We continue with our series looking at” the Promise Keeping God” this time looking at his covenant with King David. The service will also include communion and reception into church membership.
Some people, like King David, are driven and restlessly move from one project to the next. During a time of peace and prosperity he was looking for something new to sink his teeth into like a juicy steak, and came up with the idea of building a temple to house the Ark of the Covenant, rather than in its present shabby tent. He ran the idea past Nathan the prophet, who was as enthusiastic about the idea as his ruler.
But not all great ideas are necessarily of God, and so the word of the Lord came to Nathan instructing him to tell David to call of the building project for two reasons:-
A – God did not want to confine his presence among his people to one particular location (v 6.)
B – God had not asked David to build him such a dwelling place. Instead David had presumed that this would be a good thing to do (v 7.)
Challenge – Are you doing something that seems like a good idea, but in reality it is not something that God wants you to do?
So David was not to build the temple, but God had not finished with him yet and so he entered a covenant with him that had two constituent parts:-
1 – A Dynasty (v 12.)
He would be succeeded by his son Solomon, who would himself build the temple, and his descendents would then occupy the throne by way of a family dynasty, as long as they obeyed the Lord’s commands and walked with him.
Challenge – How do you react when the great idea that you want to implement is given to another to fulfil?
2 – A Deliverer (v 16.)
The covenant had an eternal aspect to it in that David’s reign was a foretaste of the reign of King Jesus, the future son of David who would sit on his throne forever, as predicted in Old Testament prophesy (Isaiah 9 v 6 – 7.) Such a link between David and Jesus the deliverer is often emphasised in the Bible, in that it was listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1 v 1); announced to his mother Mary by the angel (Luke 1 v 32 – 33);used as a title for Jesus who was sometimes called the – “Son of David” (Luke 18 v 38);it was mentioned by Peter in his Pentecost sermon (Acts 2 v 30); by the Apostle Paul in his letters (Romans 1 v 3); while even the risen Christ referred to himself as – “the root and the offspring of David” (Revelation 22 v 16.)
So Jesus the deliverer, “great David’s greater son,” will reign permanently for all eternity in the lives of his people as they flesh out the values of his Kingdom; in heaven where he is exalted at the Father’s right hand; and ultimately on earth in the New Jerusalem.
Challenge – How visible is the deliverer’s rule and reign in your life?
What was David’s response to this covenant?
He “sat” in the Lord’s presence and in awe and wonder saturated the Lord in a torrent of praise and gratitude. How much more do we need to bask in the Lord’s presence and be “lost in wonder, love and praise” as we rejoice in the truths that such a covenant reveals.
Service Details
Theme:”The ultimate Sovereign Successor!”
Reading: 2 Samuel 7 v 5 – 17
Preacher: Chris Hughes
Led by: Marion Brenchley
