God's Promises to David
The importance to us of God's promises
Having an understanding of God's promises affects:
An illustrious king of Israel
King David ruled over God's Kingdom of Israel from his throne in Jerusalem some one thousand years before Christ. He was an illustrious and godly man, especially noted for his composition of so many of the Psalms.
Where to find God's promise to King David
2 Samuel 7:11-16 and 1 Chronicles 17:11-15. In summary, the promise is that:
New Testament teaching about the promise to David
David has yet to receive the reward of God's promise
2 Peter 1:3,4. God's power and goodness has "given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." Hence, our salvation depends on these promises.
The way that God's promises can save us
What do God's promises help to explain to us about the way our salvation can be achieved?
How? By resurrection and the gift of eternal life.
Where? On earth and centred in Israel.
When? Soon. When Christ (the seed of David) returns to rule over God's Kingdom from his throne in Jerusalem.
Why? To bring God's glory on earth and establish universal blessing.
On what basis? Our committed response. Faith. Baptism into Christ. "Patient continuance in doing good".
Bible references are from the New King James Version, copyright © Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Having an understanding of God's promises affects:
- Our attitude to the Old Testament.
- Our belief about life after death.
- Our understanding about the place and timing of reward for faithful people.
- Our appreciation of the future role of Jesus Christ.
- Our understanding of God's ultimate plan for this earth.
An illustrious king of Israel
King David ruled over God's Kingdom of Israel from his throne in Jerusalem some one thousand years before Christ. He was an illustrious and godly man, especially noted for his composition of so many of the Psalms.
Where to find God's promise to King David
2 Samuel 7:11-16 and 1 Chronicles 17:11-15. In summary, the promise is that:
- David's seed will be the Son of God.
- David's seed will build a house for God's name.
- David's seed will reign for ever from David's throne in Jerusalem.
- David himself will witness these events.
New Testament teaching about the promise to David
- Hebrews 1:5. A direct quote from 2 Samuel 7:14. The seed is Christ.
- Acts 2:25-32 . Note v30 and Psalm 132:11. The promise that God "would raise up Christ to sit on his throne" was confirmed by an oath. Psalm 89:3-4&34-37, 2 Samuel 23:5 and Isaiah 55:3 define the promise as a covenant.
- Acts 13:23. The seed is Jesus the Saviour.
- Luke 1:30-33. Jesus the Son of God will reign for ever from the throne of David.
- Revelation 22:16 . Jesus is "the root and the offspring of David".
David has yet to receive the reward of God's promise
- Though God assessed King David as "a man after My own heart, who will do all My will" (Acts 13:22), David has not gone to heaven (Acts 2:29&34).
- Hebrews 11:39,40. All the Old Testament worthies mentioned in this chapter, including David (v32), died in faith without receiving the promises "that they should not be made perfect apart from us". They all await the return of Christ to the earth and the resurrection before they can receive the promises.
2 Peter 1:3,4. God's power and goodness has "given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." Hence, our salvation depends on these promises.
The way that God's promises can save us
What do God's promises help to explain to us about the way our salvation can be achieved?
How? By resurrection and the gift of eternal life.
Where? On earth and centred in Israel.
When? Soon. When Christ (the seed of David) returns to rule over God's Kingdom from his throne in Jerusalem.
Why? To bring God's glory on earth and establish universal blessing.
On what basis? Our committed response. Faith. Baptism into Christ. "Patient continuance in doing good".
Bible references are from the New King James Version, copyright © Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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