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Gods Oath To David Repeated - 1Kings 2
Gods Oath To David Repeated - 1Kings 2
David makes mention of the promise that the LORD had made to him concerning the perpetuity of his dynasty (read that in 2 Sam. 7:16-18). It included that when David was dead, God would raise up a seed after him to sit upon his throne. While each king in succession would die, even as David did, God would provide that there was one to replace him and thus there would always be such a king. This overall promise to David is unconditional in that it was going to happen, and did.
Concerning each individual king in this line, their 'participation' in this promise was conditional. In 2Sam. 6:16, the condition was stated: "if only your sons take heed to their way, to walk in My law as you have walked before Me." As David goes over this with Solomon, he states that the LORD said: “If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel” (1Kings 2:4). This condition was stated thus in 1Chron. 28:9: “…If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” This condition then applies to each individual king in the line.
As we continue to read this history, we will see that these kings were NOT faithful. After many warnings, God raised up the Babylonians who destroyed the kingdom (and kingship) and the temple. Though the people returned from Babylon years later and rebuilt the temple, they lacked a faithful son of David as king. Some 600 years go by in this condition with no King on David’s throne..
Yet, as we turn to the New Testament, the people still looked unto God to raise up a descendant from David to be their king. God fulfilled this promise in Jesus. Jesus was from David (Matt. 1:1; etc.). His becoming King though held a surprise: he would die first and then be raised to sit upon the throne!
Peter in Acts 2:29-33, showed this in the first sermon after the resurrection. "29 “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. 32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.
Peter concludes from this:
- 33 “Therefore [JESUS] having been exalted to the right hand of God,
- and [JESUS] having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit [to sit on the throne of David],
- He has poured forth this which you both see and hear [the events on this Pentecost].
Peter then concludes the sermon with this demand: " 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36).
Those who believed, repented, and were baptized in the name of Jesus were saved and added together as God's people (Acts 2:47), translated into the kingdom of God's dear son (Col. 1:13), constituted a royal priesthood. Those who refuse must face the wrath of this King, Jesus.
Where do you stand in relationship to Jesus?
Hugh DeLong
