#160 | In the Footsteps of David: Messianic Connections between David and Jesus Part 2

In this episode, we explore the profound moment in 2 Samuel 7:1-17 where David expresses his desire to build a house for God, and instead, God responds by establishing a covenant with David that would shape the trajectory of Israel's history. This covenant, often called the Davidic Covenant, is monumental, as it's the first major covenant since the Mosaic Covenant at Sinai, but now with a specific focus on David and his royal lineage.

We talk about how the Davidic Covenant is strategically placed in 2 Samuel right after the ark of the covenant is brought to Jerusalem, a powerful sign that God's presence and kingship are the foundation of Israel's existence. This positioning underscores that Israel’s identity as God’s people is rooted in the rule and reign of God, which the Davidic king is meant to represent. God's promises to David essentially narrows and focuses his Fathering relationship with Israel to a single person - the reigning descendants of David. Where Israel had been regarded as God’s firstborn son on a national level, now the King of Israel becomes the representative of that sonship in a more intense and focused way. In this way, the king's relationship with God becomes a microcosm of God's relationship with Israel as a whole.

God promises that David's descendants will remain on the throne of Israel forever, but He also commits to disciplining David's heirs when they stray from His ways. This Davidic covenant sets expectations for David's reigning descendants that foster a sense of hope and anticipation that one day, a king would come who would fully embody the Father-son relationship that God desires to have, not with the king, but with all of Israel, and by extension all the nations.

However, as history unfolds, the reality of Israel’s experience often fails to meet these royal expectations, and the desire for king who remains faithful to God is left unfulfilled. This tension between God's promises and Israel's reality creates the conflict that drives the story forward. Each successive king in David's line is expected to fulfill those expectations, but fails to do, pushing that expectation forward to the next king.

Finally, the narrative of the Bible arrives at the New Testament, where the angel’s announcement to Mary in Luke 1:30-33 makes it clear that Jesus is the one destined to take up the throne of His father David and fulfill those expectations for a king that will embody the fullness of the Father-son relationship that God has always desired to have with the king of Israel, the nation of Israel, and human beings in general.

Through this Davidic covenant, and in the unfolding story of Jesus, we see how God continues to advance His long-term project of developing human nature into full maturity, not only in Israel but also among the nations.

Key Passages:

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Luke 1:30-33

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