The Davidic Covenant

[Malachi]

“When they [the apostles] therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” (Acts 1:6,7). Just before the Lord Jesus ascended back to Heaven, His apostles asked Him this pertinent question as Jews standing before the resurrected King-Messiah of Israel. Jesus deflected the question and focused on the Great Commission (Acts 1:8) which would begin within ten days, when the Holy Spirit would be “poured out upon all flesh” (Acts 1:17).

Therefore Christians have generally paid little or no attention to this question of the apostles. Christians are generally Gentiles, but those believers who study the Scriptures diligently from Genesis to Revelation know that what the apostles had in mind was the Davidic Covenant. Christians are generally familiar with the Abrahamic Covenant, but rarely discuss the Davidic Covenant and its implications for the future of Israel. But a careful reading of Psalm 89 reveals that God made a covenant with David which He has bound Himself to fulfil (Ps 89:3,4, 34-37): "I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah."

This goes all the way back to 2 Sam 7:10-13, where God revealed this to David through Nathan the prophet (see 1 Chron 17:4-15): "Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. And 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."

What God promised David and what is yet to be fulfilled by Christ is the following:
1. The nation of Israel to be “planted” in the land of Israel for eternity.
2. David’s “seed” (descendant) to be established for ever.
3. David’s throne to be established for ever.
4. David’s kingdom to be established for ever.

It is difficult for Christians to grasp this or to believe it because of the existence of the Church and all God’s promises to believers. But we seem to forget that Christ is called “the root of Jesse” and “the son of David” in Scripture, and we find that the genealogy of Jesus of Nazareth can be traced back to David through Mary and Joseph, and Nathan and Solomon (David’s sons). After Solomon built the Temple, God told him that the Davidic Covenant as regards Solomon and his descendants would be conditional upon their obedience (2 Chron 7:12-22). But that did not change His covenant. It could only be fulfilled in Christ (study Psalm 89).

God already knew that the kingdom of Judah would become idolatrous and go into Babylonian captivity and that eventually the Lord Jesus Christ (Shiloh, the Lion of the tribe of Judah) would fulfill the Davidic Covenant. Therefore we read in Isaiah 9:6,7 regarding the Child who would be born in Bethlehem and who is God: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

Christians are very familiar with this passage but generally give little or no thought to what is said about the throne of David and his kingdom for eternity. But God always keeps His promises, and calls His covenants “immutable” (unchanging).

 

[reba]

The Jewish leaders 2000 years ago were looking for a king to come A king that looked like a king to them.... He came, people to are still rejecting His kingship. Still resisting His Kingdom still looking for one with the glitz that fits or minds.

His kingdom was established from the beginning and put into place when He was born. As the scriptures say there shall be no end...

 

[Malachi]

His kingdom was established from the beginning and put into place when He was born. As the scriptures say there shall be no end...

Would you agree that the throne God and the throne of the Lamb of God in Heaven cannot be "the throne of David" without doing violence to Scripture? David's throne was on earth, therefore it will be established on earth. David will be regent on earth under Christ (Ezek 34:23,24; 37:24,25). "MY SERVANT DAVID SHALL BE THEIR PRINCE FOR EVER".

And not only that but that Davidic Covenant includes "a place of their own" for "my people Israel" which is all the land between the Nile and the Euphrates according to the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 15:18-21). God's covenants do not change.

 

[reba]

We are not going to agree ...worshiping King David doesnt seem right to me... you have your views and i have mine..

 

[Malachi]

We are not going to agree ...worshiping King David doesnt seem right to me... you have your views and i have mine..

Could you please explain to anyone who might be checking this thread as to how the Davidic Covenant could possibly lead to worshiping King David? Especially when Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords?

Scripture says that all Christians should be "like-minded". Therefore it is up to all to study these prophecies and see exactly what God has said, and agree with God.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Could you please explain to anyone who might be checking this thread as to how the Davidic Covenant could possibly lead to worshiping King David? Especially when Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords?

Scripture says that all Christians should be "like-minded". Therefore it is up to all to study these prophecies and see exactly what God has said, and agree with God.

The Bible doesn't say this.

 

[Malachi]

The Bible doesn't say this.

Please explain. What exactly does the Bible not say?

 

[Sinthesis]

Today Jesus' Kingdom is the complete fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant. As a spiritual kingdom, it is superior to any physical kingdom. Christians who are fixated on some type of physical kingdom are making the exact same mistake as those Jews who rejected their King. The disciples were asking their question out of ignorance as they had not yet received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

 

[reba]

 

[Deborah13]

Malachi
I believe from your post that we could agree that the Davidic Covenant can be defined as a Covenant of Promise. My definition of a Covenant of Promise is one that has no requirements attached to it, no 'if' 'then' statements. God makes a promise that He will completely fulfill, is everlasting,, and unchangeable. Abrahamic Convenant also is a covenant of promise, as you said.

How do you see the 'new heaven and new earth'? Do you believe that is literal?
If you do how do you explain the Davidic covenant be both everlasting and literal on this earth?

I'm asking because I don't have all this firmly in my own mind. I just keep searching and asking.

 

[Malachi]

Malachi
I believe from your post that we could agree that the Davidic Covenant can be defined as a Covenant of Promise. My definition of a Covenant of Promise is one that has no requirements attached to it, no 'if' 'then' statements. God makes a promise that He will completely fulfill, is everlasting,, and unchangeable. Abrahamic Convenant also is a covenant of promise, as you said.

You are absolutely right. Both covenants are Covenants of Promise. And it is not Christians who are "fixated" on these covenants. It is God who will keep His promises therefore we are to take note and praise Him for His faithfulness.

How do you see the 'new heaven and new earth'? Do you believe that is literal?

Absolutely. See 2 Pet 3:10-13; Rev 21:1.

If you do how do you explain the Davidic covenant be both everlasting and literal on this earth?

This is a very tough question. We know there will be a Millenium after the second coming of Christ. We also know that this earth and atmospheric/stratospheric heaven will be replaced/renewed. But God has not given us any indication as to how redeemed and restored Israel will be preserved during that "burning up" of the earth. We could speculate, but that is never wise.

We do know it is an eternal kingdom so God will somehow protect this kingdom supernaturally. Since God took paradise out of this earth and placed it in the New Jerusalem (Lk 23:43; 2 Cor 12:4; Rev 2:7, 22:2), God might assign another planet to Israel temporarily and bring them back after renewing this earth (which will then be populated with redeemed nations and Israel as the center of worship).

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Please explain. What exactly does the Bible not say?

Thank you for recognizing my statement.
You say it is up to us all to study these prophecies and to see exactly what God has said, and to agree with God.
You say this is how Scripture is telling us to be "like-minded".

This is your interpretation as to how we are to be "like-minded" and to how we are to do that.
I say that Scripture doesn't say any of this.

I believe that if you ask Christians to define what the Bible means for us to be "like-minded", that you will get a variety of answers, all or some of which may be correct.

As far as studying prophecies, it is not an essential, nor do people agree on interpretation anyway.
Studying and interpreting prophecy takes a certain amount of intelligence, beyond what is necessary for salvation.

So I don't believe you can support your statement with Scripture, it is conjecture, and should be stated as so.

 

[Deborah13]

You are absolutely right. Both covenants are Covenants of Promise. And it is not Christians who are "fixated" on these covenants. It is God who will keep His promises therefore we are to take note and praise Him for His faithfulness.


Absolutely. See 2 Pet 3:10-13; Rev 21:1.


This is a very tough question. We know there will be a Millenium after the second coming of Christ. We also know that this earth and atmospheric/stratospheric heaven will be replaced/renewed. But God has not given us any indication as to how redeemed and restored Israel will be preserved during that "burning up" of the earth. We could speculate, but that is never wise.

We do know it is an eternal kingdom so God will somehow protect this kingdom supernaturally. Since God took paradise out of this earth and placed it in the New Jerusalem (Lk 23:43; 2 Cor 12:4; Rev 2:7, 22:2), God might assign another planet to Israel temporarily and bring them back after renewing this earth (which will then be populated with redeemed nations and Israel as the center of worship).

I do appreciate your honesty, that is worth more than gold. :nod
So today I posted a scripture in another thread and I noticed something I had never seen before.
As you know Paul is speaking to gentiles when he says,
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Assuming that the translators got this scripture right, he says that the gentiles are no longer aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and from the covenants of promise. Not covenant singular but covenants plural.
What is your definition of the commonwealth of Israel?

 

[eddif]

I do appreciate your honesty, that is worth more than gold. :nod
So today I posted a scripture in another thread and I noticed something I had never seen before.
As you know Paul is speaking to gentiles when he says,
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Assuming that the translators got this scripture right, he says that the gentiles are no longer aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and from the covenants of promise. Not covenant singular but covenants plural.
What is your definition of the commonwealth of Israel?

And then the warning not to get elevated in our thinking. And the information on the ease of Jewish re-grafting.

I kind of stumbled into the post. I have not been tracking this thread.

eddif

 

[tim-from-pa]

“When they [the apostles] therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” (Acts 1:6,7). Just before the Lord Jesus ascended back to Heaven, His apostles asked Him this pertinent question as Jews standing before the resurrected King-Messiah of Israel. Jesus deflected the question and focused on the Great Commission (Acts 1:8) which would begin within ten days, when the Holy Spirit would be “poured out upon all flesh” (Acts 1:17).

Therefore Christians have generally paid little or no attention to this question of the apostles. Christians are generally Gentiles, but those believers who study the Scriptures diligently from Genesis to Revelation know that what the apostles had in mind was the Davidic Covenant. Christians are generally familiar with the Abrahamic Covenant, but rarely discuss the Davidic Covenant and its implications for the future of Israel. But a careful reading of Psalm 89 reveals that God made a covenant with David which He has bound Himself to fulfil (Ps 89:3,4, 34-37): "I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah."

This goes all the way back to 2 Sam 7:10-13, where God revealed this to David through Nathan the prophet (see 1 Chron 17:4-15): "Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. And 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."

What God promised David and what is yet to be fulfilled by Christ is the following:
1. The nation of Israel to be “planted” in the land of Israel for eternity.
2. David’s “seed” (descendant) to be established for ever.
3. David’s throne to be established for ever.
4. David’s kingdom to be established for ever.

It is difficult for Christians to grasp this or to believe it because of the existence of the Church and all God’s promises to believers. But we seem to forget that Christ is called “the root of Jesse” and “the son of David” in Scripture, and we find that the genealogy of Jesus of Nazareth can be traced back to David through Mary and Joseph, and Nathan and Solomon (David’s sons). After Solomon built the Temple, God told him that the Davidic Covenant as regards Solomon and his descendants would be conditional upon their obedience (2 Chron 7:12-22). But that did not change His covenant. It could only be fulfilled in Christ (study Psalm 89).

God already knew that the kingdom of Judah would become idolatrous and go into Babylonian captivity and that eventually the Lord Jesus Christ (Shiloh, the Lion of the tribe of Judah) would fulfill the Davidic Covenant. Therefore we read in Isaiah 9:6,7 regarding the Child who would be born in Bethlehem and who is God: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

Christians are very familiar with this passage but generally give little or no thought to what is said about the throne of David and his kingdom for eternity. But God always keeps His promises, and calls His covenants “immutable” (unchanging).

I'll cut to the chase and say that I believe the throne is here now on this earth presently occupied until Christ comes to claim it. I once had an elaborate web site that dealt with the Davidic Covenant (and other covenants) as well as genealogical charts. Check my profile page I still think I have listed there a web site similar to mine with J. H. Allen's book on it.

I agree this does not make much sense to Christians considering the Gentile background. But they have to stop watching too much smiling Joel Osteen and similar baby talk and start diggin' into the Word more to learn what it's all about. Sorry, it's not all about being forgiven, dying and going to heaven. There's more. Much, much more.

 

[Deborah13]

And then the warning not to get elevated in our thinking. And the information on the ease of Jewish re-grafting.

I kind of stumbled into the post. I have not been tracking this thread.

eddif

I kinda of think of it as only I get to go by hanging on to the border of a Jew's (Jesus) robe.
Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
I receive mercy, very humbling thought.

Rom 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

 

[Malachi]

So I don't believe you can support your statement with Scripture, it is conjecture, and should be stated as so.

Rollo,
You are entirely mistaken. I believe you are aware by now that I generally don't deal in conjectures, since we are dealing with spiritual matters and directly accountable to the Lord if we mislead someone. I also invariably provide the Scriptures to back up my statements.

So the question to you is, would you believe the Scriptures that tell us to study all the Scriptures including the bulk of Scripture? And would you then begin making Bible prophecy a serious personal study?

And would you take some time to count the pages devoted to Bible prophecy from Genesis to Revelation and see that the bulk of the Bible is prophetic (including many sections of the Gospels and Epsitles)? Once you confirm that for all readers, I'll be more than happy to discuss the rest of your comments.

 

[Malachi]

What is your definition of the commonwealth of Israel?

That's an excellent question, and first of all this statement is made to Gentile Christians, and most of us are Gentiles, who need to know what God has done for us in and through Christ.

Next what exactly is the meaning of "the commonwealth"? The Greek words are tes politeias which is translated as above, but which mean "citizenship" (Strong's 4174). This is the sole occurrence of this word in the NT. Now we know from Phil 3:20 that our citizenship is in Heaven, and though the KJV says "conversation", the Greek says to politeuma which is literally "the commonwealth".

Next, we need to take a close look at the entire section from Eph 2:1 to Eph 3:12 and focus on Eph 3:6 which says: "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" This was the Mystery of the Church which was kept hidden in the OT but revealed through Paul -- that redeemed Jews and Gentiles would be in one Body whose citizenship would be in Heaven. Thus we see that citizenship described in Heb 12:22-24.

So what is the connection to Israel? If we keep in mind that Christ Himself gave that name to Jacob when He "wrestled" with him (Gen 32:27,28), and that Jacob was the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, then we can connect this "commonwealth" to "Israel" through the Abrahamic Covenant, which was confirmed to Jacob. God appeared to Jacob personally when he went to El-Bethel and built an altar. We read in Gen 35:9-12:
9And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.
10And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
11And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
12And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

We should note two things here, that there is (a) "a nation" which is redeemed Israel and (b) "a company of nations" which consists of all the redeemed Gentiles. On both sides there are "kings" since there were physical kings in Israel, but there are spiritual "king-priests" in the Church (all believers are king-priests). These redeemed Gentiles would become a part of the Church -- the Body of Christ -- whose eternal citizenship is in Heaven (Rev 7:9).

But we should also note that God said "will I give the land". Which brings us back to the Davidic Covenant.

 

[Malachi]

I'll cut to the chase and say that I believe the throne is here now on this earth presently occupied until Christ comes to claim it.

Since Israel is presently a democracy (no throne, no king) and in the Church "the kingdom of God is within you", where exactly is this throne which is "presently occupied"? And who exactly is the occupant? Are you just trying to "spiritualize away" something which should be taken as factual (Acts 1:6,7)?

 

[Deborah13]

That's an excellent question, and first of all this statement is made to Gentile Christians, and most of us are Gentiles, who need to know what God has done for us in and through Christ.

Next what exactly is the meaning of "the commonwealth"? The Greek words are tes politeias which is translated as above, but which mean "citizenship" (Strong's 4174). This is the sole occurrence of this word in the NT. Now we know from Phil 3:20 that our citizenship is in Heaven, and though the KJV says "conversation", the Greek says to politeuma which is literally "the commonwealth".

Next, we need to take a close look at the entire section from Eph 2:1 to Eph 3:12 and focus on Eph 3:6 which says: "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" This was the Mystery of the Church which was kept hidden in the OT but revealed through Paul -- that redeemed Jews and Gentiles would be in one Body whose citizenship would be in Heaven. Thus we see that citizenship described in Heb 12:22-24.

So what is the connection to Israel? If we keep in mind that Christ Himself gave that name to Jacob when He "wrestled" with him (Gen 32:27,28), and that Jacob was the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, then we can connect this "commonwealth" to "Israel" through the Abrahamic Covenant, which was confirmed to Jacob. God appeared to Jacob personally when he went to El-Bethel and built an altar. We read in Gen 35:9-12:
9And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.
10And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
11And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
12And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

We should note two things here, that there is (a) "a nation" which is redeemed Israel and (b) "a company of nations" which consists of all the redeemed Gentiles. On both sides there are "kings" since there were physical kings in Israel, but there are spiritual "king-priests" in the Church (all believers are king-priests). These redeemed Gentiles would become a part of the Church -- the Body of Christ -- whose eternal citizenship is in Heaven (Rev 7:9).

But we should also note that God said "will I give the land". Which brings us back to the Davidic Covenant.

Thank you. I'll have to study this some more, tomorrow. I do appreciate you answering my questions.