Week 8 - God's Covenant with David
What we talked about in Youth on Sunday
Recap of God’s Covenant with Moses
In Genesis 12, 15, and 17, God promises Abraham that he would make him a blessing to all peoples of the world, that nations and kings would come from him, that he would be given land, and that he would have innumerable descendants. God then fulfills some of these promises after leading Israel out of slavery in Egypt. God makes Israel—Abraham’s descendants—into a theocratic nation through a Suzerain-Vassal covenant, wherein God is their king and the Israelites are his subjects.
God then restates his promise to Israel that he would continue to fulfill, through them, all that he had promised to Abraham, as long as Israel, in accordance with their covenant made with God, would obey him and follow his commands. For if they follow God they would be protected and shine as a beacon of goodness to the rest of the world. Therefore, as we move forward in the story, we are left asking two questions: (1) will God keep his side of the covenant, and (2) will Israel keep their side of the covenant.
From Moses to David
As we move from Moses towards David we quickly get answers to the two questions above. First, Israel consistently and cyclically disobeys God. But, second, God remains faithful. After being at Mount Sinai and entering into covenant relationship together, God sends Israel towards Canaan, the land God had promised to them. After wandering for awhile Israel grows frustrated with God and ceases to obey him, thus breaking their end of the covenant. God punishes Israel, making them to wander in the desert for 40 years before being allowed to enter Canaan.
After the 40 years end and Moses dies, God raises up Joshua to lead Israel. Joshua leads Israel through Jericho into the land of Canaan, and for a brief period Israel is pleased with God and worships him only. However, as time goes on Israel again grows wary of following God. After almost 200 years of being in Canaan and not being content with God’s leading, Israel asks for a new king. In fear of the Philistine army encamped around them, they want a human king, in hopes it will make them powerful like the nations around them.
In 1 Samuel 8:4-9, God grants Israel’s wish for a human king. Despite Israel’s breaking of their covenant with God—a breaking akin to divorce—God promises to remain faithful to Israel. God makes it so that the king of Israel would become the covenant representative for all of Israel. God would now hold the king, rather than the Israelite people, responsible for keeping the covenant. Yet, just like Israel failed to keep their side of the covenant with God, so too their first king, Saul, fails to follow God. Therefore, God removes Saul from power and sets David as king over Israel to be the good covenant representative they need.
God’s Covenant with David
In 2 Samuel 7:8-16, God makes a new covenant with David, who is the covenant representative of Israel. Similar to God’s covenant with Abraham, God promises David a son (2 Sam. 7:12), to make his name great (2 Sam. 7:9), and permanent land, though now with houses instead of tents (2 Sam. 7:10). Furthermore, God makes two unique promises to David. First, that he would have a never-ending kingdom (2 Sam. 7:13, 16). And second, that he would have a never-ending house (2 Sam. 7:13, 16). The never-ending kingdom would be made permanent through a descendant of David, who we later learn is Jesus. The never-ending house, however, is in reference to God’s dwelling place. Whereas God had previously moved as Israel moved, now God would have an established dwelling place in a permanent temple among David and Israel. We later learn that God makes his permanent dwelling place within us through the coming of Jesus and the sending of his Spirit. And through it all, though David, nor Israel, deserved God’s faithfulness, God remained faithful to his people as he continued fulfilling his promises to them.
What Do We Learn From This?
First, we learn that God is faithful and always keeps his promises. Just as he began fulfilling his promises to Abraham in Moses, so too we see God fulfill some of his promises in David. Because God is faithful to keep his past promises, we can trust that he will fulfill all his promises, and indeed can rejoice because all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Jesus.
Second, we learn that sin causes problems. Israel would have had a more joyous existence had they followed God and trusted in him. Instead they threw out their covenant with God and asked for a new king. Israel then experienced the problems associated with having a human ruler—oppression, division, and death. We too face many problems because of our constant turning from God. We hope in presidents and local leaders to give us peace and solve our frustrations. We get angry with God when he does not give us exactly what we want. We turn to other vices to help us cope. And through it all we remain frustrated, people remain oppressed, and divisions grow stronger.
Last, we learn that even though we sin, we can trust God and find hope in him. Even though Israel sinned and told God they wanted nothing to do with him, God remained faithful. God allowed the king Israel wanted to be their covenant representative, even though God had every right to abandon the covenant like Israel did. We too, like Israel sin. We will sin today and will sin tomorrow. In light of our sin we should be grieved, but we should not be surprised by it, nor lose hope. God was faithful to Israel and he will be faithful to us now.
Continuing the Conversation at Home
After hearing the above lesson we broke up the boys and girls into separate groups and began to answer (1) Where do you see sin in your own life? and (2) Where do you see God’s grace in your life? As you go throughout your week, help your kids to see their sin and disobedience. As best as you can, graciously remind them that despite their sin you love them, God loves them, and you want what is best for them. Model for them what repentance looks like. When you snap at them or are frustrated with their behavior, apologize to them and seek their forgiveness. In doing so they will learn that you care about them and take your own sin seriously.