2 Samuel 22:21-23:23 One of my joys in life is to rise before dawn and praise the Lord with all of His creatures at sunrise. There is a verse in Psalms that says, “You make the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice” (Ps. 65:8). Have you ever noticed how the birds sing the loudest at dawn and sunset? I try not to miss this morning and evening symphony of worship, and I love joining my voice to it. I also love to see the morning star in the sky, and I recall Jesus’ description of Himself: “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star” (Rev. 22:16).
In our reading today in 2 Samuel the last words of David are recorded. People’s last words are always very important, and David’s last words describe the Lord in many ways. His last words share how much the Lord meant to him throughout his lifetime. He says the Lord is the lamp who lights his darkness. He says the Lord is his buckler, rock, tower of salvation and his strength and power. The Lord is his teacher and meek instructor. David says the Lord’s gentleness has made him great. The Lord is his security who helped him not to slip and is his deliverer from all adversaries, both physical and spiritual. David gives this beautiful description of the Lord that complements the Lord’s words about Himself in Revelation 22:16: “And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain” (v. 4).
What a description of our Lord! Have you awakened to a cloudless sky after a stormy night and seen the tender grass shining after the rain? David is expressing descriptively the Lord’s illuminating power, the clarity and brightness of His countenance, and the refreshing satiating personality of the Lord. He is the dawning of every day, the refreshing rain for my tender soul and the clarity of heart and mind I need for this day.
Who is like the Lord? There is no one exactly like the Lord. It is astonishing, however, that He has chosen to conform us to His very image.
Lord, today I want to be more like You than I was yesterday. I want to shine a light and move the clouds away for those who are oppressed today. I want to provide the refreshing rain of Your Holy Spirit to the one who is in a dry place. Only You can satiate and satisfy the souls of men, but use me today as Your instrument to deliver Your liberating power and sustaining power to others. Amen.
READ: 2 Samuel 22:21-23:23; Acts 2:1-47; Psalm 122:1-9; Proverbs 16:19-20
Bill Wiese 
Paul McGuire 
