My title is a misnomer.

David is in Heaven today, enjoying the presence of the Lord he loved so dearly.

But what I’m trying to say is that (though he had his spiritual ups and downs) David ended his earthly life well!

For example, 2 Samuel 23:1-3 records …

“Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me …”

Verse 5 of the same chapter …

“God hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire.”

Wow!

David is no Demas, “having loved this present world!”

David is no Judas, having “betrayed” the Lord!

In fact, the Paragraph of Scripture I just cited comes close to Paul’s great closing to his life …

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8

David started well, had a lapse or two, but recouped and finished strong!

His life is an encouragement to many a Christian.

On his deathbed David said … “The LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress.” 1 Kings 1:29, what a testimony! A great illustration of the faithfulness of the Lord!

David’s actual death?

“So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.” Quoting 1 Kings 2:10, with even a city, the Capital of Israel, being named after the King!

David … “the sweet Psalmist of Israel.”

David … “the man after God’s Own Heart!”

David … what an end!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, his name occurs 1,085 times in the Bible! From Ruth 4:17 to Revelation 22:16!

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