from Israel My Glory, Vol. 62, No. 4
The Davidic Covenant, Part 2
by David Levy
Although the phrase Davidic Covenant is not mentioned
in 2 Samuel 7, it is evident from other passages in the Bible that God
made a covenant with David.
Its Confirmation
This fact is clearly confirmed by the psalmist who wrote,
My covenant will I not break, nor will I alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established forever like the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven (Ps. 89:34–37).
Numerous Old Testament passages restate and reconfirm God’s immutable covenant with David (2 Sam. 23:5; 2 Chr. 7:18; 21:7; Isa. 9:6–7; Jer. 23:5–6; 30:8–9; 33:14–17, 20–21; Ezek. 37:24–25; Hos. 3:4–5; Amos 9:11; Zech. 14:4, 9).
The New Testament confirms the Davidic Covenant. The angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary,
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father, David [cf. Acts 2:30]. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end(Lk. 1:31–33).
Notice, Jesus has the right to David’s house, throne, kingdom, and the house of Jacob. The kingdom promise of the Davidic Covenant was acknowledged by the mother of Zebedee’s sons (Mt. 20:21); confirmed to Christ’s disciples (Lk. 22:29–30; Acts 1:6–7); and reconfirmed at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:13–18).
Its Character
Literal. The Davidic Covenant is to be interpreted literally. First, God would make “a great name” for David (2 Sam. 7:9) and give him rest from all his enemies (v. 11); both promises were literally fulfilled in his lifetime. Second, God solemnly confirmed this covenant with an oath to David (Ps. 89:3–4, 33; 132:11), guaranteeing that every aspect of it would be fulfilled literally.
Third, David believed the covenant God made with him would be fulfilled literally (2 Sam. 23:5). His son Solomon believed the promises were literal, especially in relationship to a throne and kingdom (2 Chr. 6:14–16). And the angel Gabriel confirmed an earthly, literal fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant at the announcement of Jesus’ birth to Mary (Lk. 1:31–33).
Unconditional. God clearly says that fulfillment of the promises made in the Davidic Covenant do not depend on David, but on Him. The covenant, therefore, is unconditional.
Throughout Psalm 89, God uses the personal pronoun I to confirm that He and He alone will bring to fruition the covenant promises (Ps. 89:1–4, 20–37). The only reservation in this covenant centers on the chastisement of David’s sons who would succeed him, but the covenant itself would never be abrogated.
Though chastisement disrupted David’s kingly line from the Babylonian Captivity until the birth of David’s Greater Son, Jesus Christ, all the promises made in the covenant have been reaffirmed and will be reestablished at Christ’s Second Coming when He sets up His earthly Kingdom.
Eternal. Scripture calls this covenant an eternal covenant: “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee; thy throne shall be established forever” (2 Sam. 7:16; cf. 2 Sam. 23:5; Isa. 55:3; Ezek. 37:25).
Immutable. The Davidic Covenant is also unchangeable. It is based on the nature and character of God, who is immutable, meaning there is no variableness or change with Him. Thus the promises in the Davidic Covenant are immutable, since they were decreed by God. And they will come to fruition in the way and time that the Lord has predicted in Scripture.
 David M. Levy is the director of International Ministries for The Friends of Israel.
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