2026-09-20
2 Samuel 23:3-4
The God of Israel has spoken
the rock of Israel has said to me
When one rules justly over men
ruling in the fear of God
he dawns on them like the morning light
like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning
like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth
Through out 2 Samuel, King David distinguishes himself; he embodies all that men are glad for in a king and all that God intends for and requires in one. He is the example very much worth looking at and learning from. Yet, perhaps interestingly, it isn’t because he was perfect and sinless. If anything, the Bible speaks clearly of his sin, and his enmeshment in several others as he attempted to work for his own interest. In the end, however, what we have is a whole and entire portrait of a man expectedly just as frail as all we men indeed are, yet one so sold out to God. His attitude, behaviour, and remorse after the knowledge of his sin and his condemnation puts forward to us for imitation the best example there is of godly sorrow and true repentance. For most Christians in this day and age, the problem is in part our largely worldly sorrow and insincere and half-hearted repentance, no matter how passionate it might seem or appear to be. We are yet to learn what it means to love and fear God enough to turn completely away from a life of debauchery and disobedience.
Now, following a very illustrious military career– David was himself a valiant man of war (1 Samuel 16:18), and 2 Samuel 23 tells the story of his mighty men and the remarkable feats they accomplished on the battleground– after such glory in war, and after a faithful walk with his God, we are treated to David’s last words (2 Samuel 23:1). It would of course be unnecessary to insist on the importance of and in the last words of such a man as David. And again, these are not his words so much as they are God’s, for he begins his speech saying: “The God of Israel has spoken, the rock of Israel has said to me…” What? That “when one rules justly over men, and in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light…”
Just as I myself did, I am much aware of and must warn against that temptation of wanting to make God’s word more about others than about ourselves. We must learn to let the Bible speak to us first before we start to look in it for things addressed to others. For me, this sort of mistake proves itself in how often I read the word of God not so much to be instructed and edified by it as much as I do wanting to be able to teach it or preach it articulately enough. In this case, the words at first appear to be addressed only to leaders of King David’s caliber; heads of states and administrators as we might perhaps want to think. Also, rather quickly, it would strike us just how much these men fail and have failed in leading justly, and in the fear of God. It takes much intention to make this command about ourselves as much as we insist on making it about others. It is true that very few of us will be the king that David was, yet is it not just as true that we are indeed rulers of something, little though it might be? inconsequential though it might seem? To us all God speaks through his anointed servant David, telling how he dawns on a nation, and when he exalts it, “when the ruler rules justly over men, and in the fear of God.”
What and how does ruling justly and in the fear of God translate practically to for most of us? I would say faithfulness, justice, and love. In a large part it is about putting our own personal interests last, never caring to please ourselves at the expense of our subjects. David would not dare drink the water that three of his mighty men had risked their lives to get him by breaking into the Philistine camp. But don’t we all know how tempting it is to want to get ahead and benefit ourselves by the sweat and blood of other men? To want to stand above them all by stepping on their backs? This is outrightly against the command that Christ himself gave and the example that he showed in giving up his own interests and serving us lovingly. To rule justly means to be a faithful steward of that which has been committed to our keeping, and to do so in the fear of God is to acknowledge to whom we are answerable, and to therefore apply ourselves obediently and diligently in his service.
One of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy is that he fulfills his ministry (2 Timothy 4:5), as is his word to Archippus (Colossians 4:17). Paul credits himself for faithfully running and finishing the race that had been set before him. He also, in his last words to the Ephesians elders, made testimony to his own life and service amidst them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:18-21). He had, in a manner of speaking, also ruled justly and in the fear of God.
Such a just rule done not in the fear of men or for the love and benefit of oneself but in the fear of God, becomes the occasion by which God blesses and exalts a nation; he dawns on them like a morning light and as a sun shining in a cloudless morning. He himself becomes Lord over them, and how blessed indeed is the nation whose God is the Lord! (Psalms 33:12) To rule justly and in the fear of God is to make possible for people a haven that God is delighted to visit and dwell in. What better gift could we the possibly give afterwards? If ruling justly and in the fear of God benefits others greatly, it turns out to our own advantage as well. David points to himself and his own house to illustrate the benefit of ruling justly and in the fear of God:
For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper, all my help and my desire? 2 Samuel 23:5
Thank God for all the opportunities that men look up to us for instruction and direction. We have the best of examples in Christ and in David, and a clear and peremptory command too: to rule justly over men, and in the fear of God. We would benefit both ourselves and others by heeding it.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for the example and encouragement that we have in your Son Jesus and in your servant David. As our Lord and King yourself, your banner over us is love. Grant that by your grace we will take our example from you. In all places and degrees of leadership and administration, may we do so justly and in the fear of you. For your glory. Amen.