The Promise of the Davidic Kingdom (Wednesday)
Week 2 - Wednesday
2 Samuel 7:12-17 (ESV)
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.[a] Your throne shall be established forever.’”17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.[a] Your throne shall be established forever.’”17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
As we continue this week to think about Jesus’ human nature alongside His divine nature, we come to a key passage in the Old Testament. Many scholars describe 2 Samuel 7 as a “watershed moment,” where we see God speak through the prophet Nathan to establish an unconditional and everlasting covenant with David.
Early in this chapter, David desires to honor God by building Him a temple (a house), but in a beautiful twist, God says that He will build David a great house. He promises David a permanent destiny, a permanent kingdom, and a permanent throne, and that all of this will come through his offspring - his line of descendants. This first refers to Solomon, a son of David’s yet-to-be-born who will reign over Israel for a time and build a temple that will last for a while, but ultimately… every one of these promises points to Jesus. He will be born into the lineage of David and is the One who will fulfill them all - the One who will reign as King forever (Matt. 1:1).
There’s also a beautiful part of this passage where God promises a son-ship relationship with Him. He says, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son” (v. 14), and He promises that His steadfast love would not be removed (v. 15). This treatment as a son would be true of Solomon – God remained steadfast and loving towards him even when he sinned and had to be disciplined (1 Chron. 28:6) – and It is ultimately true of Jesus (Hebrews 1:5) the true Son of David (fully human) and Son of God (fully divine) who never sinned, but took the punishment for all our sins upon Himself on the cross.
What an awe-inspiring thing it is to realize that just as God kept His covenant with David and will fulfill it completely in Jesus, He is faithful to keep His promises to us. Because we are in Christ, Romans 8:38-39 gives us confidence that nothing can separate us from God’s faithful love, and we can rest in the fact that His plans are trustworthy and unshakable.
David too was filled with awe as God made this covenant with Him, and we know this because the rest of 2 Samuel 7 records his prayer of worship and gratitude. He says, “Who am I, Lord” that You would bring me this far and make this covenant with me? He recognizes God’s greatness, proclaims that there is none like Him, and says that His name will be magnified forever, saying, “The LORD of hosts is God over Israel.” May we have hearts today like David’s that overflow in worship because of God’s faithful love shown to us in the person of Jesus! He is the King who will reign forever and ever.
Early in this chapter, David desires to honor God by building Him a temple (a house), but in a beautiful twist, God says that He will build David a great house. He promises David a permanent destiny, a permanent kingdom, and a permanent throne, and that all of this will come through his offspring - his line of descendants. This first refers to Solomon, a son of David’s yet-to-be-born who will reign over Israel for a time and build a temple that will last for a while, but ultimately… every one of these promises points to Jesus. He will be born into the lineage of David and is the One who will fulfill them all - the One who will reign as King forever (Matt. 1:1).
There’s also a beautiful part of this passage where God promises a son-ship relationship with Him. He says, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son” (v. 14), and He promises that His steadfast love would not be removed (v. 15). This treatment as a son would be true of Solomon – God remained steadfast and loving towards him even when he sinned and had to be disciplined (1 Chron. 28:6) – and It is ultimately true of Jesus (Hebrews 1:5) the true Son of David (fully human) and Son of God (fully divine) who never sinned, but took the punishment for all our sins upon Himself on the cross.
What an awe-inspiring thing it is to realize that just as God kept His covenant with David and will fulfill it completely in Jesus, He is faithful to keep His promises to us. Because we are in Christ, Romans 8:38-39 gives us confidence that nothing can separate us from God’s faithful love, and we can rest in the fact that His plans are trustworthy and unshakable.
David too was filled with awe as God made this covenant with Him, and we know this because the rest of 2 Samuel 7 records his prayer of worship and gratitude. He says, “Who am I, Lord” that You would bring me this far and make this covenant with me? He recognizes God’s greatness, proclaims that there is none like Him, and says that His name will be magnified forever, saying, “The LORD of hosts is God over Israel.” May we have hearts today like David’s that overflow in worship because of God’s faithful love shown to us in the person of Jesus! He is the King who will reign forever and ever.
Reflection and Prayer
How does the realization that Jesus reigns over all of creation as the eternal King give you perspective on temporary struggles and uncertainties? What worries or concerns do you need to surrender to Him today?
How does God’s covenant given to David in this passage deepen your faith in Him?
Think about how you’ve seen the faithful love of God in your life.
Heavenly Father, I know that Your kingdom will never fail and that Jesus is the eternal King that I can fully trust. I’m so grateful that You are a God who has chosen to make covenants with Your people, and that You keep every one of Your promises. Like David, I’m in awe of Your faithfulness, grace and unconditional steadfast love in my life, and I thank You that Jesus came to us as fully human and fully God to be the perfect fulfillment of all Your great promises to us. Amen.
How does God’s covenant given to David in this passage deepen your faith in Him?
Think about how you’ve seen the faithful love of God in your life.
Heavenly Father, I know that Your kingdom will never fail and that Jesus is the eternal King that I can fully trust. I’m so grateful that You are a God who has chosen to make covenants with Your people, and that You keep every one of Your promises. Like David, I’m in awe of Your faithfulness, grace and unconditional steadfast love in my life, and I thank You that Jesus came to us as fully human and fully God to be the perfect fulfillment of all Your great promises to us. Amen.
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