Covenant in the Old Testament: Davidic Covenant
In his covenant with David, God promises David that his descendants will be king for ever.
Where in the Bible is this Mentioned?
The covenant with David has been recorded in various passages in the second book of Samuel (2 Samuel 3:9-10
The vision of Nathan (2 Samuel 7:8-16
A lasting Reign
Nathan’s vision highlights different aspects of the Davidic covenant:
- The promise is made to David through a prophet, Nathan. The message comes from God and is therefore authoritative.
- The message makes it clear that the God of Israel is the only source of David’s power. God alone can make a person king. In this way, the kingdom is joined with faith in the God of Israel.
- God promises David two things: land and an (inherited) dynasty. David wants to build a house for God, but instead, God is building David a (royal) house.
- The king is not divine, as with some other nations, but there is a special relationship between God and the king: the relationship of father and son (see for example 2 Samuel 7:14
). - The king does not have absolute power. He is subject to God’s authority and must adhere to God’s Laws.
- The covenant is an eternal covenant that cannot be broken.
The King and the Order of Creation
The covenant with David has another special characteristic, which becomes evident in Psalms 72
Meaning of the Term “Covenant”
In the case of the covenant with David, the word “covenant” does not refer to a treaty between two parties. Rather, it refers to a divine “charter”: God awards particular privileges, power or status to a person, usually a king. This motif occurs more frequently in the Bible, for example in the covenant with Abraham. Such “charters” were also known elsewhere in the ancient Near East, where a king would grant possessions or privileges to valued subjects.
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