2 Samuel 23
This chapter is part of the culminating epilogue of the books of 1 & 2 Samuel. One contextual fact to note is that the books 1 & 2 Samuel were originally written as one coherent story - they were only divided because the story was too long to be contained on one scroll. So, as the story comes to a close, we are going to look at how the author ties together key themes from the entire story in this chapter. Ultimately, the author is pointing us, as readers, to some key truths about the character of God and how he works throughout history.
For example, if you remember all the way back to 1 Samuel 2, Hannah prays a beautiful poem to the Lord after the birth and dedication of her son Samuel. You can go back and read this poem in its entirety, but the key themes of this poem include:
God’s deliverance as Israel’s “Rock”
God’s exaltation of the humble and His humbling of the proud
God’s faithfulness to those who serve him
Here in 2 Samuel Chapter 23, David is closing the story with one last poem. The language and ideas in David’s poem mirror the poem of Hannah. Take some time to read and meditate on the poem one more time. What language does David use that calls back to Hannah’s poem?
The author uses this poetic symmetry to show the reader that throughout the story, God has always been working to deliver Israel through humble servants. God was faithful to Hannah, and he was faithful to David, even though they encountered hardship and sin.
Throughout the story God humbled the proud, such as Saul or Absalom, and he exalted the humble such as Hannah, Samuel, and David.
Now, one might expect the author to end the book with David’s poem. Why do they follow up this beautiful prayer with a seemingly random story about some “mighty warriors?” Take some time to read the story one more time - how is David portrayed? Is the same strong and victorious David we saw at the beginning of 2 Samuel? Not so much. David is shown to be a bit more needy in this story, more dependent on the strength of others than his own.
Throughout 2 Samuel, David has had seasons of strength and weakness, obedience and sin, humility and pride. Yet, as communicated by the poems of David and Hannah, God is the “Rock” in all circumstances. In every situation, it was God who was stable, compassionate, good, and just to his people.
This is why David can pray, in good times and hard times, that
“He is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings grass from the earth.”
(2 Samuel 23:4)
Whether you are in a season of weakness or strength, of sorrow or joy, of repentance or submission to God, God is your rock. He is there for you, as sure as the light after a sunrise. As His children, we can go to him in confidence and humility, for our security comes not from our circumstances, but from His never-changing goodness.
