remembered for his courage in striking down powerful enemies, including a lion in a pit on a snowy day. These accounts inspire courage, but they also point to God’s empowerment of ordinary men for extraordinary tasks. In Christ, God equips believers to face spiritual lions and giants by His Spirit (1 Peter 5:8–9; 2 Timothy 1:7).
2 Samuel 23:39 — Uriah the Hittite….
The chapter concludes with a longer list of David’s mighty men, thirty-seven in all. Their names are immortalized in Scripture because of their devotion to their king. Yet among them, intentionally named last, is Uriah the Hittite. Uriah’s character, competence, and fidelity did not prevent him from becoming a victim in the worse possible way. His integrity did not guarantee His security. However, his reward is eternal. If our motivation or incentive for fidelity is earthly reward, we do not have real fidelity, we are deceiving ourselves, and we will be sorely disappointed. Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, was murdered by David who had taken from him the one thing he cared about most on this earth, his wife. Yet, God directed David, Uriah’s murderer, to list Uriah in the honor roll of the faithful. Within God’s eternal, public record, David’s secret sin has been exposed as has the fidelity of David’s victim. Only through complete humility, a total reliance and faith in the grace of God, and complete surrender could David write the name, Uriah.
Even in this list of glory, God’s Word does not omit the scars of David’s reign. This mingling of triumph and tragedy points us forward to Christ, the greater David, who reigns with perfect justice and without sin.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 6 September 2025: Today, live in covenant confidence. Like David, rest not in your failures or achievements but in God’s unbreakable promises in Christ. Offer your life to Him as a living sacrifice, honoring both the sacrifices of others and the supreme sacrifice of Christ. Walk courageously in faith, knowing that the same Spirit who empowered David’s mighty men strengthens you for the battles God has called you to face.
Pray: “Lord God, thank You for the everlasting covenant fulfilled in Christ. Thank You for the heroes of faith whose devotion and courage inspire us to trust in You. Teach me to live with courage, humility, and gratitude, and to pour out my life as an offering to You. Strengthen me by Your Spirit for every battle and keep me faithful until the end. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 