187. A Throne and a Kingdom
2 Samuel 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
The Messianic Prophecy given to David comes after David declares that he wants to build a “house” (temple) for the Lord. God replies that He will build a “house” (dynasty) for David. God did establish a royal dynasty of kings from David’s line, but it only lasted about 400 years. Then came the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, the loss of the kingdom, and the Exile.
But the prophecy states that the throne of his kingdom will be established forever. The “his” of this promise is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, born as a human descendant of King David. God will establish the throne of His kingdom forever. The “forever” could not refer to any fully human descendant or to any earthly kingdom. The throne and the kingdom refers to the descendant of David’s line who is also God, the only thing that lasts forever, except for those to whom God gives His eternal life. Jesus is the Son of David and the Son of God.
The Eternal Kingdom over which the Messiah rules is the invisible Kingdom of God which enters into and takes over the hearts of His believers. There Christ reigns. The eternal kingdom is now the Church Militant, for now it is only spiritual, and one day it will become in glory the Church Triumphant, visible for all to see forever.
We Christians eagerly long for this Kingdom, while at the same time we already see it and possess it by faith. This “already/not yet” tension fills our days. We actually have what we don’t yet see. This is the Kingdom that is promised to all those who are followers of Jesus. The Kingdom and the King of it is our Promise. Jesus proclaimed: “The kingdom of God is here; repent and believe the Gospel!” Then He went about establishing that kingdom in the spirits of all who would receive Him, and He is still doing just that today. The promise: “You are God’s forever people. Jesus is Lord of this people. Believe the Gospel and let the kingdom take over your life.”