What does "the man raised on high" reveal about God's purpose for David? Setting the Scene “Now these are the last words of David: ‘The declaration of David son of Jesse, the declaration of the man raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel.’ ” (2 Samuel 23:1) Unpacking “the man raised on high” • “Raised” (Hebrew “qum”) points to divine elevation—God’s personal action, not human self-promotion. • “On high” signals a position of authority and honor that only the LORD can bestow (cf. 1 Samuel 2:7-8). • The phrase appears in David’s final oracle, casting a backward glance over God’s lifelong purpose for him and a forward glance to the Messianic promise flowing from him. What This Reveals about God’s Purpose for David • Kingship by God’s initiative – 1 Samuel 16:1, 12-13: God sought and anointed David before he ever held the throne. – Psalm 78:70-71: “He chose David His servant… to shepherd Jacob His people.” • Public exaltation that magnifies the LORD – 2 Samuel 5:12: “David realized that the LORD had established him king over Israel and exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people.” • Covenant anchor for Israel’s future – 2 Samuel 7:12-16: God promises David an everlasting dynasty; being “raised on high” inaugurates that covenant. – Psalm 89:27: “I will also appoint him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.” • Foreshadowing the Greater Son, Christ – Acts 13:22-23: From David’s line God brings Jesus, the ultimate “raised on high” (cf. Philippians 2:9-11). – Luke 1:32-33: Jesus inherits “the throne of His father David,” fulfilling the purpose first expressed in David’s exaltation. • Shepherd-king model for godly leadership – Psalm 78:72: David “shepherded them with integrity of heart,” illustrating how elevated authority serves rather than dominates. – Ezekiel 34:23-24: anticipates one Shepherd under David’s banner—again pointing to Christ. Key Takeaways • David’s rise is God-wrought, underscoring divine sovereignty over leadership and history. • Exaltation comes with covenant responsibility: to shepherd God’s people and point to the coming Messiah. • “Raised on high” for David means security for God’s people; through Jesus, it means salvation for the world (John 12:32). • Our own callings echo this pattern—humble origins, divine choosing, and kingdom purposes—so that God alone receives glory (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). |
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