Introduction
God revealed in the Bible a number of important promises or covenants:
- Adam and Eve in Eden - Genesis 3:15
- Noah - Genesis 9:9-16
- Abraham - Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 13:14-17; Genesis 22:16-18; Gal. 3:16, 26-29
- David - 2 Samuel 7:12-16
God tells us about the special character of David when discussing His choice of a human king for Israel: “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
The Bible tells us further about God's opinion of David as "a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22).
What is Contained in the Promise to David?
The promise in 2 Samuel 7 speak of a coming descendant of David:
Verse 12 A seed who will be King in the future
Verse 13 He shall build an house for God's name - the throne of his kingdom will last for ever.
Verse 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son
Verse 15 God's mercy will not leave him
Verse 16 David's "house" and kingdom and throne will be established for ever.
Matthew 1:1 tells us that Jesus Christ was the son of David and the son of Abraham. Jesus was described by God as "my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5; Luke 9:35; 2 Peter 1:17).
But didn't Jesus die like all men die? Yes he did (John 19:30) but he was raised back to life by God due to his pure and sinless life (Psalm 16:8-11; 1 Peter 2:22; John 20:17; Acts 2:24-31; 13:35-37) and then ascended into heaven to sit next to God (Acts 1:11).
God’s promises to David will be completely fulfilled when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to restore God’s kingdom and reign from David’s throne in Jerusalem as promised (Acts 1:11).
So What?
God reveals through the Apostle Paul how anyone can join into the "seed" of David and Abraham:
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:27-29).
Romans 6 talks about the importance of baptism and the way we should behave afterwards. Verse 4 points to us following Christ's footsteps and "walk in newness of life". This newness of life is one that follows the ways and character of God and Jesus to the best of our ability being guided by the Bible.