Covenants: David

Intro

Review

What is a covenant?

“Oath-bound commitment” with the intent to establish relationship between the people involved.

Covenant with Adam:

God creates mankind in His image to rule over creation and fill the earth with His worshippers. Faithfulness in this relationship results in God’s blessing.

Covenant with Noah:

Even though mankind broke the relationship with God in sin, God did not turn back on His faithfulness to humanity. He starts over with Noah, re-establishing His promise to Adam and re-issuing His original command to be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 9:1).

Covenant with Abraham:

He promises to make Abraham into a great nation (descendants) and to give him land to possess, and God affirms this covenant through the ceremony in which He alone passes between the pieces of the animals cut in half by Abraham and in essence saying, “May I become like these dead animals if I do not keep my promise(s) to you.”

Covenant with Moses

God’s promises to Abraham are entirely fulfilled. Israel is now a massive nation, they spent 400 years in captivity at the hands of the Egyptians (whom God judged as He led them out), and He led them to the land that He had promised to give Abraham’s descendants. But does He just set them free into the land to live however they want? What does He give them to live by in the Promise Land? The Law!

God is expanding His Kingdom through His people. If Israel were to keep the Mosaic Covenant (the Law) in particular, the nations of the world would see displayed a right relationship to God, social justice in human interaction, and good stewardship of the earth’s resources.

At this point, who is ruling over Israel?

So today we’re going to look at our the final covenant God makes in the Old Testament: His covenant with David. Who is David?

There’s a bit of a gap in our story from Moses’ giving of the Law and the rule of King David. Who can give me the spark notes version of Israel’s history between Moses and David?

At what point does a king begin to rule over Israel? What is the role of a king? Who do the people ask to give them a king? (1 Sam. 8:4-5)

1 Samuel 8:4–5 CSB

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”

What’s wrong with their request?

Who is chosen as the first king of Israel? What is he like?

Saul’s misstep: 1 Sam. 13; he offers a burnt sacrifice on his own, not waiting for Samuel the prophet. His transgression results in his loss of favor with the Lord.

In the midst of Saul’s failure as king, David is chosen as God’s king. God chooses David, the people of Israel do not, but while man looks on the outward appearance, God looks at the heart. David is called over and over again, a “man after God’s own heart.” (1 Sam. 13:14).

God has promised us His True, Perfect King who will rule forever (2 Sam. 7:1-17)

1.     God unites His people under His chosen king (5:1-5)

2.     God establishes His kingdom through His chosen king (5:6-16)

3.     God conquers His enemies through His chosen king (5:17-25)

4.     God ushers in His presence among His people through His chosen king (6:1-4; 12-15)

a.   The LORD is careful to remind us that earthly authority is subjected to His holiness (6:5-11)

5.     God’s chosen king serves and worships the LORD with joy (6:16–7:3)