My best friend throughout Jr. High, High School and College was Jeff Moorehead. We did almost everything together during those days including a lot of basketball. His son, Bobby, now plays and starts for the Montana Grizzlies. In dramatic fashion, Montana won the Big Sky Conference and they are going to the big dance; March Madness, the NCAA Tournament. Every year there is a Cinderella  story so maybe this year it will be Montana. They play tonight in the first round against Michigan. This is a pic of Bobby, #24.

2 Samuel 7

What is the Davidic Covenant all about? Why should we care about it? First, God speaks of His blessings upon David and his heirs. He then moves on to words of promise for the nation of Israel, even into eternity. “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; I will make you a great name…'”. The first part of the Covenant is very personal to David. Similar to the life of the apostle Paul, at certain times in history when God is doing something significant, he chooses a man (like Paul & David) or woman (like Ruth & Esther) to participate in some pretty momentous accomplishments. He gifts them, He blesses them and He empowers them. For Paul and David, He does one other thing to ensure their usefulness; He humbles them.

Keeping it real

God gave Paul trials, pain and suffering throughout his life, including the thorn in the flesh, to keep him from exalting himself. God humbled David with years of hiding in the wilderness, fleeing from Saul and avoiding several near misses of death. David will continue to be humbled going forward through both the hand of God as well as the consequences of horrendous decisions he himself will make. Nevertheless, David is God’s man and He is not because of His perfect lifestyle but because of his humble and contrite heart. This is important. His distinguishing quality that God considers most critical is not David’s courage, charisma and confidence. It is his humble and contrite heart. There’s much we can learn here.

Forever is a long time

Back to the Covenant. Next, God promises a descendent after David (Solomon) who will build a physical temple to honor God and strengthen the kingdom of Israel. “I will raise up your descendant after you (Solomon), who will come forth from you and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever,” V12, 13. The word “forever” introduces the extent of God’s blessings upon David’s descendants and introduces the eternal King and reign of the Messiah. “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”

Through the Messiah of Israel, we are saved!

So the essence of the Davidic Covenant is blessings upon David, upon his son Solomon and blessings upon Israel through the Messiah forever and ever. Some believe that once Jesus ascended from earth after His resurrection that the blessings of Israel were over and the blessings of the Covenant were transferred to the church. I simply don’t believe there is biblical substance to that view. Now part of the blessings of Israel is that they were the agents, per se, of salvation to the nations, the church. But to say that the church replaces Israel just doesn’t match up with sound biblical theology. I say that because I believe that Israel is still uniquely special to God and they will, as a nation, turn back to Him and be used by Him for His purposes (as I wrote about in our study of Revelation). So, the Davidic Covenant is an eternal Covenant and we the church, as Christians, enjoy the overflow of these blessings. Why is the Davidic covenant important to us today? Through the promised Messiah of Israel, we are saved! The eternal blessings and promises in the Davidic Covenant extend to those of us who cling to Jesus as our Savior, Messiah and King. Breathe a prayer of gratitude today for the Davidic covenant. Amen.