Graduate 91: Advent, Day 14

The House of David
1 Samuel 16:1-17:58; 2 Samuel 5:1-5; 7:1-29

The first kingly dynasty in Israel is very short-lived. Because of his disobedience, God removes the throne from Saul’s family even before his reign has ended and gives it to another. He sends the prophet Samuel to the tribe of Judah, to the town of Bethlehem and instructs him to anoint the eighth son of Jesse as the future king. Though King Saul is friendly with David in these first few chapters, he soon turns against him—recognizing the signs of God’s favor on Him and feeling the threat to his own authority. It will be yet another sign of the way in which Saul has strayed from God’s plan.

Contrast that with David’s attitude on the battlefield before Goliath. Where does his confidence lie? “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel”. (1 Sam. 17:45) He, too, strays periodically from the straight and narrow way, but each time returns. Samuel calls him a man after God’s own heart. (1 Sam. 13:14)

It makes an enormous difference—how malleable one’s heart is to the touch of God. If we are preoccupied with our own projects and agendas and refuse to bow to God’s call, we will soon find ourselves working against God’s will for us. By contrast, if we make it a priority to pursue God’s calling in all things—the possibilities of what God can do through us are endless. This is as true in ministry as in the rest of life. Consider that David desires to build a temple for God, but is forbidden; he understands who is in charge and submits to the Lord’s direction. Instead, God promises to establish David’s house: “And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established for ever.” (7:16) Whose plan do you think was better?

The prophet Isaiah will later speak of the ruler who will come from the house of Jesse—from the family of David. (Isaiah 11:1-10)

Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,
And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him,
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and strength,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
And He will delight in the fear of the LORD,
And He will not judge by what His eyes see,
Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;
But with righteousness He will judge the poor,
And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth;
And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins,
And faithfulness the belt about His waist.
…
They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain,
For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
As the waters cover the sea.
Then it will come about in that day
That the nations will resort to the root of Jesse,
Who will stand as a signal for the peoples;
And His resting place will be glorious.

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God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.