Arranged and secured in every part
Fergus Buchanan
November 25, 2018
Add to Favourites
2 Samuel 23: 1-7
1 Now these are the last words of David:
The oracle of David, son of Jesse,
the oracle of the man whom God exalted,
the anointed of the God of Jacob,
the favourite of the Strong One of Israel:2 The spirit of the Lord speaks through me,
his word is upon my tongue.
3 The God of Israel has spoken,
the Rock of Israel has said to me:
One who rules over people justly,
ruling in the fear of God,
4 is like the light of morning,
like the sun rising on a cloudless morning,
gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.5 Is not my house like this with God?
For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
ordered in all things and secure.
Will he not cause to prosper
all my help and my desire?
6 But the godless are all like thorns that are thrown away;
for they cannot be picked up with the hand;
7 to touch them one uses an iron bar
or the shaft of a spear.
And they are entirely consumed in fire on the spot.
A friend of mine nearing the end of his life was visited in hospital by a number of people. To each one he said: ‘The Lord’s been good to me and the Lord’s people.’
It is with something of this spirit of thanksgiving that David approaches the end of his life. He was chosen by God to be King; he was blessed with the closest of relationships with God; he knew what it was to hear the voice of God and deliver His message.
It was an immensely privileged life but the story does not end with David’s death. As he approached the end he remembers that God has shown him a future when a King will emerge from David’s line ‘like the light of morning at sunrise’ (see verse 4).
Whatever our circumstances this Advent it is an opportunity for us to look to the future ‘arranged and secured in every part’ (verse 5). Jesus has come and will come again to bring to pass the ‘renewal of all things’ (see Matthew 19: 28). It is with this confidence that the Apostle Paul faced his end secure in the knowledge that he had fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith and now could look forward to the ‘crown of righteousness’ that would be enjoyed at Jesus’ appearing (see 2 Timothy 4: 6-8).
John Newton prayed that the music of Jesus’ name would refresh his soul in death. May everything we know about Jesus refresh our souls when we approach the final challenge.
Login to comment.