Like the sun rising on a cloudless morning.

2 Samuel 23:1-7

Context
This coming Sunday is "Christ the King Sunday," the last Sunday of the Christian Year. All of this week's texts focus on kingship. Today we look at "The Last Words of David," the legendary greatest king of Israel.

Listening to the writer
David gives a brief summary in images of traditional Jewish wisdom: the righteous will prosper, the wicked will be consumed.
List the descriptions of David ("Son of Jesse", etc) from the first few verses.
Note that the Hebrew word translated "anointed" is "Messiah". To be a Messiah is, literally, to be God's Anointed, and the word is used of many people in Israel's history.

Listening to God
Which of the descriptions of David in these verses are applied to Jesus in other places? (There are at least 3). Spend some time meditating on one.

In Jesus' day, Jews were looking for another “anointed” to come, another King like David. What kind of hero are you looking for? Does Jesus fulfill your deepest hopes?

A just ruler, who fears God, is like a glorious sunrise. Who are some leaders in your life, or in our life as a nation, that have been like a glorious sunrise? Thank God for them.

How might you encourage other leaders to be just and to fear God?

David claims that God has made with him “an everlasting covenant,” first mentioned in Scripture in 2 Samuel 7. Early Christians claimed that the covenant found fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is now our King. Do you see Christ in each sunrise? Do you intentionally start your day acknowledging Jesus’ rule in your life? How might this change your lifestyle?

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