1 Samuel 31 & 2 Samuel 1-7 — God Establishes His Throne Forever
There are two things I have as a goal for this lesson. One is a little bit about the heart of David. It is said in the Bible that David had a heart after God. The more you read about and study David, and the more you read the Psalms (which we’ll study later), the more you’ll find that David was really an exceptional person for God. Of the people we’ve studied, you have to go all the way back to Joseph to find someone who was as focused on the spiritual side of things. They knew how to live their lives to honor and respect God. You’ll see that with David.
I want you to understand the heart of David, but also that 2nd Samuel is essentially the heart of Jewish history. The most important chapter in the Bible is…Genesis 12. We’re going to see that 2nd Samuel 7 is also very important. This lesson is a Jewish/Christian history appreciation for a promise that God made to David. This is one of those chapters that you can find links and references all over the Bible. That’s the other thing I want you to appreciate this morning—the significance of 2nd Samuel, chapter 7.
Next week, we will get into the David and Bathsheba story in 2nd Samuel. It has a lot of lessons for us and the sins we commit.
I want to tie the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel together. Turn to 1st Samuel 31. You recall that Samuel was only one book at one time. It was divided up into two pieces. We kind of like it that way—it’s easier to read. You get through 1st Samuel and say, "Wow! I just read a whole book of the Bible."
1 Samuel 31:4a
Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me."
A battle has been going on. They’ve been losing it. Saul is still king even though David has been anointed.
This is talking about the Philistines or Amalekites.
If you recall from last week, Saul’s mind had become "tortured," if you will. We read about an evil spirit that was sent from God. We saw where Saul was making decisions that were not healthy and not good. He wasn’t making decisions that got him closer to God. His decisions got him further away from God. The further he got from God, the more tormented he was—unsettled, not at peace, internal conflict, stress, etc. This is kind of like our normal, corporate America today. That’s what it looks like.
So Saul is all disturbed. We’re reading about this battle. He asks his armor-bearer to kill him, "Draw your sword and run me through."
1 Samuel 31:4b
But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
What do we call that? Suicide. That’s how far Saul had gotten with his mindset. He said, "I’ll just commit suicide."
1 Samuel 31:5-6
When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.
Saul is dead. Now we get into 2nd Samuel.
Most of 2nd Samuel is about David becoming king and his interaction with several people in order to unite the kingdom.
In chapter 1, David hears about the death of Saul.
2 Samuel 1:13-15
David said to the young man who brought him the report, "Where are you from?" "I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite," he answered. David asked him, "Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?" Then David called one of his men and said, "Go, strike him down!" So he struck him down, and he died.
If you read all this, you’ll see that this Amalekite told David about Saul’s death and everyone being killed. The Amalekite says, "I did it. I’m the one who killed him." Does anybody remember when Saul first got in trouble with God? Who was Saul attacking and who had God said to "wipe out"? The Amalekites. Saul didn’t wipe them out and instead brought the king back. "Yeah, I obeyed God. But yeah, I brought this king back." There must have been others he brought back or that had escaped because here is an Amalekite.
Note that David says, "Who are you to strike the Lord’s anointed?" Don’t miss that. What does that tell you about David? That is serious business. God puts people in position. Even though David knew the problems Saul was having, David looked at Saul and said, "It’s not about Saul. God put Saul in that position and I will respect that position." This is much like we’re asked to do today with the American presidency. No matter who wins the elections, God has allowed those people to be put into power—even if it’s a dictator like Saddam Hussein. You can look at me and say, "You mean God put him in power?" If you read the Bible, clearly God allows/permits/chooses the leaders of the world. It’s His sovereign choice. It may be for judgment. You say, "God couldn’t possibly have put Saddam Hussein in there." I say, "Well, let’s just wait and see God’s judgment." We all see the favored and positive side of God but there is also the side of God that says, "I must judge people." You have to keep that in mind as you study this. People do not come into power unless God allows them.
This Amalekite thought he was doing something good for David but he was wrong. David had him killed.
2 Samuel 2:4a
Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
This is a reference to one of the two kingdoms—Judah and Israel.
Notice the location of Hebron and Jerusalem in Judah.
Judah was the southernmost part of "Canaan," or the land the tribes of Israel had settled on. Judah was one of those tribes. That’s what he’s talking about here. They came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
2 Samuel 2:8-9
Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.
Israel, the Northern Kingdom, was composed of 10 tribes. Judah, the Southern Kingdom, was two tribes.
The reason you need to know this is that the rest of 2nd Samuel, 1st & 2nd Kings, 1st and 2nd Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther all talk about the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
So David became king over a piece of the whole Jewish Nation, Judah.
2 Samuel 2:10
Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
You see the split of the Nation. Does everybody see that? The Hebrew Nation was split in two. They had two kings.
2 Samuel 2:11
The length of time David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
For 7 ½ years, David lived in Hebron as the king of Judah. What had God anointed him as? King of all Israel. King of everything. He hasn’t taken it yet.
Joab murders Asahel, son of Abner. Abner murders Joab. You can read this. It talks about commanders of armies of Ish-Bosheth, Saul, and David. It’s interesting reading. Read about the politics involved with this conflict, the internal struggle between the kingdoms.
Ish-Bosheth is killed. He only reigned two years.
2 Samuel 5:1a
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron
The tribes of Israel travel to Hebron to talk to David.
2 Samuel 5:1b-3
and said, "We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, `You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.'" When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.
So now David is king of all Israel. When it says, "Israel," it means that David is king of Israel and Judah.
Way back in 1st Samuel 16, Nathan anointed David as king. David recognized God’s sovereignty all along—even when Saul was chasing him, trying to kill him, throwing javelins at him, etc. I want you to start thinking about who David is and how he can put up with all this. Only now is God’s promise to David being fulfilled—David is now king of all Israel.
2 Samuel 5:6-8a
The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here." Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David. On that day, David said, "Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft
They’re a little boastful and proud.
The water shaft is what they used to get into the City of David.
2 Samuel 5:9-10
David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward. And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.
If you’ve ever wondered where the name "Zion" comes from (a word used in songs, etc.), this is it. There were two ridges in Jerusalem. There was a fortress on the highest point called the "fortress of Zion." A group people called the Jebusites lived there. This goes back to Joshua when God told the people to go in and wipe everybody out. These are people left over. David took over the fortress of Zion, wiped out the Jebusites, and established his presence. He went from Hebron to Jerusalem to the fortress of Zion.
If you remember, Jerusalem was called Salem back in Genesis. Melchizedek was from Salem. Salem is another form of the word, "Shalom," which means "total peace and contentment." The "Jebu" in Jebusites means "threshing floor" and is where we got the "Jeru" in Jerusalem. This is the foundation of Jerusalem. Jerusalem becomes the City of David. Remember that. Zion is the highest point in Jerusalem.
What does this have to do with anything? Remember that one of the points I want to make this morning is the Jewish history. It has a lot of meaning for us.
I told you that as you read 1st and 2nd Samuel and 1st and 2nd Kings, you’re also reading 1st and 2nd Chronicles. We just read 2nd Samuel 5. Go over to 1st Chronicles 11. I want you to see the parallel here. I know that all of you have been diligently reading 1st and 2nd Chronicles as you’ve been reading Samuel and Kings. If you haven’t, do so. You’ll be amazed at some of the information that is added there.
1 Chronicles 11:1
All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood.
Does this sound familiar? Yes.
1 Chronicles 11:2a
In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.
Does that sound familiar? No. That’s new. That’s something that’s been added. It wasn’t in 2nd Samuel. We understand it but it is additional information.
1 Chronicles 11:2b
And the LORD your God said to you, `You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.'"
Does that sound familiar? Yes. It’s word for word. It’s verbatim.
1 Chronicles 11:3-9
When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the LORD had promised through Samuel. David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites who lived there said to David, "You will not get in here." Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David. David had said, "Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander-in-chief." Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command. David then took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of David. He built up the city around it, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city. And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD Almighty was with him.
How’s that? Does that sound familiar?
This is what I’m encouraging you to do. We read it over in 2nd Samuel 5 and we’re reading it in 1st Chronicles 11. If you start thinking, "It’s all probably verbatim." It’s not. I know part of what we read was, but I want to challenge you. 1st Chronicles parallels 2nd Samuel. Read 1st and 2nd Chronicles along with this.
Sometimes you’ll have footnotes in your Bible (e.g., 2nd Samuel 5:5) that will reference other verses (e.g., 1st Chronicles 3:4). Try those. Go over and read 1st Chronicles. You will find, almost verbatim, the same information but you’ll also find additional information.
2nd Samuel 7
This is the chapter I wanted to spend some time on. This is the second-most important chapter in the Bible (behind Genesis 12). The reason that this is significant is that God is going to tell David, "David, the person who sits on your throne, I will establish his kingdom forever." What that’s talking about is the Messiah. In the Jewish Old Testament time, the Jewish scholars and rabbis would study the Old Testament and conclude that the lineage of the king (God’s Messiah, King, Wonderful Counselor, and Mighty Prince of Peace) would come from the lineage of David and reign on His throne forever. That’s why 2nd Samuel 7 is so important. This is where His throne is established.
The Jews are still looking for that descendant of David to establish his throne forever. When we talk about the New Testament, look at the time Jesus came, and talk about the "zealots," what were they looking for in a ruler? You’ve heard this. They wanted a military ruler. Why? Because that was the promise. That’s why Jews have such a hard time accepting Jesus Christ as Messiah. Why? He came in peace. He came to save those who were lost. The Jews were looking for someone to rule with a mighty sword, a horse, and wipe out all the Roman conquerors. They want someone to establish the earthly kingdom of Israel again. So when you talk to a Jew, someone who knows their history (which many don’t), this is what they’re talking about. They’re looking for someone to come and reestablish the kingdom of David.
At this time, Israel has just come out of a civil war or conflict within the Nation. It’s been splintered and split. The united kingdom, under David’s reign, represents the "glory days" for the Jewish kingdom. It breaks apart after Solomon, but this is where the really great things happen for the Jewish Nation. They finally come together. It’s real brief.
They came out of Egypt back in Exodus. They failed to get into the Canaan Promised Land at Kadesh-Barnea. They finally enter the Land but fail to wipe everybody out. They start inter-marrying. The period of Judges comes along. In other words they have never really come together as a Nation. Do you understand that? They do with David. That’s why the Jews put so much emphasis on David and the kingdom of David. It is the Jewish Nation (from their worldly, Jewish point of view).
What we’re going to be looking at is, from a Christian point of view, why is 2nd Samuel 7 so important? Why is it so important to us, as Christians? Because there is coming a day when someone is going to rule the kingdom on the throne of David. That’s coming in Revelation. That’s another story. We’ll get to it.
Isn’t this good? This is like the whole Bible in one morning! It’s like I just turned on the fire hydrant so you all could have a drink.
2 Samuel 7:1-2a
After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet
It’s like they’re sitting on the porch, rocking, and saying, "You know, it’s pretty peaceful around here, isn’t it?" David starts to think to himself…
2 Samuel 7:2b
"Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."
Here is his heart for God saying, "This isn’t right. God is awesome. His ark is awesome. It’s not right for me to be living in a palace of cedar while the Ark is in a tent."
2 Samuel 7:3
Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you."
In other words, "David, you’re right on with your relationship to God. You’re doing great. Go ahead and do it."
2 Samuel 7:4-6a
That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying: "Go and tell my servant David, `This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day.
Where has He been? A cloud, a pillar of fire, or He left them because of the cycle they went through with sin and Him saving them. He says, "I haven’t been in a dwelling place since you left Egypt."
2 Samuel 7:6b-7
I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" '
What is God saying to Nathan? "I haven’t asked for it. David wants to do it but I haven’t asked for it."
2 Samuel 7:8-9
"Now then, tell my servant David, `This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth.
This is King David.
2 Samuel 7:10a
And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.
Is that true? Has it been true in the history of the Jewish Nation? No. It has not. This is a promise God has made—that the Jewish people would live in a place, a Land, that is their own and not be disturbed.
2 Samuel 7:10a-11a
Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
This is God telling Nathan what He’s going to do with what David asked for.
2 Samuel 7:11b
"`The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you:
Get this. David told Nathan, "I’m going to put God in a house." Remember that the Ark of the Covenant was God’s dwelling. "I’m going to put the Ark in a house." Here’s God, telling David through Nathan, "No. You don’t understand. I’ll put you in a house."
2 Samuel 7:12
When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.
Watch this carefully. He’s talking to David. Who is He talking about? He’s talking about David and his sons (esp. Solomon). "I will establish his kingdom."
Let’s read on. If you were a Jewish rabbi, this is where you got some of the prophecy.
2 Samuel 7:13
He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
Solomon builds the house. He builds the Temple.
The Temple is something we want to track as we go through the Old Testament. The Temple is destroyed. The Wailing Wall is the only thing left of the Temple. Solomon is the one who builds the first Temple. Later on, we’ll see the Temple destroyed by the Babylonians. Then we’ll see it rebuilt in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. In the New Testament, it is this rebuilt Temple that Jesus goes to (to teach, spar with the Pharisees, etc.). That’s a quick history of the Temple.
"I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." That is the promise.
If you were a Jewish person or rabbi, what would that mean to you as a Jew? You would have a throne, you would have a king, and it would last forever. This is where they see some prophecy. It’s not just talking about Solomon. Solomon is going to die. There is a lineage from David to Solomon to an eventual king that will rule on the throne forever.
2 Samuel 7:14a
I will be his father, and he will be my son.
You may say, "Oh, that’s just coincidence. That’s not really God, the Father, and God, the Son." But remember that it is the Lord declaring this.
2 Samuel 7:14b
When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men.
It’s hard to translate from the Hebrew for "when he does wrong." A better translation would be, "when he takes on sin." Some of you may have "when he sins," or "when he’s full of sin." We look at Christ as sinless but when He was on the cross, what did He do? He took our sins on Him, He was punished with the rod, and inflicted with floggings. Here we go again with Jewish scholars, looking for the Messiah. Solomon built the Temple, but there is coming a person who will take on the sin. God said, "I will be His Father and He will be my Son. He will take on the sin and His kingdom will last forever."
2 Samuel 7:15
But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
We know that. He took His love away from Saul.
2 Samuel 7:16
Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'"
If you are a Jew and you read that, again, what are you thinking? What is it that keeps you going? It’s a promise from God saying, "This is will be forever and ever."
Let’s look at it. Let’s see what we know about the Jewish throne and kingdom.
Do we have the king of the Jews right now over in Israel? Has the throne been established? Is there a king there? No. (Not even Christ yet.) Back it up. Where do we get to the king with the throne of David? What we’ll find is that it doesn’t last very long past David. In other words, since the Northern Kingdom, Israel, was wiped out by Assyria and the Southern Kingdom, Judah, was wiped out by Babylon, the Jews have been kingless.
There is coming a time when Jesus is coming back to establish His kingdom. He’s going to establish it in Jerusalem, the City of David. I’m giving you these things because when you go to the New Testament, you could miss this. I discovered this. I went to the New Testament and asked, "Where’s the match?" All of a sudden, Zion, the City of David, just jumps out at you in the New Testament. I’ll show you that this morning. We’ll read this. You’ve read this before but it has never meant anything to you, as a New Testament Christian. All of this is in the New Testament. It’s all there and it all points to who we worship, praise, and adore, Jesus Christ, savior of the world.
That’s what 2nd Samuel 7 means to us as Christians. Let me back this up.
<Class comment: You mentioned the importance of reading the parallel passages over in Chronicles. In Samuel, we get the impression that God’s laying it on David’s heart to build the Temple for Him and that Solomon is going to be the one to build the Temple. Nothing more is said. If you read 1st Chronicles 28:3, God says, "You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood." Of course men and women are part of our military and police. It seems there is a concept of a necessary role for the warrior to shed blood. David was a man after God’s own heart but he couldn’t do a certain thing for God in building His Temple. God loved David and honored him but David could not build the Temple because he was a warrior and shed blood.>
Psalm 89:1-4
I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, `I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.'" Selah
Does everybody see that? Doesn’t that sound like 2nd Samuel 7? "It’s a promise I swore to David, ‘I will establish your throne forever.’"
Psalm 89:34-37
I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness-- and I will not lie to David-- that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky." Selah
If you are a Jew, living today, what are you doing? You are still waiting. We know the answer already. But you are still waiting.
We are only looking at Psalms. I’m trying to build a case here of taking what we just read in 2nd Samuel 7 and showing you the promise throughout the whole Bible. God clearly made a promise to the Jewish people. When and where is He going to answer it?
Psalm 110:1
The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."
The LORD, Jehovah, says to my Lord, Adonai…
Does anybody recognize this? That’s what is said about Christ in the New Testament, verbatim.
Psalm 110:2a
The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion;
What’s a scepter? It’s something a king uses. From where? We just talked about the significance of Zion. Zion was a fortress that David took from the Jebusites to establish his residence.
Psalm 110:2b-4
you will rule in the midst of your enemies. Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth. The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
If you study it and look at who has existed in the order of Melchizedek, you’ll find Christ. This is a very chief Messiah Psalm for the Jews. This is where they say, "We’re watching and waiting."
Psalm 110:5-7
The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook beside the way; therefore he will lift up his head.
I think that this is referring to Revelation, when Jesus comes back a second time and establishes His Kingdom forever.
That’s where I’m headed.
God made this promise in 2nd Samuel 7. The Jews are still waiting. We know that Christ has come and that He’s coming again. It’s at that Second Coming that God will establish His Kingdom forever, from David through Jesus Christ, here on earth, WITH JEWS during the Great Tribulation. That’s all in Revelation.
Go over to Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a prophet. Is everybody with me? We’re talking about Zion, the City of David, and a promise God made to David. "Your kingdom will rule forever." We’re seeing the significance from a Jewish point of view but we’re also seeing why you should get excited too.
Jeremiah 23:5a
"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch,
If you were a Jew, what would you think? "It’s the Messiah again."
As a Christian, what do you think? "Well of course. It’s Christ!"
Jeremiah 23:5b-6
a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
Again, it doesn’t say "Jesus Christ," but what do you start to believe? Who’s going to come out of the line of David? It’s someone called "the Righteous Branch" and "the Lord Our Righteousness." When we get over to the New Testament, what is Jesus Christ? He is our righteousness. Without Him, we have no righteousness. We stand guilty before God. It’s because of what Christ did for us that we have that righteousness as Christians.
Take a look at Matthew 1 in the New Testament. This is the start, the beginning of the New Testament. The Old Testament has ended. Four hundred years of silence have passed. Now we have the New Testament.
Matthew 1:1a
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David,
If you knew the Old Testament, what does the first verse of the first chapter of the first book tell you?
There is a connection between David and Jesus Christ. Why does this connection have to exist? To fulfill all the prophecy God put in the Old Testament through Jesus Christ. It could not be plainer.
Turn to Luke 1. We read the Christmas story in Luke 2 so we’re real close to the Christmas story. An angel visits Mary.
Luke 1:29-32
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
Does that not knock your socks off? I mean can it be any clearer? Do you see the delivered promise from 2nd Samuel 7 that this angel is telling Mary?
"He will give Him the throne of His father David."
Luke 1:33
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
Is that not the promise?
Let me ask you—has this promise been fulfilled? As a Christian, has it been fulfilled? Is Jesus ruling in Jerusalem after the throne of David? No. Not yet. Has it happened? What did they do to Him? They crucified Him. Has He come back yet? This is the hope we have as Christians. He’s coming again. Now we’re just like the Jews, waiting on the Messiah. We’re just like them. We’re Christians, waiting on the second coming of Christ.
Jesus has not yet established His Kingdom here on this earth. There is just too much evil and Satan. But there is coming a time. In Revelation, it says that He will establish His Kingdom forever and He will be using the Jews for it.
We only have time to look at one more but you can keep going. 2nd Samuel 7 is a kind of trigger. You start looking at Scripture after that and it will relate back to 2nd Samuel 7—the lineage of Christ, the lineage of David, Christ, Messiah, throne forever, and King.
Go to Acts 2. We read the beginning of the Old Testament. This is the beginning of the Church. Peter is preaching right after the Day of Pentecost where they received the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:22-24
"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
That is the gospel, isn’t it? Jesus died for us, you crucified Him, and God raised Him from the dead.
Now read verse 25.
Acts 2:25-27
David said about him: "`I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
This is from Psalm 16 which David wrote. What is he saying? "Your Holy One, even though He will be put in the grave, will not see decay." What is he talking about? The resurrection. Could it be any clearer?
Acts 2:28-31a
You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.' "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,
Does this sound like 2nd Samuel 7? Here it is in Acts!
Is this not unbelievable? You all may have already read this and know all this stuff but I hadn’t. I had studied the New Testament forever and read Peter’s sermon before. But after I read 2nd Samuel 7 and then read Peter’s sermon, I said, "WOW! This is… unbelievable!" David talked about Jesus’ resurrection!
That’s a "Wow, Whoa, Unbelievable" thing! It was new to me.
Acts 2:31b-35
that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "`The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '
Does that sound familiar? Back to Psalms again.
Acts 2:36-37
"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
In other words, they were convicted. They saw all their Jewish history, all the knowledge in their head, come right down to what happened to Jesus Christ.
We take what happened to Jesus Christ (His resurrection and ascension) and say, "He’s coming back because He has not yet fulfilled all the promises of God." He said He would establish His Kingdom forever. It hasn’t happened yet. But when you go over to Revelation, you’ll find that the Church is gone, the Jews are here, the tribes are counted, and they are witnesses for Christ—the very descendants of Jews who rejected and crucified Him will one day be testifying for Him. Jesus will return to establish His Kingdom forever on this earth and the Jews will be there with Him. We will be in what’s called a "New Jerusalem," a new heaven and a new earth. That’s the significance of Jerusalem, Zion, the City of David, and the promise in 2nd Samuel 7.
Was that not good? That’s Jewish history but can you see the whole Bible? Don’t let the whole Bible become just one book at a time. God is trying to reveal to us certain things. He reveals those things to us so that we might grow in Christ and have a hope that no one else on this earth can have. We have a hope that no one else can approach. That hope is that God raised Christ from the dead, He ascended to heaven, He’s coming again, and we have eternal life through Him. Amen. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah!
Prayer:
Father, God, thank you for this morning. Father, your Word is so powerful and so exciting and so sharp. It cuts to our soul, Father, as we read about these men who heard the gospel of Christ and were there and participating, saying, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" And then they heard the good news. They heard that Christ, from the line of David, had come, was crucified and buried. But you raised Him from the dead. They wanted to know, "What shall we do?" Father, may that be our question today. What shall we do, Father? Please let us make you Lord of our lives. Don’t let ourselves become the decision makers and enforcers of what we do, God. Let us search your Word and see what you have for us today. We are guilty of so many things. We are disobedient to your command to love others because we see it from the worldly point of view. Let us see love from your point of view so that people truly know that we are your disciples. We can testify and witness and allow you to work through us so that others may see who Christ is and ask, "What shall I do now?" Be with us throughout the week. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.
