The Davidic Covenant, Part 3

Introduction:

As we began talking about last week, in the world we live in today, there are quite a few things going on that can get us down. We live and work…and we deal with happy days and we deal with sorrow.

David’s life was a lot like that too. He had good times and bad…there were days when he felt blessed and days where he literally ran for his life from the wrath of King Saul. Many of the Psalms of David were probably written during these times of trial and sorrow.

But the Lord always brought David through those tough times and He never abandoned David. I think it’s very important here to see that God doesn’t promise that faithful Christians will never face trials, but He does promise to get us through it....and the fact is that God makes many promises to us. God made promises to Abraham that he would have a son and that He would make Israel a great nation from Abraham’s ancestry…Today we call it the Abrahamic Covenant. You’ll remember that we studied that one in Genesis 15 a while back. For this discourse, we will look at yet another promise made to the Nation of Israel and her leaders…we call this particular one the Davidic Covenant because it was made with David.

a. Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:8-17

I’m going to ask you to stand with me, if you are able, as we read from God’s Holy, Perfect, Sufficient and inerrant Word.

<Pray>

Thank you, and you may be seated.

Now what we see here is that God’s covenant with David contains 10 “I will” statements from God. Each part represents a particular promise to David and the Nation of Israel from the Lord and I believe each one has a particular lesson for us even all these many years later... So what we are going to do is split those 10 up over the next 5 weeks and discuss 2 at the time.

Last week:

Enhanced Reputation

A New House

3. Peace

4. A Strong Dynasty

II. Major Points: God Promises...

5. Successful Offspring

6. God Gets the Glory

III. Point #5: Successful Offspring

Explanation

2 Samuel 7:12 NASB95

“When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.

After all the promises that God makes to David, the last one He made is related to this one. In the last one, God promised a strong dynasty…meaning that his family would rule Israel for generations. And it is important because we have to remember that God is promising that when we are obedient, God will bring blessings even to our families....even to those in generations to come.

This promise says that God will bless David’s offspring, specifically. So God says He will bless Solomon, and Solomon’s name will be great just as David’s will.

Illustration

I’m reminded of the fact that we have only had two presidents who’s fathers were also presidents. Those presidents were John Quincy Adams and George W. Bush.

I have to imagine that John Adams, who has been our nation’s first Vice President under George Washington and our second president, was immensely proud when his son and namesake John Quincy became President James Monroe’s Secretary of State....and then even more so when he became our nations 6th president in 1824. John Quincy is as remembered as his own father was.

Likewise, I’m sure George Herbert Walker Bush was excited when his son George W. Bush became the Governor of Texas…and at the same time, his son Jeb Bush was the Governor of Florida. And then, imagine his pride when George W. became President of the United States in the Election of 2000.

I’m sure neither John Adams nor George H.W. Bush could have imagined the immense success of their sons....but I’m sure it was no accident that their sons were successful.

John Adams and George H.W. Bush were both very accomplished menhighly accomplished and brave individuals.

John Adams and George H.W. Bush were both very accomplished men…highly accomplished and brave individuals. Later served as head of the CIA…and Ronald Reagan’s Vice President.

You see high achievers and people who are dedicated to doing things right and being obedient to the Lord can expect blessings.

Application

Now obviously, you cannot guarantee the success of your children....you can raise them right and give them every advantage in the world....but in the end, they have to pick up those resources and run with them.

But, we do know that it helps when they see an example of a successful mother and father....of people who live out their principles for all to see…how they show kindness and show service.

When they SEE good examples, it is so much more powerful than just being told.

The same is true with our Christian walk with the Lord. When we are obedient, again, we can’t guarantee that the next generation will latch on, but the Lord will send blessings for your obedience....and if you model it for the next generation, they will see it and many of them will seek to simulate it.

David was assured of that promise by God in this promise. Solomon will see a model of a Christian leader and Christian man in his father David....and the Lord will bless Solomon with that same wisdom and success. The Lord will be faithful, and because of David and solomon’s obedience, Solomon will be blessed as well.

IV. Point #6: God Gets the Glory

Explanation

2 Samuel 7:12 NASB95

“When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.

It’s very important to see here the way that this is phrased....I think it would be useful to look at what it DOESN’T say....it DOESN’T say this:

“…YOU will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and YOU will establish his Kingdom.” It does NOT say that, does it? Because listen…God could have said it that way…that YOU will do it…OR, God could have had Nathan say “I will HELP YOU raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will HELP YOU establish his kingdom.”

God could have had Nathan say any of that....but He didn’t....and He didn’t for a reason....No listen to it again:

“I....will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I....will establish his kingdom.”

Folks listen....it is the LORD that is in control....and it is the Lord that gets the glory.

Illustration

My systematic theology professor from seminary Dr. Kinnebrew posted this quote on Facebook the other night from J. Vernon McGee and I think it fits this point well:

McGee said: “This is God’s universe. He does things His way. You may have a better way, but you don’t have a universe.” Amen?

Application

Church: You and I have to remember that we are absolutely not in control of this thing....none of it. You may be successful and you may have worked hard your whole life to get where you are, but if you remove God’s hand from the situation you could lose it all and it could all fall apart over night.

I have known farmers who went from a million dollar yearly income to losing almost everything after one bad growing season.

Throughout history, we have seen kings, emperors, presidents, and tyrants gain all the power in the world and then lose it over night.

Adolph Hitler rose to power on the backs of those he dispised; the whole western world came together, topeled his great empire and he killed himself in shame.

The Great Emperor Nero had most of the known world under his control as head of the Roman Empire…he got to power through murder and betrayal…he killed Christians, possibly even beheaded the Apostle Paul....he burned down half of the city of Rome to make room to have a new temple dedicated to the worship of himself....and yet, almost over night, his country rebelled against him and he was forced to flee the city in fear and later committed suicide in shame.

God put David on the throne....God would put Solomon on the throne....and it is a reminder: If God wanted to, He could have removed either of them too.

Church: We need a reminder that when we get worried about losing everything, remember that it was God that gave us everything to start with. We aren’t losing anything without His consent.

And, when we do....guess what? He is STILL control. We needn’t get too puffed up…and…we needn’t sit around worrying. The Lord is in control....and it is the Lord we need to give the glory too.

V. Conclusion

a. Let me ask you this morning: are you living your life like that? Are you trusting the Lord like He’s in control....I don’t mean do you just say “yeah God’s in control” or “yea, the Lord works in mysterious ways”....I mean do you REALLY believe He is in control? Then we should give Him the glory....always, amen? He is in control....He gets the glory.

b. Let’s Pray