The Promised Eternal King

Introduction

Recap of series…

David anointed as an insignificant shepherd

David defeating Goliath, standing for the Lord’s glory

David protected as Saul tries to kill him

David not taking matters into his own hands when Saul is in front of him for the taking

Now - David is king… Saul and Jonathan have died David is in his palace

Today - The Promised Eternal King

For a different event, I was looking at the persecuted church and it made me wonder…

why is it so difficult for so many in the world to hear the word of God

wouldn’t it make it harder to trust in the promises of God if I am in that position?

then this thought came to mind… I have a LOT of the copies of the Bible, yet I have a hard time to trusting in the promises of God

so many times that is because I am looking at the circumstances, not the promises.

Today - five promises that the Lord gives to David

The Lord will make a way for us to dwell in the house of God with our eternal king

PRAY!

2 Samuel 7:1–17 CSB

1 When the king had settled into his palace and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, “Look, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains.” 3 So Nathan told the king, “Go and do all that is on your mind, for the Lord is with you.”

David has been anointed king

originally just in Judah, but now in all of Israel

David has defeated the Jebusites and has now settled in Jerusalem, the city of David

David has a desire to build a temple for the Lord, a permanent structure to put the ark of the covenant

This is a good desire…

Nathan gives the go ahead without inquiring of the Lord

not sinful, as he does not appear to be speaking on the Lord’s behalf

2 Samuel 7:1–17 CSB

4 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5 “Go to my servant David and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you to build me a house to dwell in? 6 From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today I have not dwelt in a house; instead, I have been moving around with a tent as my dwelling. 7 In all my journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever spoken a word to one of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?’

David… good intentions, but did I ever ask you to build me a house or have I ever asked any of the people

we could spend a lot of time on this part of the narrative, but will keep in line with the series

just because it is a good thing, godly thing, with good intentions does not mean that it is God’s will

we can move forward with good and godly until God makes it clear that is not his will

but then we have to be honest with ourselves when that,”No” comes because then it becomes about us and what we want over what God wants

then it is no longer godly

2 Samuel 7:1–17 CSB

8 “So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a great name for you like that of the greatest on the earth.

David do not simply look where you are, but where I have brought you from

shepherd… on the run… to king

I am not done with you yet! This is not all there is to your story

you can feel the set up… ok, if you’re not done, what are you going to do

I will make a great name for you (end of v9)

read the rest without interruption

2 Samuel 7:1–17 CSB

10 I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done 11 ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. “ ‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord himself will make a house for you. 12 When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, 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 discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. 15 But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’ ” 17 Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.

This passage is known as the David covenant by many, promises that God made to David. We will look at 5 of these promises

Five Promises The Lord Made to David

Promise 1: I will make your name great.

2 Samuel 7:9 CSB

9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a great name for you like that of the greatest on the earth.

What Does it mean to make your name great?

great = bigger; expand

David’s name at this time is pretty big

How great do you think David thought his name would be?

Everyone in the known world will know my name

but didn’t everyone know who David was?

this terrifies some people… they do not want everyone to know who they are

last summer I had different people from different places know me

Lillie laughed when another college student quoted a guy named Doug. She found out it really was me they were quoting

somebody in KC recognized me from the same speaking engagement that Lillie referenced

Heather said wow that must have been some sermon!

They will remember me for generations

How great is his name?

We are studying him because he is in the lineage of Jesus

When you study that line, he is listed first

Matthew 1:1 CSB

1 An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

Why would Matthew do this?

if Jesus is the messiah, he has to come from David… that is a big name

Promise 2: I will build a kingdom.

2 Samuel 7:10 CSB

10 I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done

What does this mean?

David had already defeated the Jebusites, giving him the city that would be named, Jerusalem (the city of David)

He had been anointed king of Judah and then later, all of Israel

He has a palace in Jerusalem

Revelation 21:3–4 CSB

3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.

We are a part of a greater kingdom, a kingdom not of this world

we look at promises and think God is talking about making things better or how I want right here and now

there is a greater kingdom that we cannot even fathom

no more war, no more pain, no more tears

where he will be our God and we will be his people

we should live, longing for that day!

Promise 3: I will give you peace.

2 Samuel 7:10 CSB

10 I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done

This is a desire of all people

you might argue that there are some religious ideologies that want chaos and violence - Islam

that is true for now, but they do this for a future peace

The Lord had given him rest from his enemies and he settled into his palace

every once in a while, I look for a day that I can just relax

shut my phone off, do a few things at the house

I do this knowing that it won’t last sometimes not even that full day

The Lord is speaking of the day he also spoke about through Isaiah

Isaiah 2:4 CSB

4 He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war.

Revelation 21:24–27 CSB

24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never close by day because it will never be night there. 26 They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 27 Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.

This is not a “I will keep your enemies at bay, but they are defeated and are no more.”

Imagine living a life with no enemy or evil

it is hard for our human minds to comprehend because we are so used to sin and death

Promise 4: I will raise up your descendent to build my house.

2 Samuel 7:13 CSB

13 He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

Prophecy that was fulfilled in two ways

Solomon, who will take David’s place when he dies, will build the temple that David is not allowed to build

a temple that was destroyed in the exile, to be replaced by the temple when built in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah

the second temple destroyed in 70 AD when the Romans ran the Jewish people out of Israel

the second way was through Christ…

How, what kind of house would this be if man could tear it down

John 14:2–3 CSB

2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.

You cannot get to this house with directions

John 14:6 CSB

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

You cannot show up without a room

as much as we love the story of the man on cross with Jesus being saved, that was an invitation before the thief died

Revelation 21:27 CSB

27 Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Promise 5: I will establish this kingdom forever.

2 Samuel 7:16 CSB

16 Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’ ”

This entire series, the lineage of Christ in Matthew, is showing that this has come true

now, thousands of years later, there is one sitting on the throne of David

it is not a king in the nation of Israel

it is not a king that is in this world and will be gone in a generation

it is the king of kings and the Lord of Lords who right now is sitting on his throne at the right hand of God, ruling and reigning!

Luke 1:32–33 CSB

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

and we look forward to his return! When we will be with him before his glorious throne for all of eternity.

Conclusion

Consider the Israelites as they wandered in the desert for 40 years. God promised them a land flowing with milk and honey, but they faced countless challenges along the way. This journey wasn’t just about reaching the promised land; it was about learning to trust in God's promises daily despite hardships. Just like the Israelites, we too are called to remember His faithfulness even when the path seems treacherous, for His promises are unfailing and true.

I hope that today, you will trust in his promises for you and wait with eager expectation for the day that we will be in his eternal kingdom