Ep. 88. 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 16-17 | God's Covenant with David

EPISODE 88

GOD'S COVENANT WITH DAVID: 1 CHRONICLES 16-17, 2 SAMUEL 7

In today's video, we see that David sought to establish a place for the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem. He placed it in a tent and appointed priests to minister before it. Not at all according to the guidelines God had given to Moses, but at this point, it seems like all the rules have just been trampled underfoot. The Tent of Meeting and the altar of sacrifice, along with the table of showbread and the incense are still in Gibeon and will remain there until the temple is built by Solomon, David's son. So again I'm left to take a deep breath, I'm a rule follower after all, and I thank God for his grace.

David appoints the men of Levi to minister before the Lord. Several of the names are important for us as we understand the rest of David's reign and also into Solomon's reign. Asaph is the most prominent and is responsible for 12 of the Psalms. Heman is significant in that he is the grandson of the impeccable Samuel. David, "Left Asaph and his brothers [in Jerusalem] before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister before the ark as each day required." (The Law of Moses did not require daily ministry before the ark.) David "Left Zadok the priest and his brothers before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon to offer burnt offerings on the altar, to do all that is written in the Law of the Lord that he commanded Israel." (except not ALL that was written in the Law because the ark was in Jerusalem) I really am bothered by this, but what is a guy to do?

At this point, God made a covenant with David and promised to establish the throne of David "forever." God declares of the offspring of David, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever." Hebrews and Luke both reference this text and point it to Christ. There is, of course, an immediate fulfilment in Solomon, but only a partial fulfilment at best. God will take most of the kingdom away from Solomon and give it to the people of Ephraim. Eventually, David's line will be removed from the throne by the Babylonian captivity. When God speaks of David's descendant remaining on the throne "forever," he has to mean Jesus.

David responds to the covenant by going in before the ark to worship and pray, "There is none like you, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things." I'll say this about David: he loves the Lord. He went before the Lord often and wrote dozens of Psalms proclaiming the beauty and majesty of God. David is a wonderful worshipper of our shared God. Saul had no such affection for the things of God.

ADDITIONAL READING: Luke 1:32-33; Hebrews 1:5; Isaiah 9:7