God's Promise to King David and Its Relevance to Us
Introduction
God revealed in the Bible a number of important promises or covenants:
- Adam and Eve in Eden - Genesis 3:15
- Noah - Genesis 9:9-16
- Abraham - Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 13:14-17; Genesis 22:16-18; Gal. 3:16, 26-29
- David - 2 Samuel 7:12-16
God tells us about the special character of David when discussing His choice of a human king for Israel: “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
The Bible tells us further about God's opinion of David as "a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22).
What is Contained in the Promise to David?
The promise in 2 Samuel 7 speak of a coming descendant of David:
Verse 12 A seed who will be King in the future
Verse 13 He shall build an house for God's name - the throne of his kingdom will last for ever.
Verse 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son
Verse 15 God's mercy will not leave him
Verse 16 David's "house" and kingdom and throne will be established for ever.
Matthew 1:1 tells us that Jesus Christ was the son of David and the son of Abraham. Jesus was described by God as "my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5; Luke 9:35; 2 Peter 1:17).
But didn't Jesus die like all men die? Yes he did (John 19:30) but he was raised back to life by God due to his pure and sinless life (Psalm 16:8-11; 1 Peter 2:22; John 20:17; Acts 2:24-31; 13:35-37) and then ascended into heaven to sit next to God (Acts 1:11).
God’s promises to David will be completely fulfilled when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to restore God’s kingdom and reign from David’s throne in Jerusalem as promised (Acts 1:11).
So What?
God reveals through the Apostle Paul how anyone can join into the "seed" of David and Abraham:
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:27-29).
Romans 6 talks about the importance of baptism and the way we should behave afterwards. Verse 4 points to us following Christ's footsteps and "walk in newness of life". This newness of life is one that follows the ways and character of God and Jesus to the best of our ability being guided by the Bible.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
God's Promises to David
Having an understanding of God's promises affects:
- Our attitude to the Old Testament.
- Our belief about life after death.
- Our understanding about the place and timing of reward for faithful people.
- Our appreciation of the future role of Jesus Christ.
- Our understanding of God's ultimate plan for this earth.
An illustrious king of Israel
King David ruled over God's Kingdom of Israel from his throne in Jerusalem some one thousand years before Christ. He was an illustrious and godly man, especially noted for his composition of so many of the Psalms.
Where to find God's promise to King David
2 Samuel 7:11-16 and 1 Chronicles 17:11-15. In summary, the promise is that:
- David's seed will be the Son of God.
- David's seed will build a house for God's name.
- David's seed will reign for ever from David's throne in Jerusalem.
- David himself will witness these events.
New Testament teaching about the promise to David
- Hebrews 1:5. A direct quote from 2 Samuel 7:14. The seed is Christ.
- Acts 2:25-32 . Note v30 and Psalm 132:11. The promise that God "would raise up Christ to sit on his throne" was confirmed by an oath. Psalm 89:3-4&34-37, 2 Samuel 23:5 and Isaiah 55:3 define the promise as a covenant.
- Acts 13:23. The seed is Jesus the Saviour.
- Luke 1:30-33. Jesus the Son of God will reign for ever from the throne of David.
- Revelation 22:16 . Jesus is "the root and the offspring of David".
David has yet to receive the reward of God's promise
- Though God assessed King David as "a man after My own heart, who will do all My will" (Acts 13:22), David has not gone to heaven (Acts 2:29&34).
- Hebrews 11:39,40. All the Old Testament worthies mentioned in this chapter, including David (v32), died in faith without receiving the promises "that they should not be made perfect apart from us". They all await the return of Christ to the earth and the resurrection before they can receive the promises.
2 Peter 1:3,4. God's power and goodness has "given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." Hence, our salvation depends on these promises.
The way that God's promises can save us
What do God's promises help to explain to us about the way our salvation can be achieved?
How? By resurrection and the gift of eternal life.
Where? On earth and centred in Israel.
When? Soon. When Christ (the seed of David) returns to rule over God's Kingdom from his throne in Jerusalem.
Why? To bring God's glory on earth and establish universal blessing.
On what basis? Our committed response. Faith. Baptism into Christ. "Patient continuance in doing good".
