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God's Covenant With David – Ps. 89
God's Covenant With David – Ps. 89
In Psalm 89, God made a covenant with David. We see in our reading of the Old Testament that our God is a God of covenants: Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Levites, and now with David. In these covenants, God makes promises towards the people, and God makes demands upon the people.
God's promise to David: “I will establish your seed forever And build up your throne to all generations.” Selah.” (Psalm 89:4)
Later in this Psalm we read: "I shall also set his hand on the sea And his right hand on the rivers. “He will cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’ “I also shall make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth. “My lovingkindness I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall be confirmed to him. “So I will establish his descendants forever And his throne as the days of heaven.” (Psalm 89:25–29)
We will watch as Solomon replaces David as king. We trace the history of the dynasty of David thru Rehoboam and his offspring. Some were good kings, but many were 'bad' and did NOT walk with God as did David. Thus, verse 30-32 come into play: ““If his sons forsake My law And do not walk in My judgments, If they violate My statutes And do not keep My commandments, Then I will punish their transgression with the rod And their iniquity with stripes.” (Psalm 89:30–32)
The unfaithfulness of these sons of David brought about the Babylonian captivity and a period of NO king over Israel. This brought forth the perplexing questions of the Psalmist in vs. 38-52: "how long?" (vs. 46); and "Where are your former lovingkindnesses" (vs. 49). Will God be faithful?
Yes: God promise would yet be fulfilled. ““But I will not break off My lovingkindness from him, Nor deal falsely in My faithfulness. “My covenant I will not violate, Nor will I alter the utterance of My lips. “Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. “His descendants shall endure forever And his throne as the sun before Me. “It shall be established forever like the moon, And the witness in the sky is faithful.” Selah.” (Psalm 89:33–37)
Through the genealogies of the OT we see that the family of David did continue. The line of the rightful heirs to the throne was perpetuated over hundreds of years. THEN, Jesus: the son of Abraham, the son of David (cp. Matt. 1:1). Though the people reject him, God sets Him upon the throne of David and makes Him to be king of kings and Lord of Lords. His kingdom is a kingdom of righteousness and holiness. This holy and righteous king rules over a holy and righteous people.
God has kept His covenant. “I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth. For I have said, “Lovingkindness will be built up forever; In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.”” (Psalm 89:1–2)
God has made a New Covenant with us. God will be faithful to His covenant, and He demands faithfulness on our part. “‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)
Are you faithful? Hugh DeLong
