DAVID’S LAST WORDS David could have presented us in his last words, with a plenty in every aspect of life. He lived under several circumstances: He experienced life of richness, and tasted poverty; He enjoyed glory, and humiliation; was loved by many, and hated by some, to turn into a fugitive; led a life of righteousness, and experienced fall, repentance, and chastisement. He lived as a prophet, a king, a judge, a man of war, a psalmist, a husband, a father, a shepherd of a few sheep, as well as a king over an extended kingdom... . Yet he made his final speech a very concise one; and ended it with the names of his mighty men and their works (2 Samuel 23: 8-39). This was not without reason; for the Holy Book intended to confirm that, of the most prominent attributes of the prophet David, was making use of all the energies within his hands. This is the role of the prophet, as well as of every true spiritual leader; of the father and the mother; of the young man and even of the child; Everyone should do his best, not to be self-centered, but to motivate others to work, with no isolationism of thought, nor individualism, or selfishness. 1- David, the sweet psalmist of Israe l1-2 2- Ruling in the fear of God 3-4 3- Entering into an everlasting covenant 5 4- The perdition of the sons of Bilaal 6-7 5- David’s mighty men 8-39 1- David, the sweet psalmist of Israel: “These are the last words of David: The oracles of David the son of Jesse; The oracles of the man exalted by the Most high; The man anointed by the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23: 1). He calls his words “oracles,” having uttered them through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; given to David the son of Jesse; to the man exalted by the Most High; the man anointed by the God of Jacob! What does this mean? He was the son of Jesse; He would not forget his origin and his status: the youngest son, a shepherd over his father’s sheep; unknown to people, and not acknowledged even among his own family (1 Samuel 16: 10, 11). He was unknown to men, but known to God “the Most High;” had his mission and work assigned by god. He was the anointed by the God of Jacob; as the Lord said to the prophet Samuel: “Arise, anoint him; for he is the one” (1 Samuel 16: 12). He was called, “The sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 22: 1), for he was sweet in his psalms, being praises, Thanksgivings and prayers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, for the Church to subsist, all along the Old and the New Testaments, and to sing in its prayers. David’s life in its wholeness came as a spiritual guitar, on whose strings the Spirit of the Lord played, to present to us a flood and a treasure of praise for believers; to insert in them the spirit of Joy in the Lord. Thus David demonstrates three aspects in his personality: a- His humble origin as the son of Jesse; so as not to feel exalted, or haughty. b- His anointment for the ministry of God’s people “The anointed of the God of Jacob” ; If God anointed him a king, and granted him such a great glory, this was all for 159 the sake of God’s people; for the edification of the holy congregation; and not to be used for his own account or for that of his house. c- He had a pious mission “the sweet psalmist of Israel;” to lift the people up to the heavenly life, of persistent praise. He called the Spirit of the Lord that worked in him, and uttered through him, “The Spirit of the Lord ... The God of Israel ... The Rock of Israel” (2 Samuel 22: 2, 3); demonstrating the work of the Holy Trinity in his life: The Holy Spirit, which is the “Spirit of the Lord,” who speaks through the prophets, inspired the psalms to him; to proclaim to him, God the Father “The God of Israel” by the Son “The Rock of Israel.” St. Athanasius says: [For, from God the Father, one grace sets forth, by the Son, in the Holy Spirit. There is one divine nature, and one God “above all, through all, an din all” (Ephesians 4: 6)1]. 2- Ruling in the fear of God: If David was glorified, and was granted authority, that was through his fear of God; who gave him enlightenment, to give light like a shining sun in the morning after hours of darkness; and like a soil starting to grow weeds soaked by divine rain. What he had of strength, greatness, and fruition, were all a gift from the sun of righteousness (the Lord Christ), and the divine rain (The Holy Spirit), that he enjoyed through fear of God saying: “Ruling in the fear of God, He shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass, springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain” (2 Samuel 23: 4). In other words, no believer will enjoy the shining of the sun of righteousness in him, nor the fruits of the Spirit (the rain), unless he enjoys the fear of God. St. (Mar) Isaac the Syrian speaks to us about the blessings that come of the fear of God, saying: Fear of God is the beginning of virtue; It is said that it is the daughter of faith2. The real beginning of man’s life is the fear of God that will never dwell in a soul that is distracted by external concerns3. Be prudent; If you put the fear of God as the foundation of your trip; within few days it will bring you to the gate of the kingdom, without any detours on the way4. Fear of God is the paternal rod that guides us on our way, until we reach the spiritual paradise of goodness; after which, fear will then leave us and turn back. The paradise is the love of God5. Repentance is the ship; fear is its skipper; and love is the divine harbor. Thus fear would bring us to the ship of repentance; cross with us over the sea of dirt of this life; and lead us to the divine harbor, which is love6. St. (Mar) Isaac the Syrian The saintly fathers discern between fear out of love – the love of children who 1 Ep. ad. serap. 1: 14. 2 hom. 1: 1. 3 hom. 1: 10. 4 hom. 1: 21. 5 hom. 46. 6 Ibid. 160 care not to hurt the feelings of their parents; and the fear of a laborer; out of his apprehension that he may lose the reward or the wages; then the fear of slaves from their masters. By union with our Lord Jesus Christ, we enjoy the fear of children, said to carry the fear of God. 3- Entering into an everlasting covenant: The goal of the men of the Old Testament-the patriarchs and the prophets-was to enjoy a covenant with God, a symbol of the everlasting covenant that was realized through the blood of Christ; in which an everlasting reconciliation between God and man, was consummated; and by its worthiness, man became a dwelling place and a sanctuary for God. David says in his last words: “Although my house is not so with God, yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire”(2 Samuel 23: 5). David felt his unworthiness to enjoy that everlasting covenant with God; as his house-his parents and brothers; and his children in particular – did not walk with the fear of God. The divine covenant is a free divine gift! 4- Perdition of the sons of Bilaal: “But the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands. But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place” (2 Samuel 23: 6, 7). David had fear that any of his descendants, or of those who would succeed him on the throne, would become a son of Bilaal; in which case, neither his relationship to David, nor his position as a ruler over the people of God, could intercede for him; But he would be thrust away as useless thorns, to be burned with fire; They would perish by divine justice. These words may carry a sort of commandment to the kings, rulers, and all those of authority, to be alert, lest they become chastised by a hand of iron, and a shaft of spear. St. Jerome believes that the wicked of the world (sons of Bilaal) are to be uprooted, to have no place in the Church, the city of the Lord; He says: [The city of the Lord is the Church of the saints, the congregation of the righteous1]. 5. David’s mighty men of war: If David, in several events, symbolized the Lord Christ; his mighty men, likewise, symbolized the men of faith affiliated to the Lord Christ. Their names (that differed from time to time) were mentioned here for the following reasons: a- To be mentioned in the Holy Book, is considered as the greatest of rewards; like what the Lord Christ said about the woman who poured the fragrant oil over his head: “Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (Matthew 26: 13); and as He said to His disciples: “.. But rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10: 20). Whoever attaches himself, as a good soldier, to our Lord Jesus, and canonically strive, will enjoy this honor: to have his name written in heaven. 1On Ps. hom. 27. 161 b- This list is considered as glory to David himself, who trained them on strife and conquest ... Every victory and conquest we get, is to the account of our true king, the Son of David. And as said by the scholar Origen , He is the One who calls us to strive, and He is the One who works striving in us; He presents the crown to us, and accepts it in us! And on the contrary, every failure and slothfulness in our life, will become a cause for blasphemy on Him. c- This list is considered to be glory and honor to the mighty men concerned, who strove with David, to establish his reign; And at the same time, it is considered to be an invitation for men along the ages, to have the Son of David reign over their hearts, and to have His kingdom established in them. d- Mentioning their names, is not based only on their military excellence; but that, and their courage went had in hand with their faith. So we do not marvel to notice that the name of ‘Joab’-David’s highest commander-is not on this list; as he has lost his crown, because of his persistent evil actions, emerging from his hate and envy; having killed Abner and Amasa, and dared to talk indecently to David, his king. In this list of mighty men, we notice the following: a- They are from different tribes and families, like Judah, Benjamin, Gath, and Ammon ...; Likewise, the great men of faith, come from several nations and various peoples; and include as well, men, women, children, youth, elders, etc. b- Those mighty men are classified into three ranks or categories: * The first three: Josheb, Eleazar, and Shammah; who refer to the early fathers, prophets, and people of the Old Testament. * The following three: Abishai, Benaiah, and a third whose name was not mentioned; these refer to the disciples, the apostles, and people of the New Testament. * Thirty ... who refer to the congregation of believers.
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