Articles
The Oath Unto David Psalm 132
The Oath Unto David Psalm 132
The Lord made an oath to David from which He will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne" (Psalm 132:11). Such oath was said to be in the manner of a covenant with David which the LORD would not break (Psalm 89:3, 34). Thus begins the long story of the kingdom of God and David's son. It would take a thousand years and many failed sons before we see this fulfilled.
God warned that the sons of David who were unfaithful to the covenant would be severely disciplined (vs. 12, 89:29-32), BUT that such would not cause God to alter this word. Indeed, many of the kings that came from David's line were ungodly and were chastened of God. Finally Jeconiah, the last legitimate king from David's line, was told that there would be NO MORE of this lineage to sit on the throne UNTIL the promised one would appear. That was 600 years before the time of Jesus.
We open the New Testament reading: "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1). The angel of God promises that unto Him the throne of his father David would be given, and that he would "reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33). The promise looks bleak as we read how the Jewish leaders reject God's son. In spite of the prophecies, the teaching, and even the miraculous signs done by him, He is rejected and crucified.
This is the central theme within Peter's sermon on Acts 2. THEY rejected and crucified Jesus but God raised him from the dead (Acts 2:22-23). Peter went on to say: "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses" (verses 29-32)
Peter then spells out the conclusion of such a resurrection of Jesus. " Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing" (vs. 33).
It was Jesus who was exalted at the right hand of God, and thus (not changing our subject or context) it was Jesus who received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit. He (Jesus) has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. The 'promise of the Holy Spirit' is here referring to what the Spirit had promised - the throne of David. Although He was rejected and crucified, He was raised, glorified, and given the promised throne. Thus Peter continues: "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’" (verses 34-35).
Peter concludes: "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Jesus received the promised throne of David. God fulfilled his Oath unto David. Jesus is now King of Kings, Lord of Lords. He is on the right hand of God ruling with all authority in heaven and earth. It is this King that commands men to 'repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins' (vs. 38).
"As many as received the word were baptized" (Acts 2:41). They were 'translated into the kingdom of God's dear son" (Col. 1:13). They were made to be a kingdom of Priests (Rev. 1:6, 9). They served the King.
Hugh DeLong
