May 3, 2015: The Gospel of God – John Perkins

David is riding a wave of success as far as kings go. He has united the people. He has subdued the Philistines. He has established the new capital, Jerusalem. He has brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem – signifying that God reigns. As Eugene Peterson says, “David takes his place as king, not in the usual sense, but as a witness that God is King.”

David’s kingship is marked by his being a servant of God, and he uses his throne to proclaim the rule of God. In fact, God’s rule and reign is often found in the Psalms of David. His time on earth served to point others to the fact that God was in really the One in charge. Which brings new light to the promise that God made to David. He told him his throne would be “established forever.” It’s not just a benefit for David, but for the world. Because it’s the kind of king David was that makes this promise so amazing.

The promise to David is far more about God’s rule and reign than it is those tied to the Davidic line. We know that the son’s of David wandered far from the tradition of their father. However, there still was the promise the people waited for. A son of David – “a shoot from the stump of Jesse” would come.