David was the “sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1, ESV), the giant slayer, the man chosen by God to be king in Israel, “a man after (God’s) own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).
He was also a flawed man, a fallen and sinful man. David collected wives like a boy collects Matchbox cars. The more the better! As king in Hebron, he added six wives to his growing collection (2 Samuel 3:2-5) and later “David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him” (2 Samuel 5:13). Most notoriously, David had an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and then murdered her husband to add another Matchbox car to his collection. David was a rotten father with undisciplined kids. One son was a murderer. One was a rapist. Another was an insurrectionist. Obviously, David was far from perfect.
God recognized David’s shortcomings, yet in His great grace, God promised David a lasting kingdom. “When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom... I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son... My faithful love will never leave him ... Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:11–16). The Davidic Covenant was an unconditional covenant. God promised that the dynasty of David would never, ever cease.
God never welches on his deals. He is the ultimate Promise-Keeper!
Matthew’s first chapter begins with the “genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David” (Matthew 1:1) and traces the royal linage of David through two dozen generations to David’s great, great... great grandson, Jesus.
In the last verses of the last chapter of the last book in the Bible, Jesus spoke. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star... Yes, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:13–20). As Creator-God, Jesus is the “root” of David. As the Son of God and the Son of Man, Jesus is a descendant of David. Jesus is the God-Man, 100% divine and 100% human. The math doesn’t add up, but the Bible says it, and I believe it!
Jesus is “the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God” who is deserving of all “honor and glory forever and ever” (1 Timothy 1:17). Isaiah foresaw the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (His) dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever” (Isaiah 9:6–7).
Yes, God keeps His promises! Always! Forever! He fulfilled His covenantal promises to David, and He’ll keep His promises to you! Count on it! Take it to the bank! The Almighty, All-Knowing God can recognize your shortcomings, yet in His great grace, just as He forgave David, He will forgive you. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV).
That’s a lasting covenant.
All Scripture quotations, except as otherwise noted, are from
Holman Bible Publishers’ Christian Standard Bible.
