Prior to the establishment
of the Davidic covenant, David desired to build a temple to honour the Lord.
‘That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of
cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.’ (2 Sam. 7:2) Even though
David was denied the privilege which was given to his son Solomon ‘He received
far, far more than he ever could have hoped to give, and any disappointment at
having to allow someone else the privilege of building the temple was far
outweighed by the assurance of blessing that extended into eternity.’ (Baldwin
p217)
The Davidic covenant is also unconditional and everlasting because David was
promised that his throne would be established forever. (2 Sam. 7:16) and that
his son, Solomon’s throne would be established forever too (2 Sam. 7:13; 1 Chron.
17:14). So David’s kingdom would be established forever (2 Sam. 7:16) and the
royal line would continue forever(2 Sam. 7:13; 1Chron17:12) with the promise
that ‘I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I
will chasten him with the rod of men: But my mercy shall not depart from him,
as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. (2 Sam. 7:14-15) Therefore
the throne, king and kingdom was assured but if Solomon transgressed the
statutes and commandments he would be disciplined for it.
In connection with the above, the theme of Psalm 89 is remembering the covenant
with David but also sorrow for the lost blessings. Concerning the Davidic
covenant, the Psalmist writes ‘My mercy will I keep for him forevermore and my
covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure
forever, and his throne as the days of heaven (28-29). The covenant cannot be
nullified but there is a penalty for disobedience. ‘If they break my statutes,
and keep not my commandments; Then I will visit their transgression with the
rod, and their iniquity with stripes.’(31-32)
The promise of the royal line through Judah from which the Messiah would emerge
was prophesied in (Gen. 49:10)’ The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a
lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the
gathering of the people be. The line was narrowed down through David according
to (Isaiah 11:1) ‘And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of its roots:’
It is noteworthy that Matthews Gospel commences ‘The book of the generation of
Jesus (Messiah), the Son Of David’ (Matt. 1:1) Also Paul begins his letter to
the Romans ‘concerning his son Jesus (Messiah) our lord which was made of the
seed of David according to the flesh.’(Romans1:3)
Furthermore Jewish thought anticipated that the Messiah would set up his
kingdom on earth. The mother of James and John requested ‘Grant that these my
two sons may sit, the one on the right hand, and the other on the left, in thy
kingdom.’(Matt. 20:21) Jesus didn’t rebuke false doctrine but he did rebuke the
inappropriateness and magnitude of what was being asked. Prominent cabinet positions
were being requested for the millennial kingdom which was expected immediately.
Supporting the above statement when Jesus made his triumphal entry into
Jerusalem on a colt many they ‘cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that
cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David,
that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.’ (Mark 11:9-10)
Barclay writes ‘ The oldest and the most popular idea of Messiah was that God
would send to his people, a king such as David had been, a king who would
deliver his people, a king who would restore the greatness of Israel, and lead
them to a glory such as they had never known before.’(p38)
Although the previous paragraph would point toward the latter view, it is now
necessary to determine the following. Is the promised kingdom of the Davidic
covenant being fulfilled spiritually now by Jesus who is at the right hand of
the Father in heaven, or is the Kingdom a future event involving a literal one
thousand year millennial reign on earth?
In their favour, the Amilliennialist may argue that it has almost been two
thousand years since the ascension of Jesus and perhaps a literal fulfilment
isn’t the correct interpretation in this instance. However a delay in
proceedings doesn’t alter the certainty of events of an unconditional covenant.
It is true though that Solomon anticipated an earthly kingdom when he built the
temple. ’Now therefore, O lord, God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my
father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a
man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take
heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.’
Another important question is whether there are any conditions or obligations
regarding the promises of the Davidic covenant? Scofield contends ‘And this
fourfold covenant has but one condition: disobedience in the Davidic family is
to visited with chastisement; but not to the abrogation of the covenant.’
Jeremiah also prophesied concerning the Messiah as a descendant and root of
David that would restore order and reign on the earth. ‘Behold the days come,
saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a king
shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice in the
earth.’(Jer. 23:5)
Today, ‘we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the
Son of God, (Heb. 4:14) He is certainly not reigning on earth with a rod of
iron and Satan has not been bound and we are not currently enjoying the peace
and prosperity of the millennial kingdom!
Dwight Pentecost adds ‘God later entered into an eternal, unconditional
covenant with David, establishing the Davidic dynasty as the sole rightful
occupant of His earthly throne. Through David a kingdom of peace and
righteousness would be established over the covenant people in the land that
God had previously promised to them.’(p156)
Amos prophesied of Israel’s fortunes being restored. ‘’In that day will I raise
up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof;
and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: (Amos
9:11)” It is not surprising that before His ascension, his disciples asked Him
the question ‘Lord wilt though at this time restore again the kingdom to
Israel?’ (Acts 1:6) Again, similar to the instance where the Mother of James
and John requested seats of honour for her sons Jesus responded. ‘It is not for
you to know the times or the seasons, which the father hath put in his own
power.’(Acts 1:8)
