THE SURE BLESSINGS OF DAVID

“As for the fact that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken in this way, ‘I will give you the holy and SURE BLESSINGS of DAVID’” – Acts 13:34 (ESV)

There is a unique set of blessings revealed in Paul’s Antioch synagogue message:  “…the holy and sure blessings of David” (Acts 13:34b, esv). This is traceable to the Blessing of Abraham, which is undoubtedly the most important blessing recorded in the Bible: God promised to increase his offspring and restore to his family the dominion that Adam and Eve forfeited in Eden (Gen.1:28; 17: 1-8; 22:15-18). This transgenerational blessing was passed down through Isaac to Jacob and all his descendants (27:1–45). Included among the benefiting descendants, are believers in Christ, who are incorporated into Jacob’s lineage by faith: “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham” (Gal.3:7). We begin to enjoy the blessing as we trust in God’s promises, and demonstrate this faith through love and service (Jam.2:14-26).

Ultimately, the blessing of Abraham is secure because it is given to Christ, who shares it with His people: “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ” (Gal.3:16).  Galatians 3:29 explains further: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” The bestowal of the blessing to Jesus is seen first in God’s covenant with David and his line. Dominion and all its attendant benefits were to be realized most fully in the everlasting throne of King David, which shares the blessing with its subjects as the representative of God’s people (2Sam.7:12-16).

Keeping the Almighty’s covenant meant that a chosen descendant of David would have to bear the punishment of death for the sins of David’s family, and, therefore, the sins of the people whom David’s royal line represents: “I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you” (2Sam.7:14-15). Keeping the same covenant also meant that God would have to preserve the throne forever, lest He be a God who breaks His word: “…I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever” (2Sam.7:13b). The only way to fit these things together is through resurrection, for a descendant of David who dies for his people remains on his throne only if he is restored to it by coming back from the dead.

So the promise to give the right descendant “the holy and sure blessings of David” is really a promise to raise Him from the dead. And God has resurrected this chosen descendant – King Jesus – that we might share in the blessings first given to Abraham and re-established in David. Being faithful and true, God keeps His covenant promises. So His pledge to give David’s greater son the holy and sure blessings of David is a pledge to bring Him back to life that He might, as the God-man, enjoy these blessings forever. For us who are in Him, the Lord has promised us the same life. In Christ, we have life eternal and will be resurrected on the final day.

In this temporal interlude however, when life presses and things feel stressed, when problems overwhelm, and challenges come our way, we should keep our focus on the Lord and His Word – He who created this entire universe, holds the stars in place, knows the exact number of hairs on our head, and also knows our way. His favor rests on us as we seek after Him, and He holds the power to cause things to happen in just a moment, that would otherwise take us years to do. He can open doors that leave us surprised at how they open. He can close doors that He knows are not the best for us. He has a plan for good in every tough time we face.