Salvation In The Bible - The Davidic Covenant

Introduction

2 Samuel 7:8–17 KJV 1900

8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: 9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. 10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, 11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house. 12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. 17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

Pray - Be Seated

The Davidic Covenant is an extension of the Abrahamic Covenant in that the major promises given to Abraham are confirmed and amplified to David.

The chief promise of the Davidic Covenant is the promise of kingship.

Kingship was promised in the Abrahamic Covenant

To Abraham (kings would descend from him) - Genesis 17:6

To Sarah (kings would descend from her) - Genesis 17:16

To Jacob (kings would descend from him) - Genesis 35:11

To Judah (Judah would possess the scepter of kingship) - Genesis 49:8-12

The qualifications of the king revealed in the Mosaic covenant - Deuteronomy 17:14-20

Kingship promised in the Davidic Covenant - II Samuel 7; Psalm 132; I Chronicles 17; Psalm 89.

It seems that kingship was always God’s plan for Israel, but Israel demanded a king before God was ready to give them one.

In the time of Samuel, his children were set to inherit the judgeship after Samuel died.

Samuel’s children experienced moral failure and lost the confidence of the people of Israel.

Because of this Israel demanded a king like the other nations around them.

God (with warning) gave them their desire.

God chose a man according to their standards (external).

God chose a man outside of the ruling tribe (Benjamin, not Judah).

Israel entered the Promised Land 40 years late because of unbelief, and the Abrahamic promise of a king was given 40 years early because of unbelief.

God did not establish His kingly covenant with Saul, but with David.

The Words of the Covenant

Though the full words and details of the Davidic Covenant were not given until David was anointed king over all Israel, certain words of the promises of his kingship were given at periods of time before that.

The Spirit of the Lord came upon David the shepherd when Samuel anointed him to be king (I Samuel 16:13).

The man of Achish spoke of David as being the king of the land (I Samuel 21:11)

Jonathan knew also that David would be king over Israel in due time (I Samuel 23:17).

King Saul also knew that David would be king over Israel (I Samuel 24:20).

The men of Judah came and anointed David king over the house of Judah. (II Samuel 2:4).

Seven years later, all the elders of Israel anointed David as king over all Israel (II Samuel 5:1-5).

The Promises of the Covenant

The primary chapters of Scripture that contain the elements of the Davidic Covenant are: II Samuel 7; I Chronicles 17; Psalm 89; Psalm 132 and Jeremiah 33.

Promises of Blessing

An appointed land

2 Samuel 7:10 KJV 1900

10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

We too have a promise of a place to dwell, where we will be moved no more.

Victory over enemies

1 Chronicles 17:10 KJV 1900

10 And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the Lord will build thee an house.

This is an extension of the Abrahamic promise of “possessing the gate of our enemies.”

David not only recaptured territory that had been lost, but, under David, Israel possessed all the land originally promised to them.

This promise is not only still in effect today, but has its most potent form under the New Covenant to include principalities, powers, sin, death, and all the power of the grave!

Ruling Dynasty

2 Samuel 7:11–16 KJV 1900

11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house. 12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

Also an extension of the Abrahamic promises of kingship.

Under the Abrahamic Covenant God chose a nation, and from that nation He chose a tribe. Under the Davidic Covenant God chose a family.

NOTE: None of the kings of the house of Israel were of the Davidic line, while every king that ruled in Judah were of Davidic lineage.

Sure Mercies

2 Samuel 7:14–15 KJV 1900

14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

Those same mercies are ours today.

Messianic Seed

1 Chronicles 17:14 KJV 1900

14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.

Yet another extension of the Abrahamic Covenant that “through thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”

This promise was confirmed in later writings.

A virgin of the House of David would bring forth Immanuel (Isaiah 7:13-14).

A Righteous Branch would be raised up to David (Jeremiah 33:15).

Jesus Christ is the son of Abraham and the son of David (Matthew 1:1).

Jesus is the Root and offspring of David (Revelation 22:16).

Jesus is to receive the throne of His father David and reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will have no end (Isaiah 9:6-7).

The Terms of the Covenant

Faith

After receiving the covenant words from the Lord, David worshipped God and believed all the Words of the Lord.

Obedience

God’s testimony concerning David was that he was “a man after Mine own Heart, which shall fulfill all My will”.

If a descendant of David disobeyed God, God could transfer the throne to another of the seed of David as He warned Solomon (II Chronicles 7:12-22).

The Oath

The Davidic Covenant was confirmed with an oath (Psalm 89:3-5), and thus, it was to be irrevocable.

God promised to chasten David’s descendants for disobedience, but He would also remember His mercy toward the House of David.

The Blood of the Covenant

Concerning David’s relationship to the Mosaic Covenant and the Davidic Covenant:

In relation to the sacrifices:

Under the Mosaic Covenant David could not offer the compulsory offerings.

However under the Davidic Covenant he could and did offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise, as well as the Mosaic voluntary offerings.

In relation to the priesthood:

David was not qualified to be a priest under the Mosaic Covenant (tribe of Judah, not tribe of Levi).

Under the Davidic Covenant he could act as a king-priest.

In relation to the sanctuary:

David did not forsake the Tabernacle of Moses, being under the Mosaic Covenant.

David also established the Tabernacle of David in Zion under the Davidic Covenant.

The Sacrifices of the Covenant

Body and Blood - David offered to God voluntary burnt offerings and peace offerings when bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem as was meet under the Mosaic Covenant.

Spiritual offerings - David also offered to God the spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving under the Davidic Covenant.

The Mediator of the Covenant

David was not a priest after the Levitical order, but he did act in the order of Melchisedek.

David wore a linen ephod - a priestly garment, symbolic of righteousness (II Samuel 6:14).

David offered priestly sacrifices before the Lord (II Samuel 6:17).

David officiated in pronouncing the Aaronic priestly blessing upon the people in the name of the Lord (Numbers 6:24-27; I Chronicles 16:1-2).

David set up another Tabernacle and placed the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord in it (I Chronicles 16:1).

David’s horn was to be like Aaron’s priestly rod, and the Lord would cause it to bud; thus combining the King (horn) and Priest (rod) in the person of David (Psalm 132:17; Luke 1:69).

The Levitical Priesthood

Although David left the majority of the Levitical priesthood to minister in the Tabernacle of Moses according to the Mosaic Covenant, he appointed a great number of priests to minister in the Tabernacle of David according to the Davidic Covenant.

This company of priests was under the leadership of Chenaniah, the master of song.

The Sanctuary of the Covenant

David established his Tabernacle on Mount Zion.

From this point on in Scripture, “Zion” carried a twofold significance:

Zion - The City of David

Zion became the capital city, the governing city of the nation and the city of the throne of King David.

This foreshadows heavenly Zion from which Jesus rules and reigns over His people.

Zion - The Tabernacle of David.

Zion was also a sacred city, the religious capital of the nation.

Here the Tabernacle of David order of worship was centered.

Together with both throne and tabernacle, Zion also demonstrates the bringing together of king and priest and pointed to the New Covenant, where we are both kings and priests.

Conclusion

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment and the realization of the Davidic Covenant. He is the one who is a ‘priest forever, after the order of Melchisedek.” He is the one who fulfills and abolishes all the natural, outward elements of all the previous covenants. He is the one who fulfills and makes possible all the eternal, spiritual elements of all the previous covenants. Jesus Christ is the total summation of all the previous covenants rolled up together.