Our study of the times of Israel now brings us to when David takes the throne. God promises king David,

"Your house and your kingdom
Shall endure before you forever.
Your throne
Will be established forever"
(2Sm 7:16).

In this lesson we follow more of David’s adventures, but we are giving most of our attention to this promise about his throne and what it means.

Peter, centuries later, preached about this promise. He claims that David understood the promise to refer to the Christ who, after his death and resurrection, would sit on the throne and rule from heaven (Acts 2:22-36).

So we see God’s wonderful plan unfolding, and already being prepared for, and foreshadowed, in the earlier times of Israel. As David sits on his throne in Jerusalem, he represents the Christ who will be raised up to reign from heaven.

The Main Point

Behind this story is the promise and the oath which God swore to David that one of his descendants would reign forever on his throne. This is a prophecy about Jesus Christ the King of Kings, and continues the promise and the oath which God swore to Abraham, that in his seed all nations of the earth would be blessed (Gen 22:15-18).

Bible Summary (2 Samuel 1-10)

• Identical or similar accounts are given in 1Chronicles 11-19.
• David hears of Saul’s death, executes the Amalekite who claimed that he killed Saul (1) [The Amalekites story was untrue. See 1Sm 31, 1Ch 10]
• David’s poem of lament over Saul (1)
• David anointed king of Judah at Hebron (2)
• Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son, made king over Israel at Manahaim (2)
• The armies of Joab who are for David, fight in Gibeon against the armies of Abner who are for Ish-Bosheth (2)
• Ashael chases Abner. Ashael and 19 other of David’s men die, but 360 die of Ish-Bosheth’s men (2)
• Hostilities continue. House of David prevails (3)
• Abner defects to David’s side (3)
• Michal is given back to David; Paltiel weeps (3)
• Joab murders Abner. David curses Joab and mourns Abner (3)
• David becomes king of all Israel from Dan to Beersheba. The split in Israel is healed for the time being. (5)
• List of David’s supporters (5)
• David captures Jerusalem and reigns there (5)
• Hiram king of Tyre makes peace with David (5)
• David defeats the Philistines (5)
• The ark of the covenant moved to Jerusalem. Uzzah dies. (6)
• David dances to celebrate. Michal despises him (6)
• David desires to build a house for God (7)
• God’s promise to David, and David’s prayer to God (7)
• David has victories everywhere and is a good king (8)
• David’s kind gesture to Mephibosheth (9)
• New king of the Ammonites humilates David’s diplomats (10)
• Joab and Abishai defend Israel against the mercenaries of the Ammonites, and win peace (10)

The Throne of David

"The LORD has truly sworn to David, and will not turn back from it, 'The fruit of your body I will set upon your throne'" (Psalm 132:11).

"I have made a covenant with my chosen; I have sworn to David my servant, 'I will establish your seed forever, and build up your throne to all generations'" (Psalm 89:3-4)

Through Nathan the prophet God tells David, "When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Your house and your kingdom shall endure before you forever. Your throne shall be established forever" (2Samuel 7:12 13,16)

For a child will be born to us,
A son will be given to us,
And the government will rest
 on his shoulders.
 
And his name shall be called
 Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
 Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
 
There will be no end to the increase
 of his government or of peace,
On the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
To establish and uphold it
with justice and righteousness,
From then on and for ever more.
 
The zeal of the LORD of hosts
will accomplish this.
(Isaiah 9:6-7)

Note: the throne of David and the throne of the LORD are one and the same throne. [ Compare 1Kg 2:12 and 1Ch 29:23 ] Jesus fulfilled the prophecies that the Christ would sit on David’s throne, yet he said, "I have sat down with my Father in his throne" (Rev 3:21)

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