Last month we looked at the covenant promise God gave to David
that his descendants would reign on his throne forever. However, this
does not mean that everything would be easy. Throughout the years,
there were many times when the promise of God seemed like it would
be impossible to keep. It was no small miracle that the male line of
succession continued from the time of David (c. 1000 BC) through the
time of the exile into Babylon (586 BC). For over 400 years, a
descendant of David reigned over the southern kingdom of Judah.
Following the split of the united kingdom after the death of Solomon,
the northern kingdom of Israel, by contrast, had multiple different
families rule during the same time. Seven kings of Israel had their
throne usurped by someone outside of their family by assassination.

However, this does not mean that the House of David was immune
from violence and intrigue. Even after David was anointed as king, he
faced various threats to his own rule. First, he was hunted by Saul,
the first king, whose kingship was rejected by God. Later, David’s own
son, Absalom, led a rebellion against his father, fearing that another
of David’s sons would be made king instead of him. In those days,
succession was not always based on birth order. In fact, it would be
Solomon, who was at least tenth in line according to age order, who
would eventually succeed David. For God had promised David that it
would be his son Solomon that would succeed David and build the
Temple of the Lord.

At the death of David, even this was, by earthly standards, a difficult
promise to keep. For another of David’s sons, Adonijah, conspired to
establish himself as king in the last days of David’s life. It is likely
Adonijah was the oldest of David’s remaining sons in the palace
following the death of Amnon and Absalom. Initially forgiven by
Solomon, Adonijah continued to make a play for the throne after
David’s death and was executed. However, this would finally firmly
establish Solomon as David’s successor as king.

In keeping His promise to David that Solomon would succeed him as
king, the Lord showed that keeping His covenant with David would be
something the Lord would oversee personally. No level of human ambition
or plotting would be able to prevent God from keeping the promise He
made to His people. This is good news for us as well. In Psalm 2 God asks in
verse 1, “Why do the nation conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?” The Psalm
continues to say the Lord laughs and scoffs at their evil plans, firmly stating in
verse 6, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” What good news
it is for us that as God has installed Jesus as King over heaven and earth, that no
amount of human scheming can thwart or even threaten that plan. We can rest
assured that God will keep His covenant with us, and that our future is secure in
His able hands.

Blessings, Pastor Barry