2 Samuel 6, 7 God's Promise to King David

Image via Wikipedia

Throughout Biblical history, God made very specific promises to only a few people:  most notably Abraham, Moses, and David.  In Genesis 17:7 God said to Abraham, “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.  The whole land of Canaan, where you are now as an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and to your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

Abraham neither asked nor bargained with God.  Rather, God simply announced this to him.  Over the course of Abraham’s life, God fine-tuned this covenant by specifying that Isaac, and his descendants, were heirs to this promise.  In essence, God made a promise that would span eternity.   No matter what the circumstances appear to be, in God’s eyes, the land of Canaan belongs to Abraham’s descendants through Isaac and for all eternity, God remains the God of Israel. God appointed Himself to be the God of Israel, for all eternity.

God spoke to Moses to reconfirm His covenant with Abraham by virtue of appearing to Moses after Israel had been enslaved by Egypt for 400 years, which was predicted to Abraham in  Genesis 15: 12 -19.  God was not deaf to Israel’s suffering.  Rather, it was ordained that a certain period of time had to transpire first.  Through Moses, God gave Israel laws that created a lawful society that attempted to live in a manner that testified of their faith in the One True God, Yaweh, I AM THAT I AM.

When God spoke to David through Nathan, the prophet, He promised that through David’s line, a king will arise whose kingdom will be established forever.  2 Samuel 7:16: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.”

And David, ever humble before God, prayed in response to Nathan’s revelation, “You have established your people Israel as your very own forever and you, O Lord, have become their God.”  2 Samuel 7:24.

By telling David that his throne and kingdom will be established forever, God is reiterating that Israel will always be a distinct people on the land God had given them; since there is a people, there is a leadership which will last forever.  “You house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7: 16.

To David, God confirmed the distinct nation of Israel, the land of Israel, the eternal throne over Israel, and His eternal relationship with the people of Israel. When David prayed, he repeated God’s Word back to Him and prayed that God’s Will be done.

The Messiah was prophesied to come out of the house of David. And through the Messiah, the throne of David is indeed eternal and established forever. As King David prayed, “O Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your words are trustworthy.” 2 Samuel 7:28.