Davidic Covenant

July 31, 2022

This week we read 2 Samuel 1-10. Chapter 7 really connects the New and Old Testament. It is about the promise God made to David and is called the Davidic Covenant. We will also see how God’s plans for our lives are so much better and bigger than anything we could dream.

At the time, David was king over all of Israel. He had won many battles and was taking a rest from war.

2 Samuel 7:1-2 says, “after the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, ² he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

David had good motives to move the ark of God into a temple. Nathan the prophet agreed with him. That night Nathan had dream revealing that God had different plans.

2 Samuel 7:4-17 says, “But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

⁵ “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? ⁶ I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. ⁷ Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

⁸ “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. ¹⁰ And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning ¹¹ and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders^[a] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: ¹² When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. ¹⁵ But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶ Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me^[b]; your throne will be established forever.’”

¹⁷ Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.”

What can we learn from this text?

1. This was not God’s will or His timing. God did not want David to build him a temple at this time. This was going to be done by his son (Solomon). David’s idea was not bad, but he had not consulted God first. God never gave anyone the plans to make a temple, but for the tent (verse 7).
2. God dwells with His people. He told David that he went with the people (verse 6). God had the people carry the tent wherever they went and He was with them.
3. God was in charge. He took David from being a shepherd to being a ruler over Israel. God cut off his enemies (verse 8-9).
4. God had a plan for David now and in the future. He was going to raise up David’s offspring to succeed him as king over Israel, but he was also going to establish his house and kingdom forever. Initially God was talking about Solomon taking over as king after David died. The second part, God was talking about establishing his house through the birth of Jesus Christ. This was the covenant God made with David: that his kingdom would last forever. The New Testament also talks about the covenant. Here are a few of those scriptures.

Matthew 1:1 lists Jesus’ genealogy on Joseph’s side. “This is the genealogy^[a] of Jesus the Messiah^[b] the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

In Luke 1:32, the angel was speaking to Mary about Jesus and said, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Romans 1:3 says, “regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life^[a] was a descendant of David.”

David did not get what he wanted when he thought about building a house for God. He received something much bigger and better. God made David’s name great with all men, and his kingdom through Jesus Christ lives on forever.

I am so thankful God made this promise with David. The principles above are applicable to our lives now.

1. God has a perfect plan for our lives. We can pray for anything, and He wants us to pray, but His answer may be a  “yes”, “wait,” or a“no.” He may have something much better for us and we just have not seen it yet.
2. God dwelt with the Israelites in the tent. The same holds true today. If you are a Christian, God dwells within you through the Holy Spirit and goes with you wherever you go.
3. God is in charge of our life as He was for David. David started as a shepherd, , and then, over time, made David king. God is in charge of our lives too and will take us on our own journeys based on His will.
4. God established his kingdom forever through Jesus Christ. We can be a part of Jesus’ kingdom “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9). That salvation guarantees a life with Christ for eternity.

Are you trusting God for His plan for your life? Start praying for His will to be done.

Are you a part of Jesus’ kingdom? Let me know if this is something you want and I will pray for you.

Next week we will finish 2 Samuel and read chapters 11-23. Have a blessed week.