Texts for the Day
The Davidic Covenant
This week, we will depart from the lectionary readings and study the Davidic covenant. Read 2 Samuel 7:1-17. Can you identify the five elements of a covenant that we have been studying before?
- Suzerain – God
- Vassal – David and his descendants
- Provisions – Everlasting kingdom
- Stipulations – Faithfulness to God
- Sign – None specified
Questions for reflection:
- The promise that David’s dynasty would last forever was not kept. It came to an end in 586 BCE when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and took the king into exile. What does this mean? How should we interpret God’s promises in light of this event?
- There are several schools of thought that attempt to show that this promise was in fact kept. Here are two of them.
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- As with several of these covenants, it is impossible to consider the Davidic covenant without acknowledging its use in modern-day Zionist claims about the state of Israel. What do you think of this? Is this how scripture is intended to be used?
- Since New Testament times, Christians have claimed that Jesus, as the descendent of David, is the fulfillment of these promises. What does this mean?
