From these two great prophets—David and his son Solomon—we learn how God was faithful to the agreement he had made with Abraham and Moses. God chose to work through David’s family to bring the world back to friendship with him. David and Solomon were humans, and so they had their weaknesses. Yet David was a good example of faith and service that God wanted for his people. Through David, God began to show more clearly that he would bring a special servant to save Israel and all nations.
We see God’s grace and forgiveness in the lives of these men through his mercy and patience. God showed that a great blessing of grace was coming to the world. He had promised this to Abraham so many years before, and God keeps his promises. God was working through David and his sons as kings of Israel to prepare the people for the coming of a great prophet. This other prophet would reveal all truth and light. This prophet would be a special servant to save Israel and all nations. Prophet David spoke of a promise that God gave him about David’s “Lord” who would come to rule some day:
The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies… The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever… Psalm 110.1-2, 4
Many more prophets after David would speak of this same promise, as we will see in our next lesson.