Useful Bible Studies > 2 Samuel Commentary > chapter 23

David’s three questions

2 Samuel 23:5

It is perhaps easiest to think about 2 Samuel 23:5 if we think about it as a series of three questions. The questions are:

(1) What relationship does David’s house (family) have with God?

(2) What is the nature of God’s covenant with David, in other words, God’s promises to David?

(3) How will God carry out those promises?

David’s first question is about the relationship between God, and David’s ‘house’ (which means his family). Of course, David and his family would do wrong things, and God knew that (7:14). However, God had chosen to use that family for his own honour. So, he chose them to be the kings of his special people, Israel. He also chose that from that family would come God’s perfect king, called the Messiah (Jeremiah 23:5-6).

David’s second question is about the promises that God made to him about the future of his family. Those promises are in 2 Samuel 7:5-16. Psalm 132 explains more about them. These promises last for all time because the Messiah’s rule will never end (Luke 1:32-33) – and as we have said, the Messiah is from David’s family (Matthew 1:1-17). These promises are certain: they depend on the word of God, who cannot lie (see Hebrews 6:16-20 and compare Psalm 132:11).

The last question is about how these things will happen. David eagerly desired to see God’s salvation, the rescue and safety that only the Messiah can bring (compare Luke 2:30). These were David’s last words (23:1); it was clear to him that Messiah would not come during his life. Still, he believed and he waited (compare Hebrews 11:13-16).

It was God who made these promises; therefore, it is God who will bring them about. So, these things will happen by God’s great power at the time that he has chosen (Acts 1:6-7).

Next part: Messiah will end the power of evil people (2 Samuel 23:6-7)

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