300. GOD'S PROMISE TO DAVID
"But my mercy shall not depart away from him"
The promise which God made to David is the third and last great pro mise of a coming triumphant seed. The first of these great "seed covenants" was made in Eden and concerned the seed of the woman who would overcome sin and death (Gen. 3:15). The second was made with Abraham and concerned the inheritance of the Land of Israel to be gain ed by those in Christ (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 22:16-18; Gal. 3:16, 26-29). The third has to do with the throne, kingdom and descent of God's Anointed.
The importance of the promises can be seen from the fact that the first verse in the New Testament links Jesus Christ with his forefathers Abraham and David (Matt. 1:1). At his birth he was confirmed to be the seed of Abraham and David (Luke 1:32-33, 54-55, 69-73). His death, likewise, confirmed the "promises made unto the fathers" (Rom. 15:8). The promises fulfilled in Christ became the basis of the gospel preached by the Apostles (Acts 2:29-31; 3:13, 25-26; 13:22-36; 26:6-7; etc.).
Our aim will be to understand the great promise God made to David and to see how it relates to Christ and our own salvation.
2 Samuel 7
DAVID DESIRES TO BUILD GOD A HOUSE (2 Sam. 7:1-7).
God had told Israel that when He had given them rest from their enemies, there would be a place chosen by Him where he would "cause His name to dwell" (Deut. 12:10-11). That time was imminent. David sat in a house of cedar with his enemies at his feet (2 Sam. 7:1). He knew that there was something incongruous in the fact that the ark of Yahweh rested in a tent, while the king dwelt in a cedar house. David felt uncom fortable. He sent for Nathan the prophet and made known his concern for the ark. Nathan replied, "Do all that is in thine heart, for Yahweh is with thee" (v. 3).
But Nathan's answer was unpremeditated and without divine sanction. That night by revelation God corrected Nathan's first impulsive answer to David and made known to him a greater and more beautiful house than David could have conceived. David had envisaged a house of wood and stone for God, but God revealed that He would build David a house, not of wood and stone, but of people € his would be a royal house. This was more than any man could provide.
David listened, enthralled and deeply moved as Nathan repeated the words, "Shalt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?" (v. 5). Perhaps for the first time David realized how great a thing he had desired to do.
Can a man build a house for God? Would God dwell in it? Gently David was led along the path of understanding: "Since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, (I have not dwelt in any house) but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle" (w. 6-7). God dwelling in a tent is a salutary exhortation and lesson. God cannot dwell with men € yet. Even Solomon perceived the inadequacy of a tem-ple of divine design to contain God (1 Kings 8:27; Acts 7:48). God dwells with the humble in heart who tremble at His word (Isa. 66:1-2; 57:15; Eph. 3:17; 4:6; 2 Cor. 6:16), who are part of the house whose foundation stone, Jesus Christ, has been laid by God (Isa. 28:16; Eph. 2:20; 1 Cor. 3:11; Psa. 118:22).
THE WORK OF GOD (2 Sam. 7:8-16).
David received the unfolding message with deepening understanding. God reminded David that his ascent from the sheepcote to the throne was under His hand and that He would further elevate him and make his name great. This whole work would be a work of God: "I took thee from the sheepcote... I was with thee... I will appoint a place for my people Israel... Also Yahweh telleth thee that He will build thee an house... I will set up thy seed... I will establish his Kingdom... He shall build an house for my name... I will be his father..." (vv. 8-16).
The final resting place for the Name of God, the house in which He would dwell, would be built by a son of the house of David who would be the Son of God. Even the house built in the days of the kings would not be built by David because he had shed much blood, as was later explained (1 Chron. 22:8-10). Indeed the temple would be built by his son Solomon, whose name means "Peace", thus foreshadowing the greater work in Messiah's reign of peace.
DETAILS OF THE PROMISE (2 Sam. 7:10-16).
There are six elements in the promise which are especially relevant to the gospel: €
1) Israel to be settled in the land and at peace with all nations: "I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more" (v. 10). This has never yet been fulfilled. The prophets, however, show that these conditions shall prevail when Christ reigns from Zion (cp. Ezek. 34:28-29; Amos 9:14-15; Zeph. 3:15; Jer. 33:11, 14-15).
2) The promised seed to be David's own flesh and blood € Son of Man € and hence mortal: "I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels" (v. 12).
3) The seed to build an house for God's name: "He will build a house for my name" (v. 13). Two houses are referred to: €
a) A literal house € the Temple of Ezekiel, the wonderful "house of prayer for all nations" to be built in Jerusalem (Isa. 2:2, 3; Mk. 11:17; Zech. 14:16; 6:12-13).
b) A spiritual house € composed of persons "in Christ" (Heb. 3:1-6; Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:5; 2 Cor. 6:16).
4) God (as well as David) to be His Father € He would be the Son of God: "I will be his father, and he shall be my son" (v. 14). This is the crowning feature of Jesus' Messiahship. By it he was uniquely fitted to become the sinless Saviour (cp. Luke 1:32-35; Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; John 1:14, 49; 3:16).
5) God's mercy to remain with David's seed despite the iniquity of many of its members, who would be punished accordingly (e.g. Solomon in 1 Kings 11:11-14): € If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul" (vv. 14-15; cp. Psa. 89:28-33; 132:12 where this portion of the promise is expounded; Jer. 17:24-27).
6) David's throne to be established for ever before him at Christ's return: "And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever" (v. 16). The restoration of the Kingdom to Israel with the Christ, David's son, as King is the ruling sentiment of the prophets and the subject matter of the Hope of Israel (cp. Isa. 9:6-7; 11:1-5, 10; Jer. 33:14-26; Ezek. 37:25-27; Amos 9:11-15; Luke 1:30-33; Matt. 19:28; Acts 1:6; 2:30;3:19-21; 13:23-36; 15:16; 28:20; etc.)
FULFILMENT OF THE COVENANT.
Who is the seed of promise? From what has been said so far it is evi dent that Jesus Christ is the Son of David through whom the promise will be fulfilled. However, the promise does have general reference to the descendants of David who sat on his throne, especially Solomon. Note how the terms are applied to Solomon in the following references: 1 Kings 1:48; 5:5; 8:20; 9:4-6. The promise was conditional upon obe dience. Solomon disobeyed, forfeited the promise and was "chastened with the rod of men" (2 Sam. 7:14; 1 Kings 11:11-14). The following reasons also show why Solomon did not fulfill the covenant other than in a limited sense: €
1) If it was fulfilled in Solomon, there would not be further divinely in spired mention of a coming fulfillment after his death, viz.
€ 250 years after his death € Amos 9:11;
€ 450 years after € Jer. 33:14-26;
€ 500 years after € Zech. 12:6-8;
€ 1000 years after € Luke 1:32-33.
Hence it must refer to someone else at a much later time. The words of the angel to Mary recorded in Luke 1 show that it must refer to Jesus Christ.
2) 2 Sam. 7:14 is quoted and applied to Jesus Christ in Hebrews 1:5.
3) Zedekiah was the last king to reign on David's throne. Because of his wickedness he was rejected and God declared the throne would be without an occupant "until he come whose right it is" (Ezek. 21:25-27). Jesus claimed this right (John 18:36-37) and Peter and Paul both declared him to be the rightful heir by a resurrection (Acts 2:29-32; 13:22, 23; Rom. 1:3-4).
BASIC DOCTRINE OF THE DAVIDIC COVENANT-RESURRECTION.
There are apparent inconsistencies in the promise. These can only be explained on the basis of the resurrection. God gave the promise knowing that the resurrection would be essential for its fulfillment (just as He gave promises to Abraham which required the resurrection);
1) The promised king was to be David's son and hence a mortal man and yet his throne was to be established forever. How? Through the resurrection. David worked this out and spoke accordingly in Psalm 16:8-11. Peter and Paul both explain that this psalm teaches the resurrection of the Christ (Acts 2:24-31; 13:35-37).
2) David is told that he will die ("sleep with his fathers"), but he is also informed that his son will reign forever "before him" or in his presence. The question arises € how? Besides appreciating that his seed would have to be a resurrected man, he realized that he, too, would have to be raised if he were to witness Christ's kingdom: "Thou. . . shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth" (Psa. 71:20-21).
SEALED BY DIVINE OATH.
Another important feature of the promise to David is God's oath con firming it: "Yahweh hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it" (Psa. 132:11). Like the Abrahamic covenant, the promise to David is irrevocable and unchangeable (Psa. 89:3-4, 34-36; Jer. 33:20-26; cp. Luke 1:69-74).
THE EFFECT OF THE PROMISE UPON DAVID (2 Sam. 7:18-29).
Nathan departed, his work done. David arose and walked over to the place where the ark rested, enclosed in its curtains. He sat humbly before Yahweh, transported by the wonder and grace of God's promise to him. No longer was he the king in his house of cedar seeking how he might bestow, albeit reverently, some blessing on the ark of God by bringing it to a permanent abode in Jerusalem. He went back in mind to his lowly origins and poured out his prayer: "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God: but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come" (vv. 18-19).
The great God had spoken to David, and caused him to tremble at the grace received. He contemplated in wonder the one who would be the centre of the promise and the Son of God: "Is this the manner of man?" Lit. "the law of the man"). Later he realized that his Son would be greater than himself, for he called him his "Lord" (Psa. 110:1; Matt. 22:44). David's son was David's Lord because he was also Son of God.
David continued and thanked and praised God for His revelation (vv. 21-22). He then spoke of the greatness of the nation of Israel, redeemed by God (vv. 23-24). He prayed that the name Yahweh might be magnified through the fulfillment of the promise made to his house (vv. 25-26). His final words sought that the blessing might surely come upon his house (v. 29).
LESSONS FOR US:
€ A correct understanding of the promises to David is very important for the gospel of the Kingdom is based on the Davidic Covenant.
€ David felt that he should do something for God to enable the kingdom to be settled, but God revealed that any work for good is a work which God has already prepared.
€ David was humbled when he realized that God had bound up his "house" in the eternal scheme of things. So too, all who belong to families in the Truth are highly privileged.
€ God has drawn nigh to us and invited "our house" to participate in the throne and Kingdom of David.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"The Ways of Providence" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 17
"Elpis Israel" (J. Thomas) € Pages 302-307
"Christendom Astray" (R. Roberts) € Lecture 12
"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 4, No. 2
"The Man David" (H. Tennant) € Pages 119-124
"God's Way" (J. Carter) € Chapter 6
"First Principles Bible Marking Course" (C.S.S.S.) € Pages 63-66
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
1) God told David that He would build him an house. Explain what God meant.
2) What were the circumstances which led to God promising David a house?
3) What did David do and say when the great promise of a house was made to him?
4) The Davidic Covenant does not primarily refer to Solomon. Give reasons for this statement.
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
1) What great lessons did David learn when he proposed building a house for God?
2) How does the covenant to David relate to the Gospel?
3) Explain how resurrection is basic to the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant.
4) Explain how the covenant made to David refers to Jesus Christ.
5) List four major aspects of the promise made to David and explain their fulfillment.