The Davidic covenant

[Jedothek]

Many biblical covenants may be analyzed in terms of (1) what God undertakes and (2) what humanity or Israel is obligated in return to do. In the covenant with David, what are David or his line obligated to do? ( chapter and verse, please)

 

[Hidden In Him]

Many biblical covenants may be analyzed in terms of (1) what God undertakes and (2) what humanity or Israel is obligated in return to do. In the covenant with David, what are David or his line obligated to do? ( chapter and verse, please)

Why are you wishing to discuss Biblical covenants when you are not a Christian?

 

[for_his_glory]

Just like any covenant God has made with man we are obligated to follow and obey God's commands as we stay pleasing to Him. Do we follow in perfection, no, as we do mess up at times unwillingly, but God's grace will pardon us when we sincerely repent of our ways and His mercy loves us and not only forgives us, but remembers that repented sin no more.

 

[Jedothek]

Why are you wishing to discuss Biblical covenants when you are not a Christian?

Because (1) I am interested in religion in general and the Bible in particular; and (2) I teach a course in World religions and I want to give my students accurate information. Are you trying to keep the contents of scripture secret from outsiders? Is that an effective way to spread the faith?

 

[Hidden In Him]

Are you trying to keep the contents of scripture secret from outsiders? Is that an effective way to spread the faith?

No. But as is unfortunately often the case, those who profess to be simply asking "questions" about Christianity are in reality denigrating it, and entertaining them isn't a wise thing to do either.

About your question, define the Davidic Covenant as you understand it using scripture.

 

[Jedothek]

Actually in effect my question was whether the Davidic Covenant can be defined using scripture. To provide a text, I took another look at 2 Sam 7, 1 Chron 17 and 2 Chron 6, and I think I may have found the answer. We have at 2 Chron 6:16, “‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow my Law as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel”; so, it seems that David’s line is obligated to follow the law (God’s side of the covenant being to always keep a descendant of David on the throne). One could also quote other verses in the chapters I specified to make a case that under this covenant David’s line is obligated to build the temple. How do other folks here understand it?

 

[Jedothek]

No. But as is unfortunately often the case, those who profess to be simply asking "questions" about Christianity are in reality denigrating it, and entertaining them isn't a wise thing to do either.

About your question, define the Davidic Covenant as you understand it using scripture.

...also, I want to acknowledge that what I said is essentially what for_his_glory said; in addition, I was glad to find the statement at 2 Chron 6:16.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Actually in effect my question was whether the Davidic Covenant can be defined using scripture. To provide a text, I took another look at 2 Sam 7, 1 Chron 17 and 2 Chron 6, and I think I may have found the answer. We have at 2 Chron 6:16, “‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow my Law as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel”; so, it seems that David’s line is obligated to follow the law (God’s side of the covenant being to always keep a descendant of David on the throne). One could also quote other verses in the chapters I specified to make a case that under this covenant David’s line is obligated to build the temple. How do other folks here understand it?

The part about David's line being obligated to build the temple under the covenant would be new to me, but I found the following to be well written. I will include the two paragraphs more specifically related to the promises, but you might like reading the rest as well:

God promises, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son" (2 Sam. 7:14a). God warns that he will discipline David's offspring if he commits iniquity, but God also promises that his steadfast love will not depart from David as it was taken from Saul (2 Sam. 7:14b–15). Finally, God promises David, "And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever" (2 Sam. 7:16). David's prayer of gratitude is found in 2 Samuel 7:18–29. In this prayer, he refers to God's promise as "instruction for mankind," indicating that this covenant will involve the destiny of all mankind (2 Sam. 7:19).9

Although the Hebrew term for "covenant" (berit) is not found in this chapter, Scripture elsewhere does refer to this promise as a covenant (cf. 2 Sam. 23:5; Ps. 89:3). The Davidic covenant had been anticipated in God's covenant with Abraham (cf. Gen. 17:6). It would be through the Davidic king that God's promise of blessing to the nations would be accomplished (cf. 2 Sam. 7:19; Ps. 72:8–11, 17). The Davidic covenant had also been anticipated in the Mosaic covenant (cf. Deut. 17:14–20). The Davidic king would be the expression of God's theocratic rule in Israel. He was to reflect the righteous rule of the divine King. He was also to lead Israel in the faithful observance of the Mosaic law. The Abrahamic covenant had promised a realm and a people for God's kingdom. The Mosaic covenant provided the law of the kingdom. The Davidic covenant now provides a human king for the kingdom. God's creational purpose to establish his kingdom with his image-bearer exercising dominion now reaches a new stage in its progressive accomplishment.

The Davidic Covenant

The story of David's rise to the throne of Israel is found in 1 Samuel 16–2 Samuel 4. In 1 Samuel 16, David is shown to be God's chosen one and is anointed king

www.ligonier.org

 

[Jedothek]

The part about David's line being obligated to build the temple under the covenant would be new to me, but I found the following to be well written. I will include the two paragraphs more specifically related to the promises, but you might like reading the rest as well:

God promises, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son" (2 Sam. 7:14a). God warns that he will discipline David's offspring if he commits iniquity, but God also promises that his steadfast love will not depart from David as it was taken from Saul (2 Sam. 7:14b–15). Finally, God promises David, "And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever" (2 Sam. 7:16). David's prayer of gratitude is found in 2 Samuel 7:18–29. In this prayer, he refers to God's promise as "instruction for mankind," indicating that this covenant will involve the destiny of all mankind (2 Sam. 7:19).9

Although the Hebrew term for "covenant" (berit) is not found in this chapter, Scripture elsewhere does refer to this promise as a covenant (cf. 2 Sam. 23:5; Ps. 89:3). The Davidic covenant had been anticipated in God's covenant with Abraham (cf. Gen. 17:6). It would be through the Davidic king that God's promise of blessing to the nations would be accomplished (cf. 2 Sam. 7:19; Ps. 72:8–11, 17). The Davidic covenant had also been anticipated in the Mosaic covenant (cf. Deut. 17:14–20). The Davidic king would be the expression of God's theocratic rule in Israel. He was to reflect the righteous rule of the divine King. He was also to lead Israel in the faithful observance of the Mosaic law. The Abrahamic covenant had promised a realm and a people for God's kingdom. The Mosaic covenant provided the law of the kingdom. The Davidic covenant now provides a human king for the kingdom. God's creational purpose to establish his kingdom with his image-bearer exercising dominion now reaches a new stage in its progressive accomplishment.

The Davidic Covenant

The story of David's rise to the throne of Israel is found in 1 Samuel 16–2 Samuel 4. In 1 Samuel 16, David is shown to be God's chosen one and is anointed king

www.ligonier.org

Thank you for your useful and courteous reply.