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2 Samuel 7:12-16, When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.  He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.  But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”

The Kingdom of Israel was finally where it was supposed to be and God gives the nation peace.  King David has united the kingdom, he has settled in Jerusalem and make that the national capital, the ark of the covenant had been transported there as well, the borders of Israel have been greatly expanded.  For the first time in a long time, this is a good time for King David and a good time for the people of Israel. 

David decides that he wants to do something for God.  He has this idea to build a temple, a place of dignity for the ark.  But God brings a word to the prophet Nathan that he doesn’t want a house of cedar.  This isn’t about what David can do for God but what God will do for David.

Then, God covenants with David.  God says he will establish a house for David – this is another way of saying dynasty.  Basically, a descendent of David will be on the throne forever.

But how can in the world could the throne be established forever?  How could a descendent of David will be on the throne forever?  Most of us know that later on, after the death of Solomon, the Kingdom divides and then the kings and the people become so evil that God lifts his hand of protection.  He allows the people to be conquered by foreign nations.  Once the southern kingdom of Judah is destroyed and the temple is destroyed in 586-7 BC by the Babylonians, the Jewish people are carried off to the land of Babylon in exile.  The people of Israel, from that point on, are subject to other nations.  Interestingly, it’s then that the commitment of God in this covenant becomes more clear.          

You see, the covenant was pointing to a future figure, a Messiah, who would come and sit on the throne of his ancestor David forever.  The covenant is pointing to Jesus. 

One of the most interesting things to me is that despite all the dark days that the Hebrew people went through after the Kingdom was divided and then after the fall of the Kingdom, think about their days in exile, living in poverty, separated from God and one another.  This went on for years and years.  But they held on to this promise to David. 

And God was good in that he sent prophets to remind them of this promise…

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7, The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.  For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Despite their disobedience, their stubbornness, and their desperate circumstances at times, the Israelites believed in the faithfulness of God.  For all their faults, and they had many, probably their primary strength was never losing sight of God’s faithfulness, that God is a God who keeps his promises.  He did send someone who would reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness forever and forever.  His name was Jesus Christ, the one who ensured that all people could be invited into God’s covenant community.

Let’s pray…Lord, Thank you for being a God who keeps his promises.  We are grateful for your faithfulness, for your love, and for your grace.  Help us be a better reflection of you in all we do.  More of you and less of me, Jesus. In your name, Amen.