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 LYRICAL /
THEOLOGICAL AFFIRMATIONS - This passage serves as a grand summary of the life of David
with the royal ideology at the core. Two poetic forms-Hannah’s prayer at the
beginning (1 Samuel 2:1-10) and David’s prayer at the end (2 Samuel 23)-bracket the
narrative accounts that will include Samuel’s rise to prominence, Saul’s rise
and fall from prominence, and David’s remarkable journey from shepherd boy to
Shepherd-King.
SPIRIT BEHIND THE SUCCESS - No one can truly have success-can be exalted, anointed,
and blessed-apart from God. Such success as David’s rise from insignificance to
prominence is no accident, nor is it the product of human machinations or clever planning.
Such success is the direct result of God’s decision to extend God’s self through
the raising up of such a leader. David can only live by the decree (word), power (spirit),
and the will of God. God’s faithfulness, not human ingenuity or might, makes the
monarchy possible. [1]
DREAM DREAMS - David’s song calls us to reimagine our future as God’s
future. If we are so busy in the church realistically analyzing our institutional and
societal issues that we fail to dream dreams or see visions, then we will perish like the
‘worthless ones’ of 23:6-7. If, however, we claim with David the everlasting
covenant of God’s promise (23:5), then the hope of our future will be based in a
reality that transcends the powers of this world. Our hope can never settle for the
realistic assessment of human possibilities. Just and faithful human rule is always rooted
in the trustworthiness of God’s promises. [2]
 Have
you ever played, "He Said / She Said?" A topic is raised-how you fold t-shirts,
favorite slang, food, TV show, etc-and each member of a couple must answer what they think
their other half would answer. Try it on your spouse or a family member or friend! The
bottom line: perceptions about reality varies with each person!
How does David’s perception on his narrative from shepherd boy to Shepherd-King in
his prayer in 2 Samuel 23 seem out of sync with actual facts?
Describe your encounter with two kinds of church language: (1) visionary-language which
speaks of God working inside, under, through, inspite of ourselves to bring us to a new
place; and (2) speech that is earthbound problem-enamored, and so negative that a new idea
can never capture soar and capture imagination?
 I would look for brokenness in
the text-the gap between David’s perceptions of his life’s work and what in
reality actually occurred. David seems to speak idyllically.
You may want to move now into the congregation and pulpit; how our own perceptions of
what we’re doing in God’s name and in life may not square with reality.
Move back to the text and demonstrate how David is speaking in visionary language, the
God-language that speaks a reality that soars beyond our own earthbound perceptions. A
faith-based language will move congregations and Christ-followers in remarkable
faith-filled, faith-ful directions.
Suggest that your listeners compose their own lyrical-theological piece! (A large sheet
of flipchart paper with a timeline drawn across it as a continuum; invite them to note the
special moments of life and to mark on their life line God’s special promises and
actions in their lives.
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