Day 4 – God chooses David to be King.
From the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the nation of Israel greatly increases to over a million people. Their large numbers were seen as a threat, and they were held captive in Egypt for 400 years until God calls Moses to lead the people out of bondage to a place called Mt. Sinai (modern-day Saudi Arabia). There, God gives them instructions for building a tabernacle for worship, and they soon become an organized people with a system of laws and government. Joshua becomes the next leader, and he leads the people into the Promised Land in Canaan, the land God had promised to Abraham.
The nation of Israel is then ruled by judges for the next 300 years until a prophet by the name of Samuel is born. Samuel is the last judge of Israel before the people decide they want to have a king like the other nations. The people choose Saul to be their first king, though he later goes insane. God then tells the prophet Samuel to anoint a young man named David from the tribe of Judah to be their next king.
King David is a popular and successful king. But even more importantly, he is chosen by God. The prophet Nathan has a vision for King David, and this becomes the Davidic Covenant. It is an unconditional covenant, which means it cannot be undone by our own actions. It states that an everlasting kingdom will come from the house of David. This becomes the fourth prophecy about the coming Messiah and Savior.
2 Samuel 7:16
“Your house and kingdom will endure before Me forever,
and your throne will be established forever.’”
All three of these things (house, kingdom, and throne) are fulfilled in Jesus, as told by the angel Gabriel to the virgin Mary who was from the house of David.
Luke 1:32-33
“He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give Him
the throne of His father David.
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
and His kingdom will have no end.”
May you experience the joy and good news that was announced by the angel Gabriel on that night long ago,
when God came down to earth to fulfill His promise of a Savior and a Kingdom that will never end.
* Merry Christmas *
A Christmas Story Devotional: 31 Days of the Christmas Story from Genesis to John
Follow along for the 31 days of December and experience a new and exciting appreciation for the ancient Christmas story we celebrate today. The story of Jesus and the meaning behind the celebration of Christmas is woven throughout the entire Bible – from the beginning of mankind in Genesis to the resurrection of Jesus as told by the apostle John some 4000 years later.
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