2 Samuel 23:3-5
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.
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.
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.
There is so much here, and I am sure I cannot remotely do it justice.
The Bible says these are among the last words of David. I assume that means the last words recorded in the Word of God, but I think it would be fair to say these are the thoughts of a man who knew he was on his last breath—his deathbed, if you will. These are important words. They are reflective, they are somber, but they are also filled with faith and thankfulness.
David said, “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” I notice that he did not say “over Israel.” The God of Israel is the God of the world. Rulers over men—not just over Israel—must be just, and they must rule in the fear of God.
Only those who are just and fear God are qualified to rule.
- It is the ultimate good for mankind.
- It is the ultimate glory of God.
- It is the will of God that it be so.
It will be the eventual culmination of all things.
That the ruler is just: upright, righteous, straight.
That he rules in the fear of God: flowing from his submission to God.
My first thought is, Wait a minute! I don’t think we’ve ever had one of those. The United States has had a few men who approached it. Those who knew him thought Washington was such a man. Even the king of England thought so when he heard that Washington stepped down as General of the Army after winning the War for Independence.
I believe the founders of our country sought this ideal. That is why they expressed so clearly that the leaders of our nation ought to be Christians.
Oh, how far we have gotten from that ideal.
But then David says the most profound and honest thing: “Although my house be not so with God.” He knew that even his own family did not measure up.
And that is where this passage really becomes amazing. Rather than lamenting, David turned to God—to His covenant and to His gracious promise of salvation.
I look around our world today and cannot find a ruler even remotely close to being just, or to ruling in the fear of God. But I tell you what I can find. I can find a God whose promises are just as real today as they were in David’s day. I can find a salvation that is as efficacious now as it has ever been. And I can find a hope that will carry me into eternity, and a reason to expect that God’s will shall one day be done “on earth as it is in heaven.”
#LastWordsOfDavid #RulingInTheFearOfGod #AnEverlastingCovenant #HopeBeyondFailure #GodsPromisesAreSure
Deathbed Truth: David’s Last Words Explain Why Good Leaders Are So Rare Today
If this passage from David’s last words stirred your thinking, I invite you to visit marvinmckenzie.org for Bible studies, teaching resources, and ongoing encouragement rooted in God’s Word.
I’d also like to hear from you—do you believe it’s still possible for leaders to rule in the fear of God, or are we living in a time when our only true hope is the Lord’s everlasting covenant? Share your thoughts in the comments. Your perspective may help someone else think more clearly—and biblically—about the times we’re living in.
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