2 Samuel 7:8-17, The Davidic Covenant

It was not the first king (Saul) who was the model king but the second (David.)  The covenant God made with David was “unconditional” (like the Abrahamic Covenant, it’s all about what God will do; David’s role was to believe God.)  First, let’s note some details, and then we’ll seek to summarize the Davidic Covenant.

1.    The covenant was unconditional.

a.     David did not ask for this.

b.    The prelude to the covenant is that God has already blessed David, v8-11. God had been with David.

c.     God did not ask for this house to be built (v5-7).

d.    David acknowledged that it was grace, that he was not deserving, v18-22

e.     David recognized it was not only God’s goodness to him; it was God’s faithfulness to Israel, v23-24.

f.      David accepted it for God’s glory, v25-26

g.    David prayed for God to do it only on the basis that God had said He was going to do it. In other words, he trusted God’s faithfulness, v27-29.

h.    David calls himself servant 10 times (v19,20,21,25,26,27ab,28,29ab) after God called him servant 2 times (v5,8).

2.    Did God see something in David He didn’t see in Saul? Yes! No question. But what He saw was his heart. David sought God.

a.     David inquired of the LORD

b.    David brought up the Ark, indicating his desire to have a relationship with God, to live and rule in the presence of God.

c.     David desired to build a house for God.

None of this is “works” deserving of “grace.” It is faith!!!

There are two key themes to the covenant.  First, what are called “the sure mercies of David” (Isaiah 55:3; Acts 13:34).  In Acts Paul recognizes that this is related to the New Covenant.  God promises David will have a King on the throne forever.  This requires the Christ, the Messiah.  The second theme has to do with the promise of chastening for David’s sons if they commit iniquity.  He will chasten them, but He will not take His mercy from David.

David’s response to God’s word, promise and grace is perfect (7:18-29).  He does not speak of his own greatness.  Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.  David also acknowledges, And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name (v23a)!

David is right; God knows Him (v20). God knows David has a heart after His (1 Sam. 13:14) and God knows David is a warrior (1 Chr. 28:3).  And God has made the plan: His Son will sit on the throne of David (Ps. 2:6; Lk. 1:32).