The Davidic Kingdom

God’s Covenant Family

Adam Noah Abraham Moses DavidHusband Father Chieftain Judge King

Marriage Household Tribe Nation Kingdom

Sabbath Rainbow Circumcision Passover Throne

God covenanted with David to build a worldwide kingdom, by establishing an everlasting throne with the son of David, who was destined to rule over all the nations united as a royal family in their common worship of the heavenly Father within his house, the Jerusalem temple. (2 Sam 7:8-19)

God’s 3-fold Blessing to Abraham

Genesis 12:2-3

Nationhood “Name” (dynasty) Worldwide Blessing

Genesis 15 Genesis 17 Genesis 22

New CovenantDavidic CovenantMosaic Covenant

Promises:

Covenants:

Fulfillment:

I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great…and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen 12:2-3)

A Man After God’s Heart

Samuel anoints David son of Jesse to be the next king of Israel. (1 Sam 16:13)

The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart. (1 Sam 13:14)

David, King of Israel

After the death of king Saul, a civil war breaks out between the house of Saul and the house of David. (2 Sam 2-4)

The tribes of Israel come to David in Hebron and proclaim him king of Israel. (2 Sam 5:1-5)

David defeats the Jebusites and conquers Jerusalem, which he calls the City of David (Zion). (2 Sam 5:7)

Jerusalem is the place where Abram paid tithes to Melchizedek and where he offered Isaac.

The Ark in Jerusalem

David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. (2 Sam 6)

As the ark is brought into the city, David wears a priestly linen ephod and dances before it.

David offers burnt offerings and peace offerings. (2 Sam 6:12-13) and he blesses the people in the name of the Lord. (2 Sam 6:18)

By taking on a priestly role, David restores Israel’s role as a priestly nation and realizes God’s Abrahamic covenant plan to rule over the human family through his chosen people.

Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. (2 Sam 6:14-15)

Davidic Dynasty

David tells the prophet Nathan that he wishes to build a house for the Lord. (2 Sam 7:1-2)

God replies that it is He who will build a house (a dynasty) for David.

I will make your name great…” (Gen 12:2)

I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And 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… and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house (2 Sam 7:9b-11).

Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” (2 Sam 7:1-2)

A Covenant for All Nations

David’s dynasty will be a universal kingdom.

David transforms the national family of Israel into an imperial family and dynastic kingdom over other states and nations.

The purpose of this rule is to share with all nations the wisdom, the truth and the righteousness that God had given to Israel.

“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son… And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” (2 Sam 7:12-16)

Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. This is a law for humanity, O Lord God. (2 Sam 7:18-19)

The royal psalms provide insight on the the Davidic covenant. Ps 2: Shows a worldwide theocratic family under

God’s fatherly law. The rulers who refuse to serve and worship God court disaster.

Ps 72: The royal son will reign with righteousness and justice; all kings will serve him.

Ps 89: God will make the Son of David “the firstborn, the highest of the kings on earth” (89:27).

Ps 110: “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies my footstool… You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Ps 110:1, 4).

Partial fulfillment in Solomon and perfect fulfillment in Christ.

The Levites take on a new role as singers and musicians who praise the Lord God of Israel (1 Chr 15:16-24; 16:4-6; 25).

The Royal Psalms

The Davidic Kingdom

The kingdom reaches its widest territorial expansion under David.

Did David Exist?

The Tel Dan Stele: erected by an Aramean king in north Israel (Tel Dan) containing an Aramaic inscription to commemorate his victory over the Israelites.

Dated to the 9th or 8th centuries BCE.

Contains the letter 'ביתדוד' (house of David), the first mention of the name "David" at any archaeological site.

“And my father lay down; he went to his [fathers]. And the king of I[s-]rael penetrated into my father's land[. And] Hadad made me—myself—king… And I killed two [power]ful kin[gs], who harnessed two thou[sand cha-]riots and two thousand horsemen. [I killed Jo]ram son of [Ahab] king of Israel, and I killed [Achaz]yahu son of [Joram kin]g of the House of David.”

David’s Downfall

One evening, David sees from his roof a beautiful woman bathing: Bath Sheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. (2 Sam 11:2)

He has her come and he sleeps with her. She conceives a child.

David has Uriah return home from the battlefield, but he refuses to sleep with his wife.

David sends him back into battle with instructions that he should be placed in the front lines, and the army should retreat from him so that he is struck down and dies. (2 Sam 11:15-17)

Censored

Royal Woes

Because of this sin, Nathan lays a solemn curse upon the house of David.

David repents (Ps 51) and the Lord spares his life, but the child of his union with Bathsheba dies. (2 Sam 12:13-19)

Bathsheba conceives a second son destined to inherit the throne of Israel: Solomon. (2 Sam 12:24)

David’s life becomes more and more miserable: His son Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar. Tamar’s brother Absalom kills

Amnon and flees. (2 Sam 13) Absalom leads a revolt against his father David (2 Sam 15) and sleeps with his

concubines (2 Sam 16:22). Later, Absalom is killed, to David’s great sorrow.

Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife... Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. (2 Sam 12:10-11)

Solomon, Son of David

Solomon assumes the throne as David’s chosen heir. (1 Ki 1-2)

He is anointed king by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet.

Bathsheba, the Queen Mother, reigns alongside him. (1 Ki 2:19)

And King David said… let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint [Solomon] king over Israel… and he shall come and sit on my throne, and he shall be king in my place… Then Zadok the priest took a horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew the horn, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” (1 Ki 1:32-38)

Priests, Prophets and King

Prophets(Word of God)

Priests(Temple Liturgy)

King (Ruler)

The king is to rule in submission to the word of the prophets and to the priestly liturgy.

Solomon’s Wisdom

The Lord asks Solomon: “What shall I give you?” (1 Ki 3:5)

Solomon does not ask for a long life, for riches, or for power, but for wisdom to rule over God’s people.

God grants him his request and also promises him riches and honor. (1 Ki 3:10-14)

Kings and men of all nations come to Jerusalem to hear the wisdom of Solomon. (1 Ki 4:34)

Solomon writes the Proverbs, a treasury of wisdom.

Building the Temple

When Solomon dedicates the temple with a magnificent prayer, fire comes down from heaven and consumes the sacrifice on the altar. (1 Ki 8; 2 Chr 6:1 - 7:11)

The Lord appears to Solomon by night and renews with him the covenant He made with David (1 Ki 9:1-9, 2 Chr 7:12-22).

With the help of Hiram king of Tyre, Solomon builds the temple in Jerusalem. It takes 7 years to build. (1 Ki 5 - 7)

In the 7th month, the people celebrate the feast of Tabernacles and the Levites bring the Ark into the Temple. (1 Ki 8:1-13)

Solomon’s Temple

The temple replaces the tabernacle and is a permanent house of worship in Jerusalem.

A House of Prayer for All

Nations

People from all nations come to Jerusalem to pray in the temple.

The Queen of Sheba comes to Jerusalem to admire the wisdom and prosperity of Solomon. (1 Ki 10)

From Sinai to Zion

The Sinai Covenant The Zion Covenant

Tent: the center of worship is a temporary shelter that can be moved with nomadic tribes

Temple: the center of worship is a permanent structure that draws all people to Jerusalem

National: the covenant is with Israel only

International: the covenant reaches to all nations through Israel

Exclusive: designed to keep the nations out

Inclusive: designed to invite the nations in

Torah: a law designed to keep the Israelites separate from the nations

Wisdom literature: a new Torah designed to speak to all mankind

Sin offering: the most important religious ceremony is an offering to atone for sins

Todah: the most important religious ceremony is the thank offering in thanksgiving for God's deliverance

Solomon’s DeclineSolomon breaks the Davidic covenant by violating all three rules of the “law of the king.” (Dt 17:14-17) He becomes a tyrant, extorting riches of his

vassal colonies. (1 Ki 10:14)

He multiplies horses and chariots, building a great arsenal of weapons. (1 Ki 10:26-29)

He takes loves foreign women, taking 700 wives and 300 concubines. (1 Ki 11:1)

He builds idolatrous altars to foreign gods. (1 Ki 11:5-8)

God tells Solomon that He will take the kingdom away from him, from the hand of his son. (1 Ki 11:9-13)

The Lord raises up adversaries against Solomon until his death. (1 Ki 11:14-43)

PrayerWhy do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,“Let us break Their bonds in piecesAnd cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;The Lord shall hold them in derision.Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,And distress them in His deep displeasure:“Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”“I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.You shall break them with a rod of iron;You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” Now therefore, be wise, O kings;Be instructed, you judges of the earth.Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (Ps 2)

Timeline

© 2007 Catholics for Israel (www.israelcatholic.com)