2 Samual 23:4
He is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings grass from the earth. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 23:1-7
We’ve reached the end of King David’s life. This chapter begins with then end. The last words of David. Keep in mind all that David had done and more importantly who David was as a person – his character.
David was chosen to be the second king of Israel when he was just a boy. Before becoming king he would become the best friend of King Saul’s son, he would play music to sooth King Saul and he had slayed Goliath in front of Saul’s entire army. David was known as a warrior who had killed tens of thousands of men in battle and even killed bears and lions with his bare hands. David defeated all of Israel’s enemies in battle and ushered in a time of peace for Israel.
David also had written much of the book of Psalms. These were songs of worship written about God and to God that we still sing today. He was considered a man after God’s own heart who did seem to desire to do God’s will in everything he did.
However, he was also flawed and far from perfect. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed to cover it up. He was a terrible father who failed to pass along his passion for God to them. His household was full of strife, revolt, disobedience and deeply sinful actions. David was fully human with many flaws but he was also considered Israel’s greatest king.
So now we are given this great leader’s final words. And to be expected, as we will see when we get to the book of Psalms, David’s final words are prophetic. We are told right up front that these words are “inspired.” And indeed, they are inspired to tell us of the coming Messiah.
We know this is prophecy because of two phrases. “The man anointed by the God of Jacob” (v1) is Jesus. The word “anointed” is translated as Messiah. This is unmistakable. Also, “the hero of Israel’s songs” (v1) is Jesus. David would not write these words about himself. He was not the hero of his Psalms. The hero is Jesus.
Jesus “is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings grass from the earth” (1 Sam 23:4).
Jesus tells us in John’s book of Revelation, “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star” (Rev 22:16). This is simply a reminder that John also said of Jesus, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4). I hope the light of Jesus is like the brightness after rain for you.
Christ in the Old Testament 
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