2 Samuel 22 offers us an example of David’s poetry. We know David wrote many of the Psalms included in the Bible. The poem in chapter 22 gives God the credit and glory for all of David’s victories in battle and for protecting him throughout his life. We find parts of this poem in several of the psalms. David calls God his “rock.” He tells us he called out to God in his distress and God answered. We see the personal nature of the relationship David had with God, and we are reminded of God’s desire for us to be in relationship with Him. As we examine the various religions of the world, we find most of them point to an impersonal god or gods, but the God of Israel, the true and living God, always looks for people, and upholds the righteous. That was certainly the case in David’s life. David was imperfect as all of us are, but God loved him and blessed him throughout his life.
As we move to 2 Samuel 23, we are told we are reading the last words of David. They aren’t the “last” words of David, but they do point us to the end of David’s reign as king. David recalls that God promised to have one of his descendants rule on Israel’s throne for all generations after him. The second half o f the chapter lists David’s thirty mighty men. In reality, the list includes “the three,” who were mightier than the thirty. As we read the men’s names, along with their exploits in David’s service it is striking the loyalty these men showed to David. Every leader knows loyalty is a vital component of being an effective and successful leader. After all, as John Maxwell once put it, “If you think you are leading, but no one is following, then you’re only taking a walk.” David was never simply taking a walk. He had people who were willing to die for him, to kill for him, and to go wherever he led them. That loyalty was earned by David’s own loyalty to the LORD, and to his men.
In 2 Samuel 24, we read about one of David’s last actions as king. It was an ill-advised command to take a census of Israel and Judah. The reason the action was ill-advised was it resulted in God’s judgment. We’re told God incited David to command the census, but the command was a test from God, which David failed. To count one’s people or troops in that day showed a desire to demonstrate one’s power or influence. David ought to have trusted in the LORD and not the number of his people or troops. Joab realized as much and attempted to dissuade David from having the census carried out. The the census was completed, the LORD sent Gad, the prophet, to David and gave him three options for how the judgment would be carried out. David chose a plague, because it would put the final death toll in the LORD’s hands, rather than in the hands of David’s enemies. 70,000 people died through the plague, which was finally ended when David bought the threshing floor of Aruanah, and offered sacrifices to the LORD there. When Aruanah offered to give David the threshing floor and the oxen needed to offer the sacrifice, David said he would not offer to the LORD that which cost him nothing. That is a powerful principle we ought to keep in mind as we live our lives. God offers His salvation to us freely through the blood of Jesus, and yet Jesus told us if we want to be His followers we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily and follow Him. Our salvation was free to us, but it cost Jesus everything. As we live out our faith, it will have a cost for us as well.
As we return to Mark 14, we return to the painful last night of Jesus’ life. The chapter starts with Jesus having a meal in Bethany and being anointed with expensive perfume. Some in the group were upset the money was “wasted,” as the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. But Jesus affirmed the action, and pointed out the woman was preparing his body for burial, and that she would be remembered for her good deed. Then we read about the Last Supper, Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s denial, Jesus’ time of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, His arrest and finally of Peter’s denying three times he had ever known Jesus. When it came to the last moments before Jesus was crucified, He was alone. Those closest to Him either betrayed Him, denied Him or abandoned Him. This had to be one of the darkest moments in Jesus life. We know from His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane that He asked God to remove what was coming ahead of Him. Jesus knew He was going to take the sin of the world on His shoulders on the cross, and it shook Him to the core. Yet, in the end He told His heavenly Father, “Not My will, but Your will be done.” That attitude shows us Jesus is both Lord and Savior for us. While as Lord He owns us and gets to tell us what dot do, He was first willing to die for us to purchase our lives out of sin, so He can lead us. That kind of Lord is worthy of being served!