God's Covenant with David

Matthew, chapter one.  As a child, I thought this was one of the most boring pages of the Bible.  Now I see it as a fascinating chapter, loaded with significance.  In a masterful way it covers the covenant history from Abraham to Christ.  It is the story of creation (Abraham to David), fall (David to Exile), and restoration (Exile to Christ) of God’s Kingdom.  In Christ we find the climax of the covenant, for He is the true Son of Abraham and the true Son of David, for in him all God’s covenant promises are fulfilled. 

Creation:             God’s Kingdom-restoration work effectively starts with Abraham.  In Abraham’s seed God seeks to build his model kingdom, and in Abraham’s Son He will bless all people groups.  Abraham is trained to model the man “to trust and obey” God.  His son, however, is a disappointment: the Genesis record pretty well ignores Isaac (There is no toledoth or account in his name).  Just like Eli’s sons later, Isaac seems more interested in his pleasure of steak than in the Kingdom of God.  In fact, after Abraham the whole Genesis story shows a downward trend: from cunning Jacob to his murderous sons.  Judah, who appears more righteous than his brothers, even marries a Canaanite woman and lives like a Canaanite himself.  Yet, God is faithful to his promises: Through Joseph He delivers Israel from starvation and from further corruption by godless people, who in their perverted wickedness are headed for judgment.  And finally, after four centuries of darkness, God ‘remembers’ his covenant with Abraham.  He calls Moses to set his people free and to lead them to the Promised Land.  Yet, when they finally enter this land of milk and honey, there is another period of darkness until God calls Samuel to prepare his people for the coming of his chosen king.

We can see the Old Testament as the “rise-and-fall” story of the kingdom of God in Israel.  The second part of the Matthew One account shows how in two-times-seven generations God’s glorious kingdom breaks up until it appears to have been totally destroyed.  Yet, at the beginning of this stage- at the turning point- we find King David, the man after God’s own heart.  At the height of his career as mighty king, we see how David strips himself of all his glory.  He is not ashamed to dance publicly in his underwear, among the common folk of Israel.  He is so overjoyed with God’s goodness, that he gladly sacrifices personal pride and royal splendor to give it all to God.  God is pleased with David’s attitude.  Yet, when David wants to sacrifice his wealth to build a temple, God rejects the plan, for He does not dwell in a man-made structures.  He seeks to live in human hearts.

It is at this time of David’s reign that God extends his covenant to David.  David was a man of the battlefield, but God will provide him with a Son, who will be the Prince of Peace.  He will secure David’s dynasty and build a temple for God, where He will dwell among his people: Immanuel!  His Kingdom shall be all-comprehensive, and it will last forever.

Fall:        Soon after these glorious words we see that David cannot be the king of righteousness.  David fails and in his life the pre-Flood evils of human pride, sexual bullying (taking any woman that one desires for himself), and murderous violence, are manifested even in God’s chosen king.  And later, David’s son is another disappointment.  Solomon does not live like the true son of David, who used to put God in the centre of his life.  Rather than fighting the Lord’s enemies, Solomon abuses God’s people for his own glory.  So, finally we see Samuel’s warning come true: this is what a king (like the other nations’ kings) will be like!  In later life, Solomon is more interested in his personal status and luxury than in the building of God’s Kingdom.  So, after his death the kingdom falls apart, leaving the righteous ones to wonder if there is going to be another Son of David, a better Prince of Peace through whom God’s everlasting kingdom will be built.

Restoration:       When the kingdom of Israel has almost disappeared, God sends his greatest prophets with his greatest messages of hope and restoration.  A righteous remnant will return and a shoot of Jesse will appear as suffering servant and as conquering hero.  God’s Kingdom will be restored- in a way that cannot fail.  God’s own son will be the promised Son of Abraham.  He will “trust and obey”, even on the cross; he will be the beloved son, sacrificed for all who believe in him.  Through him and his work all nations will be blessed.  Christ is the Son of David, who volunteered to be stripped down to his bloody flesh.  He first sacrificed his divine glory, and then all human dignity to pay the price to set us free.  Through his death, we may receive life, and through his Spirit we are equipped to embody his Kingdom.  Jesus Christ is “climax of covenant history”: in him all the covenants are coming together for the final stage of history.