When David's time to
die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, "I am about to go the
way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge
of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments,
his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you
may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the LORD may
establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons pay close
attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart
and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.' (1 Kings 2:1-4)
The covenant and promise of a continued earthly reign for
David and Solomon's descendants was clearly conditional: "If your sons . .
." That earthly reign did, in fact,
come to an end with the captivity of Judah and the curse on King Jeconiah
(Jehoiachin, Coniah) that he would not have a descendant reign (Jeremiah
22:30). The "house of David," however, would continue, and the throne
would be reestablished in God's Son, Jesus the Messiah, "born a descendant
of David according to the flesh" (Rom. 1:3). Jesus fulfilled the promise
to David in being the son of David through David's son Nathan (Mary's lineage), and he inherited the royal pedigree by adoption through Solomon's
line (Joseph's heritage).
Here, as in many passages, we see the parallel covenants
with two "Israels": Physical Israel, whose covenants were earthly and
conditioned upon obedience, and Spiritual Israel, whose covenants were
spiritual and heavenly, fulfilled by God's grace and entered by faith alone.
Jesus affirmed before Pilate: "My kingdom is not of this world" (John
18:36).
The angelic announcement to Mary of Jesus’ conception and
birth affirmed: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.
And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will
reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no
end." (Luke 1:32-33) Jesus reigns!
“For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under
his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1Corinthians 15:25-26)
His kingdom will ultimately be fulfilled and established in
the New Heaven and New Earth (Rev. 21:1-2). That’s what the Apostle Peter said
he was eagerly awaiting:
“But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens
and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13)
In the meantime, we are to pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy
will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).
