The setting of the Davidic covenant is the Lord’s response to David’s desire to build a house for Him (2 Sam. 7; 1 Chron. 17). David, the man after God’s own heart, felt it inappropriate that he should be living in luxury while the ark of the Lord dwelt in a tent. Although it was not yet the Lord’s time for the temple to be built, clearly the Lord was pleased by the intention of David’s heart. Thus, He takes this occasion to introduce his covenant with David. As we will see, it builds on the Abrahamic Covenant and leads to the New Covenant. They are all steps in God’s program. As touching as David’s idea was, the Lord’s idea is so much grander; it stretches back to Genesis and reaches forward to eternity.
The Terms of the Covenant
We can’t read the terms of the Davidic Covenant without being reminded of God’s covenant with Abraham because both covenants are largely focused on the coming Messiah. In Genesis, the messianic prophecies are gradually narrowed down from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob and then finally to the line of Judah (49:10). Now we see the focus narrowed further to the line of David.
The covenant was established with David (Ps. 89:3,?34f; 2 Sam. 23:5; 2 Chr. 21:7; Jer. 33:21) and his sons (2 Chr. 13:5).
In it, the Lord made a variety of promises to David and his descendants. We have a list of these in 2 Samuel 7.
A name (v. 9). In spite of how David’s enemies might seek to sully his name, the Lord would see to it that, in the end, David’s fame and reputation would be great. In this, we can’t help but think of the Lord Jesus. Although the enemy has tried his best to ridicule the name of Christ (with some temporary success), in the end, that very name will be universally acknowledged to the glory of God (Php. 2:10f).
A place (v. 10). Israel will be permanently settled in the land, never to be displaced again.
Peace (vv. 10f). Not only will Israel be planted in her land, but she will enjoy it without disturbance.
A house (v.11). This account began with David’s offering to make a house for the Lord. Instead, the Lord assures him that He will make a house for David, referring to the fact that the reign of David would be passed on to his son.
The temple (v. 13). Although David was disqualified from building the temple, Solomon was given the honor of doing so, and David would have the privilege of providing for its construction.
A throne (v. 16). The throne and kingdom of the house of David are promised to last forever. The covenant does not say that their reign will never be interrupted. Indeed, sin led to an interruption in the reign of the Davidic line. The curse on Jeconiah (Jer. 22:24-30) seemed to make this interruption permanent since “no man of his descendants will prosper sitting on the throne of David or ruling again in Judah.” But Luke reveals the Lord’s answer to this seeming dilemma for the very passage that reveals the eternal continuation of David’s throne in Christ (Lk. 1:32f) explains that He was born of a virgin (vv.34f) and thus not of the seed of Jeconiah.
The Nature of the Covenant
Literal. Each term was or will be fulfilled literally. David’s name really was made great; David’s son really did assume the throne and built an actual temple for the Lord; and the kingdom was a literal kingdom.
Eternal. In his last words, David declared this covenant to be eternal: “Truly is not my house so with God? For He has made an everlasting covenant with me” (2 Sam. 23:5) and this is later confirmed through Jeremiah (Jer. 33:20f).
Unconditional. Perhaps the most contested element of the Davidic covenant is that it is absolutely unconditional. There are those who claim that all of God’s national promises to Israel have been taken away because she was disobedient and rebellious. But Psalm 89 anticipates this exact objection. In speaking of His covenant with David (see esp. vv. 28f), the Lord tells us exactly what would happen in the case of sin (vv. 30-37):
If his sons forsake My law, and do not walk in My judgments, if they violate My statutes, and do not keep My commandments, then I will visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. But I will not break off My lovingkindness from him, nor deal falsely in My faithfulness. My covenant I will not violate, nor will I alter the utterance of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. His descendants shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established forever like the moon, and the witness in the sky is faithful. Selah.
It is difficult to imagine how the Scriptures could be clearer without specifically using the term amillennialism. Disobedience would result in chastisement but never in abrogation of the covenant.
Guaranteed. The covenant is absolutely secure because it does not depend on the faithfulness of David, Solomon, or Israel. As we read above, this covenant was based entirely on that which is immutable: the Lord’s lovingkindness, faithfulness, integrity, word, oath, holiness, and truthfulness. Only if all of those were to fail would God’s covenant with David be broken.
The Covenant’s Double Fulfillment
There is one other element of the covenant that deserves special consideration. The covenant is recorded in 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17. But, although the two accounts are largely identical, a careful comparison of the two will reveal some striking contrasts because, as with many prophecies, this one has a double fulfillment. The Davidic covenant would first of all be partially fulfilled in David’s son Solomon (focused on in 2 Samuel 7) but then finally fulfilled in David’s greater Son, the Lord Jesus (focused on in 1 Chronicles 17).
It’s worthwhile to consider all of the contrasts in more detail (as in the chart above), but let us highlight two. First, we note that when Solomon is in view, the covenant has provisions for the iniquity of David’s son (2 Sam. 7:14). But when Christ is in view, the references to sin are completely removed.
Secondly, when Solomon is in view, the covenant speaks of “your house and your kingdom” (2 Sam. 7:16). But when Christ is in view, it changes to “My house and My kingdom” (1 Chr. 17:14). This is because Solomon had no right to serve in the temple. But Christ will be “a priest on His throne” (Zech. 6:13).
The Covenant’s Implications
We see that God’s purposes depend on His unassailable character, Word, and oath, not on the tenuous faithfulness of His people. How thankful we should be for this, for it is the reason why we too have a certain hope rather than no hope at all.