What God’s Promise Means

“Your throne shall be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:16

There’s something in God’s promise to David that takes us beyond Solomon, and it lies in the word forever: “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (7:13). This becomes even clearer when God says to David, “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (7:16).

This marvelous promise could mean one of two things:

1. That at any given time there would always be a descendent of David on the throne.
This cannot be the meaning of the promise for the simple reason that it did not happen. The last descendent of David to reign in Jerusalem was Zedekiah. His reign ended in 586 BC.

2. That there will be one Person in the line of David whose reign will continue forever.
This is clearly how the promise was understood, even in Old Testament times. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore” (Isa. 9:6-7).

The promise, Isaiah says, does not mean that there will always be a Davidic king. Hope for God’s people does not lie in a dynasty. It lies in a Person: One Person, who will be born into the line of David and will fulfill the promise given to David. His reign will be forever.

Can you find joy today in Jesus Christ, who has fulfilled God’s promise to David and whose reign continues forever?