David’s Prayer

WE HAVE NOTED IN PRIOR lessons the Godlike character of David. In today’s Selected Scripture passage we hear David testifying that nothing he had accomplished was of his own doing, but God’s alone. He speaks gladly of the blessings promised to Israel being much greater than those for him personally. “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family that you have given me all this? For all the great things you have already done for me are nothing in comparison with what you have promised to do in the future! For now, O Lord God, you are speaking of future generations of my children being kings too!”—I Chron. 17:16,17, The Living Bible

This man after God’s own heart had come to realize, however, that the promises made to Israel were conditional on their obedience. With their many rebellions against God in the past, it perhaps seemed likely that David’s successors to the throne would eventually turn completely away from the God who had delivered them from Egyptian bondage. Indeed, a little more than five hundred years later King Zedekiah was Israel’s last king. Jerusalem was besieged and overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar, and the people were taken captive to Babylon.

We understand that the future generations of rulership promised to David were to have their ultimate fulfillment in the much greater reign of Christ, the seed of David, in his Messianic kingdom. Part of the angel’s message to Mary mentioned in our previous lesson was with regard to this greater kingdom. Speaking of Jesus, the angel said, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”—Luke 1:32,33, New American Standard Bible

Messiah’s kingdom is styled “the throne of David” for good reason. The name David signifies “beloved.” David sat upon the throne of the kingdom of God for a limited time, as did his descendants. The greater David, Christ Jesus, will sit upon the throne of the kingdom of God to establish it forever. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: … Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”—Isa. 9:6,7

Jesus will become the recognized ruler not only over Israel, as in David’s reign, but over all the nations and families of earth. The “increase of his government” shall far exceed that of David. It will not be disturbed by rebellions or conflict of any kind. He shall establish everlasting peace, and his righteous government will not come to an end. When Messiah’s reign has fully accomplished all these things, he will deliver up the kingdom to the Heavenly Father, that “God may be all in all.”—I Cor. 15:24-28

David realized God’s overruling providences in Israel’s history. How much greater will his joy be when, upon his resurrection, he fully sees that God’s promises for Israel will then be extended to all other nations and kindreds of the earth. With even greater joy David will repeat his praise to God with the words, “All the great things you have already done for me are nothing in comparison to what you have promised to do in the future!”