God's promises

 

2 Sam 7:16

Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’

I used to think that the meticulous lists of genealogies written up in the Bible were so boring. Not anymore!

The above quote is God’s covenant with David. God promises here that there will aways be a King from David’s lineage to rule over Israel.

But history seems to indicate that the kings ruling over Israel came to an end. After David’s death, Solomon did indeed start reigning, and after him several other kings of Judah from his line. However, Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest of Jerusalem led to the dethronement of Zedekiah, and the exile in Babylon put an end to any king from the house of David ruling over Israel again.

The people in exile must have wondered, does this mean that God’s promises can be broken? God reassured them through Ezekiel, prophesying in exile, (Ez 34:23-24 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.) He foresaw a regathering of God’s people and a future Prince - a descendant of David - who would shepherd them.

This is why Matthew and Luke trace the lineage of Jesus so precisely, to show that both from Joseph and Mary’s side (even though Joseph was not his biological father), Jesus is a descendant from the house of David! It backs up what Luke 1:32-33 declares, “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, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end.” David’s line had come to an end politically, but the genealogical line continued.

There is even more. In 2 Sam 8:18 we read …David’s sons were priests. They could not, as coming from the royal line, be priests as well, as God had separated these two offices. But they were considered to be priests in the order of Melchizedek, serving in an intercessory role and not taking over the functional role (bringing offerings etc) that only belonged to the Levitical priests.

Jesus therefore inherited His role as King and as priest from David through royal succession as well. And because the lists of genealogies were so faithfully kept and published, no one can dispute His inheritance!

Pearls to ponder:

If God promises something, He will execute it, even though circumstances around us seem to indicate otherwise! Keep believing those promises, do not be lured into disbelief.

You keep Your promises