Inspiration and the Promises of God

2 Samuel 23

            On Saturday, I commented that the last four chapters of 2 Samuel have a parallel structure. Today we have a parallel to the long psalm in chapter 22 and a parallel to the story about the exploits of David’s military men in chapter 21:15-22.

            I don’t know that there’s much to say about 23:8-39. It is interesting to me how many of David’s mighty men were not Israelites. Like many kings before and after him, David seemed to have a force of mercenaries who formed the core of his army. I also notice that the list is historically inclusive. For example, Asahel is listed as one of the Thirty, but he was killed by Abner early in David’s reign, when he was still fighting the war of succession.

            David’s “last words” are more interesting. The first thing that stands out to me is that David is aware that he writing more than his personal thoughts. In verse 2, he comments that the Spirit of the Lord spoke through him. David has some kind of awareness that his literary talents are a gift from God and are directed by God for His holy purposes. Paul has a similar sense in 2 Timothy 3:16, when he notes that “all Scripture is God-breathed.” Peter also comments in 2 Peter 1:21 that prophets spoke, “carried along by the Holy Spirit.” I wonder if Peter and Paul shared David’s sense that they, too, were inspired by the Holy Spirit? Whether they knew the Spirit was guiding them or not, we take great confidence in the fact that these words are God’s own words!

            The second thing that struck me was verse 5, “If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant.” I like how David has gotten through the difficulties of the Absalom years, that he has set them aside, and that his confidence in the Lord’s promises stands. I must confess that I’m not sure I would have been able to do that. I think those years would have haunted me for a long time, that I would have looked back at the Lord’s promises through the lens of my own failures, that I would have always wondered, “Did my misdeeds make the Lord reconsider His promises?” I don’t think I’m alone in that, either. I think a lot of Christians harbor doubts about God’s promises, not because we think Him unfaithful, but because we know ourselves unfaithful. I say this often, but it’s the reason that regular church attendance is so important, especially in a Lutheran church, because a Lutheran preacher will always direct us back to the promises of God in Christ Jesus. We need to hear constantly that the Lord keeps His promises, even when we don’t keep ours. There is no tit-for-tat with the Lord.