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2Samuel
CHAPTER 23

1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

When a man is reasonably cognizant, realizes he's about to die and enter the arena of the eternal, he is a blessed man. That person enteres death unsurprised by its coming. That person enteres death fully capable of reviewing his life and his commitment to God. At this point in life, a person reflects on his relationship with God and also on his relationship with others.
As David did this he left a great legacy. For in his reflection, he desired to give God glory and to praise the accomplishments of his friends.
David realized that he was the "son of Jesse" - a lowly shepherd, but that GOD raised him to be king of Israel. He also realized that the gift of writing songs was given to him by the "anointing" of God (verse 1).
David was also a prophet (verse 2) by the gift of God. David could tell from which family Messiah would come, because God had revealed to him that it would be of his own family (2Samuel 7:12-16).

3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

He reflected over God's speaking to him during his life as a king. And, perhaps, as David yielded his kingdom to his son Solomon, he made this statement of legacy: "..He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." (verse 3)
In so doing, David imparts with wisdom that a leader, a king, a ruler has the responsibility to act toward all men in a JUST manner. He must not prefer one above the other in regards to social standing (Leviticus 19:15). And a man who is a leader must believe this means to lead and decide realizing that GOD is going to judge the leader for his actions!
When a leader acts in this manner he is as "the light of the morning" (verse 4). The morning light is a gentle light. It is an awakening light and appeals to our natural desire to rise up and be about the duties of the day. A leader who acts in justness and remembers that God will one day judge him is a leader who will inspire his followers to ACT - to be about daily duties.
A leader of justness and fear of the Lord will also be as "the tender grass." Young tender grass has a rich gree hue, and during the morning mist it shines with beauty. So will the person be who leads in justness and fear of God.

5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

David acknowledged taht he is NOT that kind of leader! But he also acknowledges that God has been with him and has promised him to establish his house forever. Therefore it is GOD Who is the Author of salvation - not man.
God is the Author, Giver, and Finisher of salvation. There is only ONE thing a man can do to receive God's salvation - SURRENDER to God!
THEN - God "orders" and makes "sure" all things for the believer (Romans 8:28). Even though David had not seen the END of God's promised Messiah, he KNEW it would come. For God, Who Authored the promise, would also make it sure and accomplish all David's desire.

6 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: 7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.

It is NOT SO with the unbeliever, the one who has not surrendered to God. Note the classification: "sons of Belial," or wicked ones, or sons of the devil. They are to be thrust aside, even though they cannot be overcome (verse 6). But even though they may not be overcome totally by man, they WILL BE overcome by the LORD! He will condemn their unrighteousness and consign them to everlasting fire (verse 7).
Perhaps David is giving advice to all of his family who follow him in leadership that they are to have nothing to do with those who are identifiable as wicked people. However, he intones that some wicked people cannot be overcome, because they are not openly exposed and infiltrate the kingdom.
God Himself will take care of those. But we are to follow in the footsteps of righteous and just judgment and in the fear and reverence of God as our Eternal Judge.

8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil. 11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

David, reflecting on his imminent death, is passing wisdom gained from his life on to his son and to his subjects. Now he turns to remembering those people with whom he had close relationships. And, while reflecting, he passes to you and me much more wisdom.
First, there is no mention of Joab. Joab is general over all the captains; he is the head of the entire army of Israel and 2nd only to David in power. However, his name is totally unmentioned. It is interesting to note that Joab, along with other notable men, donated his "spoils" of war to the house of God (1Chronicles 26:27-28). This was an act which signified recognition that it was GOD Who gave the victories and not the warrior. SO, we know that Joab was a "believer," but, he was a man ruled by his own emotions. He was fiercely loyal to David, but he had murdered 3 men (Abner, Absalom, and Amasa). Was Joab considered unworthy of mention because of his ATTITUDE?
Friends, I believe that more than WORKS, our ATTITUDE determines our worth to God and men in this life!
Three men are mentioned by David as CHIEF captains (leaders of men): Adino the Eznite - a Tachmonite; Eleasar, son of Dido an Ahohite; and Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. These men had completed great exploits for God and in loyalty to David their king.
These were considered by David to be the GREATEST of the men God had put along side of him.
You will note that there are 3 sets of men noted for greatness here, and that these 3 rank higher than any by David.

13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. 14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! 16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. 17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

And now David expounds on one particular exploit which he remembered very tenderly; for it taught him many valuable lessons.
David, out of desire and in haste, spoke foolishly during battle that he desired a drink from the well at Bethlehem. This was a phyisical desire; but it also reflected the spiritual desire for the "Living Water" (Jeremiah 2:13, John 4:10).
Those three valiant men previously mentioned took David's words seriously. They LOVED their king. There was NOTHING they would withhold from his desire - even at the peril of their lives.
Is our love for Christ our King the same?
They slipped into the town of Bethlehem, which at the time was totally encamped by the Philistines, and secured a drink of that precious water for their king.
When they brought it to him, David was OVERCOME with emotion because of this beautiful act of allegiance! He realized his foolish statement had been taken seriously. He realized the tremendous loyalty of these brave men. And he felt that the ONLY proper thing to do with that water was to pour it out as a "drink offering" to the LORD (verse 16).
Only GOD could have surrounded David with friends of such loyalty and bravery! ONLY GOD can actually deliver a person from physical distress and give us spiritual peace within.

18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three. 19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three. 20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow: 21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. 22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.

Abishai and Benaiah are mentioned as 3 chiefs of the next 30. However ONE is NOT MENTIONED - wonder who THAT was?
Some people, who accomplish great things in the name of the Lord, aren't remembered because of their ATTITUDE.

23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

Now THIS man (Benaiah) David REALLY TRUSTED! He was made captain of David's personal bodyguard.

24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.

These thirty men were considered by David to have been loyal and great warriors.
Would you take note of the LAST name on that list? Though Uriah had been essentially murdered by David, he could not help but remember that the man had shown extreme loyalty and devotion to his king!
My friends, ATTITUDE determines ALTITUDE in the service of our LORD!!

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