This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing 
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s 
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

David is more worthy to rule 
Israel than king Saul ever was.

David listens to God.

He defeats enemy after enemy 
through patience and prayer.

He has unified Israel and brought
God’s throne to the center of the nation.

He’s built himself a palace and now
wants to make a temple for God.

But God doesn’t want David to build him a house;
God wants to build David a dynasty.

So far there have only been a handful of promises, 
or covenants, that God has entered into with humans:

Noah and the promise to never flood the earth, Abraham
and the promise to bless the world through his children, 

and Moses’ promise that God will
be with Israel and give her a home.

And in 2 Samuel 7, David receives a 
new promise and covenant from God.

One of David’s sons will establish a
kingdom that never ends.

In fact, God will call
David’s son his own son.

And even when this son of God is disciplined, 
God’s fatherly love will never abandon him.

David is floored by this 
promise of a perpetual kingdom.

He worships God for his kindness 
and humbly accepts this covenant.

God’s covenant with David is then proven in a
series of military victories.

David goes to battle and cuts down 
every enemy that comes across his sword.

That’s not because David is a particularly gifted general
but because God gave David each of his victories.

David knows this, and so he 
dedicates every spoil of war to God.

But there’s another reason David is 
a worthy king—he keeps his promises.

He promised Jonathan, Saul’s son, that once his enemies
were defeated, he would show kindness to his family.  

So, he brings Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s crippled
son, and sits him down at his table as if he were his own.

[music]

The end of 2 Samuel 9 is supposed 
to show us David at his best.

He’s more worthy than Saul.
He listens to God.

God has promised
David’s son will reign forever.

David can’t lose in battle, and 
he keeps his promises to Jonathan.

He’s merciful and generous
to Saul’s grandson when 

most ancient kings would have killed 
this potential threat to the throne.

And in all this, David is a picture of Jesus.

Jesus is the son God promised to David.

Jesus isn’t merely willing to eat 
with the crippled; he heals them.

Our enemies threaten us with death, 
but Jesus defeats every enemy

and triumphs over, the
weapon, death on the cross.

Jesus completes what God 
promised David in his covenant.

He defeats our enemies on every 
side and is merciful and gracious  

even to those who are
threats to his throne.

Jesus is the eternal Son of 
David, and he reigns forever.

An eternal King is good news for us for the same 
reasons it was good news for David and Israel.

We have a perpetual promise that the humble and weak,
like David and like Mephibosheth, will not
be crushed by the powerful.

Instead, we will sit at God’s table and 
inherit a Kingdom of peace and power forever.

May the Holy Spirit open your eyes to see 
the God who makes promises with his people.

And may you see Jesus as your eternal King who 
has begun his rule and reign of love and justice.