In today’s reading, Israel’s greatest king, David, becomes established on the throne of Israel (2Sam. 5:1-5). A couple of other events occur which have monumental impact on the shaping of biblical salvation history. First of all, David captures the city of Jerusalem (2Samuel 5:6-12). This city becomes the capital city of the Davidic kings and eventually the dwelling place of the LORD when Solomon builds the Temple.
The second great event in our reading today are the promises that God makes to David that one of his descendants will always reign on Israel’s throne (2Samuel 7:4-17). These promises are known as the Davidic covenant. Christians believe that the Davidic covenant finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus’ ancestry traces to David (Mt. 1:1-6;2:1-12) and by virtue of His incarnation, death and resurrection, Jesus has ascended to the right-hand of God the Father. (Acts 1:9-11; 2:29-36; Phil. 2:9-11). God has made this Son of David both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)
David was great king who did have a heart for the LORD. But we also see this man’s fallenness in our reading today. He sows several seeds that in later years will bear bitter fruit. For example, David marries many wives (2Sam. 3:1-5;5:13-16). He commits adultery with a loyal soldier’s wife, Bathsheba (2Sam. 11). He then arranges for Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, to be killed. In 2Kings 12:10-12, Nathan the prophet declares to David that violence will never depart from his family line and his own children will be guilty of sexual immorality. David proves to be a great king and army commander, but he proves to be a poor husband and father. This man has clay feet and is a fallen human being. We need a greater David to be our Savior. We thank God for sending His son Jesus into the world who will be able to fully usher in the kingdom of God (Rom. 1:1-6). In Christ’s love and service, Pastor John