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,
Now these be the last words of David. Various opinions are entertained as to the precise meaning of this statement, which, it is obvious, proceeded from the compiler or collector of the sacred canon. Some think that, as there is no division of chapters in the Hebrew Scriptures, this introduction was intended to show that what follows is no part of the preceding song; others regard this as the last of the king's poetical compositions; while a third party consider it the last of his utterances as an inspired writer. The fact seems to be, that they formed the last divine communication which David received of the kingly character and glory of the Messiah; and although he probably composed some of his sacred lyrics afterward, especially Psalms 72:1-20, in which are embodied some glorious predictions of the great King, yet these were only an expansion or particular application of the "last words." The distinctness and fullness of the revelation left so vivid and permanent an impression, that it thenceforth formed the grand subject which filled and elevated his mental vision. His imagination dwelt upon it with increasing delight, until it eventually gave a tone to his habitual thoughts, and tinged with its golden hues his strong faith in the perpetuity of his dynastic glory. (See his dying charge to Solomon, 1 Kings 2:4) In this view the "last words" of David were analogous to the prophetic utterances of Jacob and Moses; and like theirs, too, these appear in the poetical form, extending ever seven verses, which are subdivided by the nature of their contents into sections-the one of five and the other of two verses.
David the son of Jesse said, х nª'um (H5002)] - a special term, applied solely to solemn oracular utterances, implying a revelation, the word of God, and equivalent to "Thus saith the Lord" (see the notes at Numbers 24:3).
And the man who was raised up on high. х hageber (H1397), "the man," an almost exclusively poetical word (implying strength). `Al (H5921), 'above,' 'upon,' 'over,' is here rendered "on high," the object being omitted; so that the imagination is left to picture to itself the greatness as well as the extent of sovereign power and glory to which the shepherd son of Jesse was raised (cf. 2 Samuel 22:44-45).] With the exception of Abraham and of Moses, no Hebrew ever attained to a height of power or influence superior to, or was the honoured medium of more precious blessings to mankind than, David.
The anointed of the God of Jacob - chosen to be king by the special appointment of that God to whom, by virtue of an ancient covenant, the people of Israel owed all their special destiny and distinguished privileges, and consecrated to the high office of their king by the formal ceremony of the sacred oil sprinkled on his head by the hand of God's commissioned prophet (cf. 2 Samuel 22:51). In this respect he was pre-eminently, the Lord's anointed, the type of Christ.
The sweet psalmist of Israel - i:e., delightful, highly esteemed, 'sweet in psalms of Israel' (Hengstenberg); 'the darling of the songs of Israel' (Bunsen). This formal introduction bears a close resemblance to that of Balaam's prophetic utterance. In both cases the speaker introduces himself by the announcement of his name and parentage, in order to demonstrate his own insignificance, and to magnify the preternatural power of God imparted to him. But in the case of David there is added a statement of the grounds on which it was to be expected that he would be employed as an agent of God in the utterance of this important prophecy-his antecedents in the public service of Israel, as raised by a special act of Providence from an obscure family and condition to the throne of Israel, and called to the highest offices both in the kingdom and Church which He had chosen out of the world.