In 2 Samuel 23 we find King David in his final hours. He reminisces about his life and focuses on three realities. First he rejoices that he has always spoken God’s word rather than his own. Throughout David’s life he interacted with countless people. He led, he rescued and he inspired and he befriended. In each interaction David shared God word, and in that sharing people were infused with insight, understanding and hope.
Davids second pleasure was that his reign had brought illumination and revitalization to a spiritually floundering nation. King Saul’s turbulent and deranged leadership had sent Israel into a darkness that would require something, (or someone), incredible to transform it. Davids righteousness and justice did just that. David’s leadership broke through that darkness like a dawn breaking. His rule feed the spiritually thirty nation like fresh dew each morning.
To his credit, David makes an incredibly honest admission before basking in his last blessing. David admits he and his household have not always been righteous and just. This admission may well be the most relatable thing David ever shares with us. We don’t always get it right, just like David’s household didn’t always get it right. Still, David moves his focus to the truth that God’s love has always been quick to forgive him and even more amazingly God does not remove His blessing from us because we fail. David had been promised an eternal kingship and though God hadn’t established it yet, David was confident God would bring it about in the future. Why? Because, God does not bless us because we are good. God blesses us because he is good.
The shepherd boy was going home. He was only hours away from embracing the heavenly father he had served so well and who had loved David unconditionally and Davids’ heart was filled with hope and gratitude.