My dad had leukaemia and whilst I was visiting him in hospital late one Saturday afternoon he said “go home and spend time with your family” I told him that I would go home, have my tea, put my daughter to bed and be back. In that short time the hospital rang to tell me he had died.

My dad’s last words, typically unselfish remain in my heart.

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:  2 Samuel 23:1

My dad’s last words described him, and here David gives us a description of himself. Firstly, the man who was raised on high. He recognised God’s sovereign plan. Everything that David did was from God, it’s was God’s sovereign power at work in him. As David repeats in many of his Psalms, he recognises that it was God who had created him and that any good found in him was from God. The fact being, that he was just the son of Jesse the lowly shepherd boy who became a king because of God. Secondly, he is the anointed of the God of Jacob. That his enabling, his wisdom, his strength was because of the Holy Spirit.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. 1 Samuel 16:13

He is the sweet Psalmist of Israel. It’s interesting that when David describes himself, he doesn’t say, slayer of Goliath, leader of a great army, king of Israel. He just says worshipper, it’s who he was first and foremost.

Look at the way he describes where his songs came from (vs 2-3),

The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me. His words came from God, his words are God’s words. This is so true. God is still speaking to us through the Psalms of David. His words are not just poetic but prophetic. He describes them as, His word is on my tongue. He is speaking, orchestrating, bringing emphasis to the fact that God is speaking through the man David, it’s His word on my tongue. It’s both personal “the rock” and powerful “the God of Israel.”

Look at the way David defines the character of his reign (vs 3-4).

Rule justly, rule righteously and in the fear of God. That’s how it works for those given responsibility by God. Paul tells Timothy to choose leaders with character and we are given this responsibility to understand and fear God. This is not a cowering fear but rather a reverence and awe of the one we serve. David’s view of his God is the one who had brought him light, like the breaking of the dawn. It’s revelation, illumination, understanding and wisdom. God brings an end to vagueness and obscurity, light brings a sharpness with it. It shows us how David depended on God.

Look at how David sees his reign as a covenant promise to him.

“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?  2 Samuel 23:5

David speaks of “my house” rather than himself.  It’s not just about him. He knows that the promises given to him were fixed and settled. They cannot be lost or taken away. They were not just encouraging words but God’s very own words. More than that, these covenant promises were God’s desire and plan. David was, in receiving them, advancing the kingdom of his God. These promises would continue because from the line of David would come the promise of the Messiah, the Son of David. God has taken a covenant oath, His purpose is ordered in all things and is secure. This Davidic promise also continues and will continue to do so until all enemies have been put beneath His feet. He will be head over all things.

Lastly, look at how David ponders over the issues of heaven and hell as he moves towards his last breath, this still bothers him.

The shortness of life (thrown away thorns) how hard it is to get near to some with the gospel (thorns). That they can only be correctly handled by those who are fully equipped. His final appeal is for the souls of his people, their eternal destiny and his cry is get yourself equipped before, (in the poetry of David) they are consumed with fire.

So, these are the last words of Jesus.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20

Please church can we catch both the urgency and the importance of these last words.