God's Promises
2 Samuel 7:16: "And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever."
Forever is a mighty long time! In 1 Chronicles 17:11-14, Nathan told King David of the covenant God would make with him: "When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever." In David's day, the kingship was an uncertain thing. Power bred problems for the leader and for those under him. David watched firsthand as the Lord withdrew his Spirit from Saul. In fact, David was anointed to be king before Saul was off the throne in Israel. Some believe that it was fifteen years between David's anointing and when he took kingship. The days were uncertain, but the promise and anointing of God was very certain.
David, as a man after's God's own heart, would have known the trustworthiness of the word of the Lord. When the Lord spoke these words through the prophet Nathan, David would have understood that God was speaking an eternal promise to him. His reign would remain in Israel. Though his son Solomon failed on almost every account, the Lord did not take his steadfast love from Solomon nor did he strip Solomon of the kingship. Instead, the nation of Israel suffered tremendously under Solomon's reign. The yoke of Solomon's taxes upon the people was crippling so much that the nation split under Solomon's son who promised to continue those taxes.
What we see all throughout Scripture is that the Lord's promises remain true; the Lord remains faithful despite the unfaithfulness of his people. Surely there was confusion as to how the Davidic covenant would remain until the birth of Jesus Christ. Matthew provides the genealogy of Jesus and traces his roots back to King David. In doing so, Matthew shows the validity of Jesus' kingship, while he also demonstrates the fulfillment of God's covenant to David.
The Lord would have you to know today that he is a faithful God, that his promises are steadfast and true, and that his word is forever. Though you falter and fail, your salvation is perfectly secure because of Jesus Christ. You never have to worry about losing his love or his gift to you. Just as the Lord has been true to every one of his covenants in the past, he will remain true to the new covenant ushered in through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Reflection:
On this Christmas Day, are you standing in the security of your salvation and the steadfast love of the Lord? Your unfaithfulness can never revoke the promises of God. Stand firm. You are loved; you are a child of the king. Your salvation is forever, and that is a mighty long time!
Forever is a mighty long time! In 1 Chronicles 17:11-14, Nathan told King David of the covenant God would make with him: "When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever." In David's day, the kingship was an uncertain thing. Power bred problems for the leader and for those under him. David watched firsthand as the Lord withdrew his Spirit from Saul. In fact, David was anointed to be king before Saul was off the throne in Israel. Some believe that it was fifteen years between David's anointing and when he took kingship. The days were uncertain, but the promise and anointing of God was very certain.
David, as a man after's God's own heart, would have known the trustworthiness of the word of the Lord. When the Lord spoke these words through the prophet Nathan, David would have understood that God was speaking an eternal promise to him. His reign would remain in Israel. Though his son Solomon failed on almost every account, the Lord did not take his steadfast love from Solomon nor did he strip Solomon of the kingship. Instead, the nation of Israel suffered tremendously under Solomon's reign. The yoke of Solomon's taxes upon the people was crippling so much that the nation split under Solomon's son who promised to continue those taxes.
What we see all throughout Scripture is that the Lord's promises remain true; the Lord remains faithful despite the unfaithfulness of his people. Surely there was confusion as to how the Davidic covenant would remain until the birth of Jesus Christ. Matthew provides the genealogy of Jesus and traces his roots back to King David. In doing so, Matthew shows the validity of Jesus' kingship, while he also demonstrates the fulfillment of God's covenant to David.
The Lord would have you to know today that he is a faithful God, that his promises are steadfast and true, and that his word is forever. Though you falter and fail, your salvation is perfectly secure because of Jesus Christ. You never have to worry about losing his love or his gift to you. Just as the Lord has been true to every one of his covenants in the past, he will remain true to the new covenant ushered in through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Reflection:
On this Christmas Day, are you standing in the security of your salvation and the steadfast love of the Lord? Your unfaithfulness can never revoke the promises of God. Stand firm. You are loved; you are a child of the king. Your salvation is forever, and that is a mighty long time!
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