Tag: Covenant

2 Samuel 7

David is amazed at what God has promised, not based on whom David is or what David does, but on whom God is and what God will do. This is the essence of the unconditional New Covenant God makes to us through His Son Jesus. It is and has and will always be about Him, not us.

2 Samuel 7 (cf. 1 Chronicles 17)

God makes a promise to David that is unconditional [listen to this message on Romans 3.1-8 preached at Evangelical Formosan Church of Cerritos on October 17, 2010 by Pastor David]. David responds to God with a prayer of praise. This is how it is. God promises us great things in Christ, and we need to respond with gratitude. How much gratitude have you shown God today?

God gave David peace )rest( from his enemies. The evidence of this is seen in the promises God makes with David in this chapter. Verse two reminds us of Hiram who provided David with the cedars of Lebanon (2 Samuel 5.11). This is the chapter that introduces the prophet Nathan. He plays a key role throughout the rest of the story of David (2 Samuel 12.1, I Kings 1.10, 22, 34, 2 Chronicles 9.29).

This is also the chapter that is central to the doctrine of Christ’s coming (12-13, 21). Christ is the seed that will come from David upon whom God will establish the eternal kingdom. Peter made sure the people of Jerusalem understood this in his first sermon (Acts 2.25-36). Paul mentions this covenant in Romans 1.1-3. Jesus even refers to it in Revelation 22.16. Both passages mention that Jesus is the fulfillment of the covenantal promise. The prophet Jeremiah, as an Old Testament example, awaited the day when the Messiah would come as fulfillment of this covenant (Jeremiah 23.5). Gabriel was sent with the same message in Luke 1.32-33 stating that the One who was to be born of Mary would be the One to sit on the throne of David. It is this covenant that ties the Abrahamic Covenant to the New Covenant made by Jesus (John 13-17).

According to this passage (10-16), the Davidic covenant is:

  1. a house—a continued posterity of the royal line
  2. a kingdom—a realm of political power, a literal earthly kingdom that can be interrupted (Hosea 3.4-5).  Psalm 89 informs us that although individual members of the house of David may fail the conditions of the covenant because of their disobedience, the covenant itself remains unconditional (3-4, 19–24, 27–37; see our study on Psalm 89).
  3. a throne—the rulership of that kingdom centered in David’s posterity, his offspring will have the only right to the throne in Israel

To conclude the matter of the covenant for the moment, ultimately God’s promise to Israel through the Davidic covenant will become evident in the Messiah, who is David’s seed (Jeremiah 33.19-26, Ezekiel 34.22-31, 36.16-38). Each of the covenants presented in Scripture, the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New covenants, will find their fulfillment (Ezekiel 37.21-28) in Christ, through whom the provisions of these three covenants come together (cf. Matthew 26.28-29, 31-33, 54-55, Luke 1.68-78, Acts 2.29-36, 3.25-26, 15.16-17, Galatians 3.13-16, 26-29, Hebrews 9.16-28, and Revelation 11.15).

The final thought in this chapter is David’s response to all this. He is amazed at what Nathan told him. He then enters the tent of worship, where the newly placed Ark is found, and he worships the Lord for a lengthy amount of time (7:18–29). During his prayer, he calls on the “Sovereign Lord” seven times. This title stresses God’s control over the nations and over this unconditional covenant God has made with David and the nation Israel. David is amazed at what God has promised, not based on whom David is or what David does, but on whom God is and what God will do. This is the essence of the unconditional New Covenant God makes to us through His Son Jesus. It is and has and will always be about Him, not us.

1 Chronicles 16.7-43

Special occasions like this will come and go in our lives. We may remember what we did, what God had done, how we praised Him, and how others were drawn to Him during this occasion. But, it is better to write down a word of praise to God for what He has done. When God works in your life, write down what He did, how you felt, how others responded, and whatever else you experienced for the moment. That day will disappear, but your written words will last throughout your life and beyond. This can be your tool to bring others to Christ even after you are gone (23).

1 Chronicles 16.7-43 (Cf. Psalm 96.1-13, Psalm 105.1-15, and Psalm 106.1, 47-48 [see our study of Psalm 96, Psalm 105, Psalm 106])

This chapter is a song of David that has found its way into at least three psalms, as can be seen from the above.

  •  2 Chronicles 16.7-22 is found in Psalm 105.1-15, which is a psalm of thanks for God’s faithfulness to His covenant people. The covenant was central to the faith of the Israelite and, now, to the Christian [research].
  • 2 Chronicles 16.23-33 is found in Psalm 96.1-13, which is a call to the people of the earth to come and worship before God.
  • 2 Chronicles 16.34-36 is found in Psalm 106.1, 47-48, which is a psalm of praise for forgiveness of sin.

 Verses seven and thirty-seven present Asaph, the writer of and musician for many psalms, as the chief musician under David.

God, through David’s (and Ezra) pen, reminds us that God is above all other gods. When those around you proclaim that Christianity is too narrowminded and that there is more than one way to God, show them 1 Chronicles 16.23-30. It is here that God proclaims He is above all other gods, that He alone is worthy of worship, and that all other gods are useless. If this seems intolerant to them, remind them it is the truth. Much like gravity is intolerant of those who want to float, yet it is the truth.

The passage reminds us that God is intending to offer salvation to all mankind, not merely the Israelites (31-32).

Included in the conclusion of the poetic portion of this chapter are three verses representing our prayers: we should thank God (34), ask God for His will to be done (35), and praise Him for whom He is (36).

The conclusion of the passage, verses 37-43, presents a slight problem in that there are two places of worship, Gibeon and Jerusalem. However, this will not always be the case. When the worship is established in Jerusalem, all worship is moved there (by worship I mean the corporate celebrations of God in a public place [research “worship”]).

Verse 41 is interesting in that it reminds us of God’s steadfast love for us in the middle of a narrative. There were specific people who were designated to remind others of this throughout the day. Isn’t this our call as well?

The last verse, 43, is the tie-in to chapter 17. All people went home, but the Lord had no home.

Special occasions like this will come and go in our lives. We may remember what we did, what God had done, how we praised Him, and how others were drawn to Him during this occasion. But, it is better to write down a word of praise to God for what He has done. When God works in your life, write down what He did, how you felt, how others responded, and whatever else you experienced for the moment. That day will disappear, but your written words will last throughout your life and beyond. This can be your tool to bring others to Christ even after you are gone (23).

One last application, do you regularly attend corporate worship? Are you involved with the corporate worship at your church? Are you using your gifts for God’s purpose, glory, and honor (Ephesians 4.11-16)?