“The Davidic Covenant” - 2 Samuel 7:1-17
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About a year and a half ago, I bought a new navy blazer at Nordstrom. It was one of those cases you may have gone through where you buy an item of clothing and the more you wear it, the more you realize you don't like it. My blazer wasn't the right color, and to make matters worse, it attracted lint like it was going out of style. After wearing it pretty regularly for six months or so, I stuck it in my closet and didn't wear it for a long time.
Tucked away in the back of my mind all the while was that famous Nordstrom unconditional-return policy. I thought, I've had this thing for a year and a half. I've worn it lots of times, and there's just no way they're going to take it back. About two weeks ago I decided I had nothing to lose. I pulled the blazer out, threw a lot of lint on it to make it look bad, and took it down to Nordstrom's men's department. I walked in, and immediately I felt nervous. I felt like I was about to pull a scam of some sort, but I played it straight. I walked right up to the first salesman I saw and gave this little prepared speech. I said, "I am about to put your famous unconditional-return policy to its ultimate test. I have here a blazer. I've worn it lots. I've had it for a year and a half. I don't like it. It's the wrong color, and it attracts lint like it's going out of style. But I want to return this blazer for another blazer that I like." Then I stood there.
I couldn't believe it. This guy with a big handlebar mustache just looked at me and shook his head. He said, "For heaven's sake, what took you so long? Let's go find you a blazer." Ten minutes later I walked out with another blazer that was marked seventy-five dollars more than I paid for the one that I brought in. It was perfect for me. Didn't cost me a penny. God is like Nordstrom.
God makes all sorts of outlandish promises that we cannot bring ourselves to believe. Can we? When we get up enough courage or we're desperate enough, we finally take him at his word. He looks at us and he shakes his head. "For heaven's sake," he says, "what took you so long?"
How do we feel about the promises that the Lord makes today? We have a Bible full of them. Our mentality kind of like the man and his blazer? Unbelieving? Doubtful? Awkward? Much of why we struggle as Christians today is due to the fact that we do not believe the promises of God. Some of it is because we do not understand the promises of God. Some of it is because we don’t know the promises of God. Have we ever found this to be true at some point in our lives? When it comes to the promises of God that we find in the scriptures we have a threefold task. We have to know it, understand it, and believe it. Which means we have to study it, meditate upon it, memorize it, hear it taught, hear it preached, feed upon it, pray it, sing it. The enemy and the pattern of this world does all that it can to steal the words of God from us like birds taking seed from hard unprepared ground. That is why we are here. And today we will look closely at one of the most important promises that the Lord had made. It is called the Davidic Covenant a rewarding study for every Christian.
The Nation was in celebration now that the Ark was in Jerusalem. All the people were urging everyone to celebrate good times come on! But Michal wanted nothing to do with it. She was in her room with disgust in her heart, despising her husband the king as he danced before the Lord in worship with all of his heart. And just like David was despised and rejected by Michal, Jesus was despised and rejected of men humiliated in becoming man and dying on the cross to make all things new.
David finally had a break. He was settling in his new God given home; chillin’. He called Nathan the prophet to hang out with him and it’s almost like they were sitting at the pool with their coconut drinks, when David spoke about something bothering him. He was living in luxury with all the best that life has to offer and yet the Ark of God is in a tent. In true humility and love for the Lord he said, I need to do something about this. Nathan said, sounds good my man (Nathan probably thought… makes sense and it is probably the right thing to do for the Lord. It shows respect.), do whatever you want to do, the Lord is with you. So they both agreed on the plan...it was truly reasonable. But that night, the Lord came to Nathan and rejected the plan. It is amazing how many times revelation rolls over reason in the scriptures. The Lord said in a sense…Are you the one that is supposed to build my house? The answer here is not No, but more of a Not You. Careful with not yet’s. Many times it’s a not you. The Lord says, whoa wait. I never lived in a house from the time I delivered you out of Egypt till now. I have always moved with the Israelites with a tent and all that time I have never complained about this. I never asked for one either. Go to David and tell him that I have always been with him, I destroyed all of his enemies, and I will make his name famous over all the earth. I will provide a homeland for My people and I will give you rest from your enemies. Then we see a play on words when the Lord said that He was going to make a house for David. But, this house was not one of cedar, but of a dynasty. When David dies I will raise up one of your descendants and make his kingdom strong. He will build a house for me and I will secure his throne forever. If he sins I will discipline him like a father, but I will never take away my favor like I did with Saul. Your house and your kingdom will continue and your throne will be secure forever.
starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.
“ ‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’ ”
2 Samuel 7:11-
The Grass withers, the flower fades but the word of our God stands forever.
The Lord and His People
The Davidic Covenant
The Davidic Covenant Continued
The first thing we will explore today is the clear display of the desire of the Lord to be with His people and what comfort we should find from this. The second thing is the wonderful principle of what is known as the Davidic Covenant and how we find its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Finally, we will see how this covenant gives us hope with the continuity of blessings promised to the people of God enjoying Him forever.
Thesis: Though we can feel the pressure of our enemies, sin, and the pattern of this world, we can rest in the Lord and His promises that the descendant of David our Lord Jesus will sit on the throne forever, with all authority in heaven and on earth, he will give us rest from our struggle with sin and we will be citizens forever of the kingdom that can never be shaken.
I. The Lord dwells with His people
- Would we rather dwell in a palace with the wicked then to dwell in a tent with the Lord?
A. The Lord spoke to Nathan in response to the humble and thoughtful request of the king. And from His response we learn a couple of things. First of all, the creator desires to actually be with the people of Israel no matter what the circumstances. If the people were going to travel in the wilderness, He would dwell with them. He would share in their plight and surroundings. He wants to be with His people.
B. v.9 He tells David that He was always with him wherever he went and He destroyed all of his enemies before him. His presence was always and will always be with David and the people of the Lord. No matter what the circumstances… “no matter where I have gone with the Israelites” He moved with His people wherever they were no matter how humiliating the circumstances may be. He wanted to be with His people no matter.
C. This all was a huge set up for us to see something super important. The Ark which is the sign and symbol of the presence of God in a tent was seen by David and Nathan as something too humiliating for God, but the Ark dwelling in a tent was not anywhere near as humiliating as what was going to happen.
D. The ultimate act of humiliation ever and ever possible.
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
E. He became man and died a criminal’s death. This is way worse than the Ark dwelling in a tent. God the Son became a man and He dwelt among us.
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
F. We see the Lord willing to dwell in a tent and become a man, but for many of us this is unacceptable. We are entitled to certain luxuries and comforts that we would certainly disobey God to attain them. We compete with others. We covet what other people have. We are jealous of others. Are we willing to become less so that others become so much more, have so much more, live so much better?
G. The Lord of all did not desire the best but dwelt in a tent. He did not consider equality with God something to be held on to. He dwelt among us, like us, felt like us, hurt like us, suffered like us, and died like we all will. Is our attitude like this? How was it this week? How goes our romance with the world? The world is our enemy, sin is our enemy, and we continue to dance with the devil? Dwell in the palace of the wicked instead of a tent with the Lord? Think about it.
II. The Davidic Covenant
- I have sworn this oath to him: ‘I will establish your descendants as kings forever; they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.’”
The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with David, my chosen servant.
I have sworn this oath to him:
‘I will establish your descendants as kings forever;
they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.’ ”
Interlude
A.
The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with David, my chosen servant.
I have sworn this oath to him:
II. The Davidic Covenant
- I have sworn this oath to him: ‘I will establish your descendants as kings forever; they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.’”
A. The play on words comes into the picture. David’s intention was to build a house for the Lord but instead the Lord will build a house for David. He was going to make for David a dynasty of kings. What are the promised blessings?
B. 1. His own flesh and blood will occupy the throne. 2. His descendant was going to build a house for God. 3. The descendant of David will call the Lord Father and God will call him His son. 4. His heir will be disciplined for sins, but he will not be cast out like Saul was. 5. The biggy. You will reign forever. Scholars will say that the reign of David of 400 years is the longest single dynasty in any land in the history of the world. But the reign of course was put on hold during captivity. It was coming back…the coming of the kingdom of God… the highly anticipated coming of the Messiah the King.
C. From this passage of scripture, we find the key elements of what the people were looking for. They knew that David’s throne was eternal and knew that the Descendant of David was coming. This was going to be the Messiah. The Christ. All Israel waited and hoped for the return of the King. The Kingdom of God was coming. The wise men from the East knew He was coming and even when, the people of God all over the world knew he was coming. Even the Romans. The promised kingdom of God mentioned by prophets and psalms all declared the Kingdom of God was coming. All from this covenant made with David. This is why David was so important when looking for the Messiah. He would be the highly anticipated son of King David.
D. This is why the Gospel of Matthew had a vantage point of Christ as King and why john the Baptist was a voice crying out in the wilderness… repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. He was the herald of the coming king. This is why the apostles continue to write about kingdom stuff. This is why this chapter of 2 Samuel is seen to be the jewel of the OT. It is the climax, the pinnacle, the apex. And all of it pointed to one time, one event, one descendant. Our Lord Jesus in light of David.
E. Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment. All of the sons of David, including Solomon, were simply types and shadows of the eternal reign of the Messiah. Was he David’s flesh and blood? Yes. He was from the tribe of Judah.
The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line,
F. Did he build a house or a temple for the Lord? Yes. Sure Solomon was a type of fulfillment but Christ fulfilled is a much grander way… He built it when he rose from the grave… in 3 days it will rise again.
But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”
“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
“What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
The writers of the NT new it and wrote it. Saw it.
G. Did this descendant call the Lord Father and did the Lord call him son? Yes. The author of the Hebrews quotes 2 Samuel when making a claim about Christ.
For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus:
“You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.”
God also said,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son.”
H. Will this descendant reign forever? Yes.
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
I. There are endless connections made by the inspired authors of the NT making the point that Jesus is the Son of David who is alive and sitting at the right hand of the Father ruling and reigning right now while the Father makes all of His enemies his footstool with all power and authority in heaven and earth given to him. Ruling right now as king of the earth in the hearts and minds of believer’s everywhere who call, accepted, declare, and believe that Jesus is Lord! Jesus is king. Right now the Kingdom of heaven is here. Christ is ruling… right now and will be forever.
J. You need to see this and understand that significance of this chapter of scripture. Every time you read about the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven or the coming messiah. Anything that has to do with kings or kingdoms in the Bible. The entire life and ministry of David we need to remember this chapter that’s setting it all up. We cannot understand the kingdom of God properly without understanding this chapter. Quick hint… you cannot understand the entire book of revelations without understanding this chapter. The entire book is fulfilling … the words of David being fulfilled by Christ …
Psalm
The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.”
K. Hopefully this opened your eyes a bit more when it comes to understanding the scriptures. But what does this have to do with me today? Everything. I did leave out one promised blessing.
III. The Davidic Covenant Continued
- The Covenant promise to David continues to bring blessings to us today.
A. His heir will be disciplined for sins, but he will not be cast out like Saul was. The word says v. 14 When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. Of course we see it fulfilled in the lives of Solomon and David’s other descendants.
B. But we see it wonderfully developed here with Christ. Sure Christ did not commit sins. He was perfect in fulfilling the laws of the Father. He knew no sin. But He became sin, who knew no sin. And received the rod of men, and the stripes of men and was wounded, bruised, and chastised for our sins. And because of this, by His stripes we are healed. He became sin and received our punishment and now we have become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
C. The steadfast love of the Father did not leave Him, because he rose from the grave. The fulfillment of this promise brought to us Salvation.
And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.
“ ‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings!
III. The New Covenant
- The Covenant promise to David continues to bring blessings to us today.
We will dwell in the appointed place in paradise with the Lord and we will be free from our great enemy…sin. It brings us bondage, death, sickness, deception, and oppression. The wages of sin is death and unfortunately all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past,
D. Our king came into this world to seek and save that which was lost. Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures… the saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance… God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us… The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
E. Fitting for today. You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
F. Salvation is here for you today. The kingdom of God is here… it is at hand. Christ is alive and sitting at the right hand of the Father on the throne of David. He is calling out to you today. Salvation is here. Eternal life in heaven is here. The real peace that you seek is here. Right now if you believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God you have life. He gave you life. He says call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved. If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart…
G. This is the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. The King has come and blessings are abundant and overflowing. All things are new. This is a better promise than Nordstrom.
H. Today… I know that we can have a heart like David. We desire to do things for God, like building him a house, in humility and love for him and that is great. However, we can be so consumed with all that we do for God, that we pay no attention to all that He wants to do for us. Like build a house for us. And that is what He has already done for us now and forever in heaven.
I. David discovered and so should we… The Scriptures are not primarily about what we do for God, but what He has done for us.