Useful Bible Studies > 2 Samuel Commentary > chapter 23
Both David’s first and last public work for God, was to praise God in music and song (1 Samuel 16:14-23). His life had changed so much since he looked after his father’s sheep. He had become a truly great king, and he had brought peace, at last, to Israel. Still, however, his relationship with God remained close.
David’s songs were not for the purpose of entertainment. It may be that, like other kings, David enjoyed music and song in his palace (19:35). However, David’s own songs, like his music, were for a sacred and serious purpose (Psalm 57:8-9). David sang, as all people should, to give honour to God (Psalm 65).
For that purpose, David wrote many of the Psalms in the Book of Psalms. He arranged people to sing and to make music in the public praise of God (1 Chronicles chapter 25). The Psalms were originally for their use.
David was not simply expressing his own thoughts in the Psalms and songs that he wrote. Rather, in this great task, he depended on God’s Holy Spirit to guide him. In his Psalms, David was prophesying – in other words, he was actually declaring messages from God. Even as God had previously given Moses a song to sing and to teach (Deuteronomy 31:19 to 32:47), so God did this for David. That great song was one of the last acts of Moses’ life – but God gave songs to David at many times in his life.
This, the last of David’s songs, is about the rule of God’s future king, called the Messiah or Christ. David remembers God’s promises to him (7:5-16). God will complete his perfect rule; he will carry out his acts of judgment against all who are evil. He will do these things by means of his future king from David’s family, called the Messiah or Christ.
Next part: God declares that the Messiah will come (2 Samuel 23:3)
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© 2023, Keith Simons.