Prophet David had a great love for God. He dreamed of building a great magnificent temple for God, but God said 'No'. Instead, God promised him to build him not just a house, but a kingdom:
"I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.” (1 Chronicles 17:11-14)
God's promise was clear: He would establish an everlasting Kingdom for Himself on earth through one of David's offspring. This is certainly not dependent on David's own effort or power, but all on God's sovereignty that transcends even time and space.
But how can a human king be on the throne forever? Who is this person? What exactly does 'God's Kingdom' mean?
Visions from God regarding the future: The Coming Messiah
As David worshipped God, God revealed more of His plans and let him see a vision for an amazing future: one of David's descendants would be the 'Seed' God had promised to Prophet Adam who would defeat Satan.
This king was also the one who would bring God's everlasting covenant he has promised to Prophet Abraham too. And he would carry out the sacrifice foreshadowed in nullProphet Moses' revelation of the Passover. Check out other stories in our study series too.
God's revelations called this king 'the Messiah'. The title 'Messiah' means the one God has anointed, the one chosen by God to save His people.
This promise was far greater than what David could have imagined! He had endured a great deal of suffering and injustices in his life. His enemies have tried to betray and kill him. God's answers to his prayers were not political or military revenge as many people would have thought. God saw the real enemy as Satan, and He deals with the problem of human sin in ways beyond our understanding.
As David walked with God throughout his triumphs and failures, he wrote down God's revelations in powerful poems called the Psalms ﺍﻟﻤﺰﺍﻣﻴﺮ., with more details about this coming Messiah:
For example, in Psalm Chapter 2, we have learned this Messiah would be called God's son, and He would establish an everlasting kingdom in which all peoples and nations would worship him and be judged. Here the word 'son' does not mean a biological son like in human terms. The word means the Messiah comes directly from God, anointed by God, takes on God's inheritance, and represents God Himself on earth.
The Messiah would have BOTH human and divine qualities?
He would be both the offspring and LORD of David, and would sit at the right hand of God. (110:1)
He would be an eternal priest who atones for the sins of the world (that is the meaning of the Priest in the order of Melchizedek). (110:4)
He would be the judge of all nations. (110:6)
God has used many of David’s poems as prophetic signs to reveal how the whole world could recognize the Messiah.
We know this person would be a human, because he would be a descendant of David. But at the same time, he would also be the Lord of David? And he would sit at the right hand of God, which means he would be equal to God? And he would judge all nations. Shouldn't that be God's exclusive power? That means the Messiah would have both human and divine qualities! How can this be possible?!
Nothing is impossible in God, even in cleansing and atoning for all the sins of the world. As revealed to Prophet Moses and Aaron, sins can only be cleansed by the blood of someone who is perfect. But only God is perfect (see previous studies). Now, God revealed to Prophet David the Messiah what God had prepared for the world and how to recognize him.
Learn more about the Psalms (Zabur) ﺍﻟﻤﺰﺍﻣﻴﺮ
Your Response: Listen to God and Pray...
1. How can I see God's perspectives and His salvation plan when I'm suffering under violence, injustices and political turmoil? Will I surrender to Him and ask Him for His help in opening my eyes to see what He sees?
2. Look at the list of characteristics of the coming Messiah God has revealed to David. What can we learn about God and His love for His people?
3. Who can I share this story with?
