God's promise to David
Jesus - son of David
You may wonder, as many people do, about the future of our planet and perhaps be fearful of its possible destruction. If, however, you know the promise which God made to David you can look forward to future events with certainty and change your fear into hope. This hope is centred in Jesus Christ, so it is significant that the New Testament immediately directs our attention to his relationship to David by opening with the words,
“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David” Matthew 1:1
David was the king of Israel with his throne in Jerusalem, and it is plainly declared by God that Jesus will be a king on the same throne. Consider, for example, the words of the angel to his mother, prior to his birth:
“Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall he great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” Luke 1:30-33
Jesus promised before
This declaration reflects the promise that God made to David a 1000 years before.
“When thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son ... And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever” 2 Samuel 7:12-16
God's promise to David is central to his purpose with the earth and will be fulfilled in Jesus. This is clearly seen in the words of the angel to Mary, quoted above, and is proved conclusively by the apostle's application of the promise to Christ.
“For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and shall be to me a Son?” Hebrews 1:5
David will reign with Christ
David himself looked forward with the eye of faith to the coming of Christ, knowing that it would occur after his own death.
“when thy days be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom." 2 Samuel 7:12
but However, the promise also specified that David would be alive to see his descendant established on his throne.
“Thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee” 2 Samuel 7:16
From this information, David knew that he would be raised from the dead to see Christ sit on his throne. Furthermore, he knew that Christ himself would be raised from the dead, and even wrote in the Psalms of Jesus' death and resurrection, as the apostle Peter declared to the Jews after Christ had been crucified and then raised by God.
“For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (the grave), neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Men and brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses” Acts 2:25-27, 29-32
Paul is here quoting the words of God through David in Psalms 16 which speaks of Jesus not being left in the grave but being raised to sit at God's right hand in heaven. Not, however, to remain there for ever, but to return, as Paul also declared:
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” Acts 3:19-21
You too can reign with Christ
Jesus will certainly return from heaven to sit on David's throne in Jerusalem, for this is the clear and unmistakable purpose of God declared in the Bible. When that happens a multitude of men and women will be made immortal, most of them after being raised from the dead, to reign with Christ for ever. In the last book of the Bible Jesus exhorts his disciples to do what he commands that they may indeed reign with him then:
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Hold fast till I come. He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations” Revelation 5:9-10