The Davidic Covenant – Part 2

1. The Davidic Covenant – Part 2 Psalms 2, 72, and 89

2. Reviewing the Significance of God’s Covenant Program The provisions of the Davidic Covenant represent part of the plan God has for His creation. As God set forth the various biblical covenants, each one represented a step forward in the revelation of God’s intentions for the world. Rather than operating in distinct orbits or realms, each covenant builds on the preceding covenant or covenants. Each covenant introduces new elements to God’s revelation of His plan and those elements become part of the multi-faceted tapestry of biblical covenants (Dr. Michael A. Grisanti, “The Davidic Covenant,” 249-50).

3. The Kingdom Anticipated in Deuteronomy “When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, 'I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,' you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses, one from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman. Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the LORD has said to you, 'You shall never again return that way.' Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself. Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left; in order that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel” (Deut 17:14-20).

4. Essence of the Davidic Covenant • God promised to give David a great name, and, under David’s leadership as king, to provide a secure place for the nation of Israel to dwell, in accordance with the original promises of the Abrahamic Covenant. • Yahweh also promised that a descendant of David would build the Temple that David himself had wanted to build, and that the Davidic dynasty would endure forever. • David would never lack a man to sit upon God’s throne in Jerusalem (1 Kings 2:3-4; 8:25-26; 9:4-7; Jer 33:14-17).

5. From “The Davidic Covenant”by Michael A. Grisanti “God’s establishment of His covenant with David represents one of the theological high points of the OT Scriptures. This key event builds on the preceding covenants and looks forward to the ultimate establishment of God’s reign on the earth. The psalmists and prophets provide additional details concerning the ideal Davidite who will lead God’s chosen nation in righteousness. The NT applies various OT texts about this Davidite to Jesus Christ . . . In the Book of Revelation, John addresses Him as the ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords’ (Rev 19:16).”

6. Later Commentary on the Davidic Covenant – The Royal Psalms These psalms (Psalms 2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110, 144) draw heavily on the idea of a Davidic dynasty and presuppose the covenant God established with David. They focus on a Davidic figure who, as Yahweh’s son, lived in Zion, ruled over God’s people, and was heir to the divine promise (Grisanti, “The Davidic Covenant,” 243-44).

7. Psalm 2 Psalm 2 contrasts the hostility of the nations directed at the Lord and His Messiah over against God’s answer to them in the form of the royal investiture of His son, the Davidic king.

8. Psalm 72 • By personal example and deed, the Davidic king was to promote righteousness and justice in the land (v. 1). He would do this by defending the cause of the afflicted, weak, and helpless and by crushing their oppressors (vv. 2, 4, 12, 12-14). • The ideal Davidic ruler would occasion the national experience of peace, prosperity, and international recognition (cf. vv. 3, 5-11, 15-17). God promised to give His anointed king dominion over the entire earth (vv. 8-11). • Although this psalm may have been written at the beginning of Solomon’s reign, it envisions ideals never fully realized in Israel’s history. Only during the millennial reign of Christ will the peace and prosperity depicted by this psalm find fulfillment (Grisanti, “The Davidic Covenant,” 244).

9. Psalm 89 • This psalm depicts the psalmist seeking to resolve his belief in God’s oath to David and the reality of his day, divine judgment for covenant treachery. • After reminding God of his promise to David’s house (vv. 1-37), he lamented the fate experienced by the Davidic dynasty in his lifetime (vv. 38-51). • Yahweh had “cast off and abhorred” his anointed ruler (v. 38) and had “profaned his crown” (v. 39). • The Lord had given victory to the king’s enemies (vv. 40-44) and had covered him with shame (v. 45). • The psalmist cries out, “How long . . . will your wrath burn like fire,” and “Where are Your former lovingkindnesses, which you swore to David?” (vv. 46, 49) (Grisanti, “The Davidic Covenant,” 244).

10. Psalm 89 • The psalmist’s frustration demonstrates at least two truths. • First of all, at this point in Israel’s history, the ideal of a just king who would bring the nation lasting peace and prosperity was still an unfulfilled ideal. • Secondly, the inability of the Davidic rulers to live and rule in accordance with God’s demands causes the reader to look forward for a Davidic figure who would one day perfectly satisfy those divine expectations (Grisanti, “The Davidic Covenant,” 245).

11. Next Week: The Davidic Covenant – Part III The Latter Prophets & the New Testament