WWUTT 359 God's Covenant With David?

God promised David that He would establish His Kingdom forever. And that promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who sits enthroned in heaven above, reigning forever and ever, when we understand the text.

This is When We Understand The Text, a daily Bible commentary to help encourage your time in the

Word. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we feature New Testament Study, an Old Testament book on Thursday, and our

Q &A on Friday. Now here's your teacher, Pastor Gabe. Thank you, Becky. We are in 2

Samuel today as we continue our Old Testament Study, chapters 6 and 7. Open up your

Bible and join with me there, and in what we will read today, we will see a significant promise concerning the coming

Messiah. And I say significant because up to this point, we've really just seen types and shadows.

We might have understood some of the inferences concerning Christ because we read the

New Testament. And we know, hey, what we see here in the Old Testament is what Jesus is talking about here in the

New Testament, and so we see these inferences of the coming Messiah. But nothing that is explicitly stated until we get to the

Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel chapter 7. And God says there that on the throne of David, He will establish

His covenant forever. The last time that we got a significant statement concerning the coming Messiah was in Deuteronomy 18 .15,

where Moses said, the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you. It is to Him you shall listen.

And this is a reference to Jesus Christ. The Israelites probably didn't know that. They may have thought that Moses was talking about Joshua, but Moses was referring to Christ, who is the greater

Moses. David is also a type of Christ, and Jesus is the greater

David. But we have not seen any explicit statements concerning a coming Messiah. And we get that today, 2

Samuel chapter 7. So if you want to join me, we'll begin reading here in chapter 6.

David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, 30 ,000. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baal, Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the

Lord of hosts, who sits enthroned on the cherubim. And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill.

And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God.

And Ahio went before the ark. Now when we see the description of the ark given to Moses in the book of Exodus, exactly how it's supposed to be built, what it's supposed to look like, how it's supposed to be transported.

We know that there are poles and the exact length of those poles are given when

Moses is to have those poles constructed. And those poles are supposed to be what is used to carry the ark with the priests of Levi on either end of the post.

So you would have four priests that are carrying the ark of God. And here, the

Israelites are going away from the instructions that God has given as to how the ark is supposed to be transported.

Even David is not obeying the ark of God, considering the transportation of the ark. So they are carrying the ark on a cart rather than using the priests of Levi as they are supposed to.

So now we continue to verse five, and David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.

And when they came to the threshing floor of Nicon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it.

For the oxen stumbled, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.

And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah, and that place is called

Perez Uzzah to this day. And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, How can the ark of the

Lord come to me? So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord into the city of David, but David took it aside to the house of Obed -Edom the

Gittite. And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed -Edom the Gittite three months, and the

Lord blessed Obed -Edom and all of his household, probably because Obed -Edom knew the right way to handle the ark and to treat the ark, which he did with reverence and in the fear of God.

And so the Lord blessed his house. Uzzah had good intentions. He thought he was protecting the ark of God, but God gave explicit instructions that the ark was not to be touched.

It was the very place where the presence of God dwelled. They're on the top of the ark between the cherubim.

So when a person touched it, they would die. And that's exactly what happened to Uzzah. God is not pulling any punches here.

He's not kidding when he says how he is to be revered and how his instructions are to be followed.

And because those instructions weren't followed in holiness and in reverence, there was a serious consequence.

And it was the life of Uzzah. Verse 12, and it was told King David, the

Lord has blessed the house of Obed -Edom and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed -Edom to the city of David with rejoicing.

We know that was Jerusalem based on what we read in last week's reading. Verse 13, and when those who bore the ark of the

Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal.

And David danced before the Lord with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod.

So David and all his house brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

All the house of Israel brought up, brought up the ark. Now when we were doing this particular study in my

Bible study on Thursday night, it was asked. So every time David went six steps, an animal was sacrificed.

And that would be our understanding. Verse 13, when those who bore the ark of the

Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. Every six steps, an ox and a fattened animal was sacrificed.

That's a lot of animals. But we see a very similar thing happen at the consecration of the temple. After Solomon builds the temple, there are a lot of animals that are sacrificed in the coronation of the temple.

So it's not terribly uncommon for ceremonies to include such sacrifice before the

Lord. And this is David being reverent before God as he was not the first time when the ark was being transported.

So let's continue on. Verse 16, as the ark of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked out of the window and saw

King David leaping and dancing before the Lord. And she despised him in her heart.

And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it.

And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the

Lord of hosts and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat and a cake of raisins to each one.

Then all the people departed each to his house. And David returned to bless his household.

But Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David and said how the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself before the eyes of his servants, female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself.

Now, there is there's a problem with with Michal statement here because we see the generosity that David had toward his people when it says that when he finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the

Lord of hosts, distributing among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat and a cake of raisins to each one.

Then all the people departed each to his house. So David is doing this for the sake of the people of Israel.

Glory to God on high. This is not for himself. And yet Michal, who does not who does not recognize or does not understand what it is that David is doing, says to him how the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself before the eyes of his servants, female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself.

And David said to Michal, it was before the Lord who chose me above your father and above all his house to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the

Lord. And I will celebrate before the Lord. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this.

And I will be a based in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken by them,

I shall be held in honor. And Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no child to the day of her death.

Michal simply did not understand a heart for the Lord as David had because her heart was not for the

Lord. She had a heart that was for the flesh, not a heart that was for God.

And so Michal was cursed with no children to the day of her death. Now we get to chapter seven, and this is where we have the

Lord's covenant with David. Now, when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all of his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan, the prophet, see now,

I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent. And Nathan said to the king, go do all that is in your heart for the

Lord is with you. But that same night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan.

Go and tell my servant David, thus says the Lord, would you build me a house to dwell in?

I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.

In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel whom

I commanded to shepherd my people Israel saying, why have you not built me a house of cedar?

Now therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, thus says the

Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture from following the sheep that you should be prince over my people

Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you.

And I will make for you a great name like the name of the great ones of the earth.

And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and I will plant them so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more.

And violent men shall afflict them no more as formerly from the time that I appointed judges over my people

Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the

Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. Let me repeat that again so I can put the emphasis in the right place.

Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you who shall come from your body and I will establish his kingdom.

He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity,

I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men. But my steadfast love will not depart from him as I took it from Saul whom

I put away from before you and your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.

Your throne shall be established forever. In accordance with all these words and in accordance with all this vision,

Nathan spoke to David. Now we know because of what we read in the

New Testament that God was not being hyperbolic here. What was communicated through his prophet Nathan.

Indeed, God established the throne of David forever for it was from the line of David would come the

Messiah, Jesus Christ. And his throne on which he reigns from heaven is forever and ever from everlasting to everlasting.

And so we have this promise that is given to David about a coming Messiah and we know to which or to whom this is referring because of what has been revealed to us by the apostles.

Let's go from here to Psalm 89. So turn in your Bible to Psalm 89 and in Psalm 89

David says, I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever with my mouth.

I will make known your faithfulness to all generations for I said steadfast love will be built up forever in the heavens.

You will establish your faithfulness. You have said I have made a covenant with my chosen one.

I have sworn to David my servant. I will establish your offspring forever and build your throne for all generations.

Say law. Let the heavens praise your wonders. Oh Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones for who in the skies can be compared to the

Lord who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones and awesome above all who are around him.

Oh Lord God of hosts who is mighty as you are. Oh Lord with your faithfulness all around you.

You rule the raging of the sea when its waves rise. You still them. You crushed

Rahab like a carcass. You scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. The heavens are yours.

The earth also is yours. The world and all that is in it. You have founded them the north and the south.

You have created them. Tabor and Herman joyously praise your name. You have a mighty arm strong as your hand high your right hand.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Blessed are the people who know the festal shout. Who walk oh

Lord in the light of your face. Who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted.

For you are the glory of their strength. By your favor our horn is exalted.

For our shield belongs to the Lord our King to the Holy One of Israel. Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one and said

I have granted help to one who is mighty. I have exalted one chosen from the people.

I have found David my servant. With my holy oil I have anointed him.

So that my hand shall be established with him. My arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him.

The wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.

My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with you. And in my name shall his horn be exalted.

I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers. He shall cry to me you are my father my

God and the rock of my salvation. And I will make him the firstborn the highest of the kings of the earth.

My steadfast love I will keep for him forever and my covenant will stand firm for him.

I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.

If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules. If they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments.

Then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes.

But I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.

Once for all I have sworn by my holiness. I will not lie to David.

His offspring shall endure forever. His throne as long as the sun before me.

Like the moon it shall be established forever a faithful witness in the skies say law.

But now you have cast off and rejected you who are full of wrath against your anointed. You have renounced the covenant with your servant.

You have defiled his crown in the dust. You have breached all his walls. You have laid his strongholds in ruins.

All who pass by plunder him. He has become the scorn of his neighbors. You have exalted the right hand of his foes.

You have made all his enemies rejoice. You have also turned back the edge of his sword and you have not made him stand in battle.

You have made his splendor to cease and cast his throne to the ground. You have cut short the days of his youth.

You have covered him with shame say law. How long oh Lord will you hide yourself forever?

How long will your wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time is. For what vanity you have created all the children of man.

What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?

Say law. Lord, where is your steadfast love of old which by your faithfulness you swore to David?

Remember oh Lord how your servants are mocked and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations with which your enemies mock oh

Lord. With which they mock the footsteps of your anointed. Blessed be the

Lord forever. Amen. And amen. So we have not only here

David rejoicing in the Lord for his faithfulness and the covenant that he has made with David but we also see kind of a foreshadowing of the fall of David's reign after David sins against the

Lord by sleeping with Bathsheba and having her husband Uriah the Hittite killed.

David's kingdom begins to crumble and even his sons turn against one another.

But the Lord continues to remain faithful to David and David rejoices in the

Lord for his faithfulness. So we come back to 2 Samuel 7 beginning in verse 18.

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house that you have brought me thus far?

And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come.

And this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God. And what more can

David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God. Because of your promise and according to your own heart you have brought about all this greatness to make your servant know it.

Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you and there is no

God besides you according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who is like your people

Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods.

And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever.

And you, O Lord, became their God. And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house and do as you have spoken.

And your name will be magnified forever, saying, The Lord of hosts is God over Israel, and the house of your servant

David will be established before you. For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servants saying,

I will build you a house. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.

And now, O Lord God, you are God and your words are true and you have promised this good thing to your servant.

Now therefore may it please you to bless this house of your servant so that it may continue forever before you.

For you, O Lord, have spoken and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.

And that is where we will conclude and we will pick up with chapter 8 next week. Let us pray to the

Lord and for a moment here thank God for his faithfulness to us and the deliverance of a

Messiah who died on the cross for our sins so that we might be fellow heirs with him in his kingdom, this throne that has been established forever.

Dear God, we thank you for the salvation that has been given to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Our sins have been forgiven and much more than this, we who are in Christ have become fellow heirs of his eternal kingdom.

What have we done to deserve such a thing? Nothing. But what we have done is sin against God and what we deserve is death.

Yet it is by your great name that you have shown us mercy and grace in your faithfulness.

You have rescued us from our sins and from the pit and delivered us into your eternal kingdom sealed by your

Holy Spirit. And so Lord keep us steadfast and keep us in these promises and with this covenant that has been made through Jesus Christ may we be steadfast forever.

And Lord I pray that you would remind us of these promises over and over so that we would know once and again that Jesus Christ is our hope and it is in him that we have been sealed for the day of the

Lord in your kingdom forever. We pray and ask these things in the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.

Gabriel Hughes is the pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Junction City, Kansas. Find out more online at www .utt