Read
David's Last Words
1These are the last words of David the son of Jesse.
The God of Jacob chose David
and made him a great king.
The Mighty God of Israel
loved him.
When God told him to speak,
David said:
2The Spirit of the Lord
has told me what to say.
3Our Mighty Rock,
the God of Jacob, told me,
“A ruler who obeys God
and does right
4is like the sunrise
on a cloudless day,
or like rain that sparkles
on the grass.”
5I have ruled this way,
and God will never break
his promise to me.
God's promise is complete
and unchanging;
he will always help me
and give me what I hope for.
6But evil people are pulled up
like thornbushes.
They are not dug up by hand,
7but with a sharp spear
and are burned on the spot.
Reflect
One of the saddest moments in any life is coming to the end and looking back with moments of regret. This is not about those moments we all remember where we did or said something so embarrassing that we remember with some degree of shame or regret that it happened. No, it is the moments in our lives where if we could we would do them over because of the impact that one moment had on our life and the lives of others who mean something to us. Most of us have some of those moments.
David in our text is uttering his last words. He is looking back over his life and gives us some insights on how to live life without regret or at least with fewer of them. From the beginning David knew that God had chosen him. He knew the love of God and the guidance of God. What was true for David is certainly available to us. He knew that his life as king started with God. He knew that his primary role was one of obedience, and in that faithfulness to a faithful God, God would use him, speak to him and through him, and his life would have significance.
God has chosen us too. If our lives are governed by the same principles and practices, we also can come to the end of our lives without nearly as many regrets as we would have if we had lived life on our own. The good news is we can start living like this right now. The other good news is it is never too soon or too late to start.
Respond
Loving God,
I already have too many moments where I made bad decisions and have seen the consequences that I would change if I could do it over. I know I cannot go back and undo what is done. I do know that because I truly repent of those moments I am forgiven and in your forgiveness always find grace and mercy and a new beginning. Help me live in pursuit of you so my life will have value and meaning and when I look back at the end of my time I will recognize blessing and contribution and transformation because you have been with me. Thank you, Lord God almighty.
William Morrow
William Morrow currently serves as an associate pastor at Evangel Church in downtown Montreal. Before that he was president of Master's College & Seminary in Peterborough Ontario. He also served as General Superintendent of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (12 years), Superintendent of the Western Ontario District (6 years) and pastored in Montreal, Smiths Falls and Sarnia. He spent five years teaching at the college where he now serves as President. He is a husband, father and grandfather and has given his ministry life to mentoring a new generation of leaders and pastors.