May 7 (Daily reading: 2 Samuel 6-7; 1 Chronicles 17) When David wanted to build a house for God to dwell in, God replied through the prophet Nathan that it would be David’s son who would build the temple. But God said: “The Lord will build a house for you” (1 Chron. 17:10). “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever” (2 Sam. 7:16).
David could not have imagined the full meaning of God’s promise to establish his house. This house, or kingdom, would be eternal and would not be of the earth. The eternal throne would be reserved for Jesus the Messiah, Son of God, Son of David, and King of kings!
Son of David was a messianic title. The covenant with David is a fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham. Matthew introduced Jesus as being both the Son of Abraham and the Son of David (Mt. 1:1). The angel Gabriel said to Mary about Jesus: “The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Lk. 1:32-33). Jesus came to earth as the fulfillment of the promises that God first made to Abraham, and then to David through Nathan.
Even though David could not have fully understood, he knew enough to know that God had blessed him immeasurably. God told him that he would not build a house for God, but that God would build a house for him! David was awestruck at this revelation: “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? … You are great, O Lord GOD; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You” (1 Sam. 7:18, 22).
– Al Gary
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