The Davidic covenant is God's promise that a royal family would come from David and that through it the King of Israel—Jesus Christ—would rule forever.
In 2 Samuel 7, God promised David a royal house and an everlasting throne. Les Feldick teaches that this royal bloodline continued through David and Bathsheba's sons, Solomon and Nathan, all the way to Joseph and Mary, making Christ the promised King who could rightfully sit on David's throne. Its significance is that it provides the kingly government promised to Israel within the greater Abrahamic covenant.
2 Samuel 7:16 — This is the core promise of the Davidic covenant: David's house, kingdom, and throne would be established forever.
In 2 Samuel 7, God speaks to David through the prophet Nathan and promises to establish David's royal house forever: 'And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever' (2 Samuel 7:16). God also says of David's seed, 'I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men' (2 Samuel 7:14). The covenant thus concerns an everlasting throne, a kingly line, and a kingdom that would come through David.
Les Feldick teaches that 2 Samuel 7 is where God gives David the promise that through him would come a royal family—the 'house of David.' He explains that God made a covenant with David that a royal family bloodline would come from him, and through that royal family would come the King of Israel. Les points to Solomon and Nathan as the two sons of David and Bathsheba who carried the genealogy down through history. Les connects this covenant to the greater Abrahamic covenant. God promised Abraham a nation, a land, and eventually a ruler or government; the Davidic covenant supplies that royal government. Les describes the coming kingdom as an eternal monarchy ruled by the King of kings, and he teaches that the royal bloodline was preserved until Christ's birth—Mary being the physical mother and Joseph the legal father, both from the Davidic line. He also notes that these covenants belong to Israel, as Paul says in Romans 9:4-5.
Les teaches that the promise to David goes back further, to the Abrahamic covenant, when God promised Abraham that out of him would come a nation, and that He would one day put them in the land of Israel. At the appropriate time, God would bring forth the ruler or government over that kingdom, and this is where the Davidic covenant fits (Clip 3). Les also reminds us that the covenant promises belong to the nation of Israel, including the return promised in Deuteronomy 30 (Clip 0). The royal family from David leads to a government that is not a democracy but a monarchy, ruled by the King of kings; Les says this prospect was laid out in the Abrahamic covenant (Clip 6). The later covenants, including the covenant with Moses and the covenant with David, continue that same plan (Clip 7).
Les teaches that even though ungodly kings came down through history, the royal blood kept together until the birth of Christ (Clip 1). The family tree comes down through Solomon and Nathan, and finally Joseph on one side and Mary on the other (Clips 2, 5). Mary was the physical mother of Jesus, and Joseph was His legal father, so both had to be included in the Davidic genealogy (Clips 1, 4).
According to Les, Christ's first advent was to present Himself to Israel as the promised King according to the covenants. He was from the line of David and therefore the last possible son of David who could be the King (Clip 5). God promised in 2 Samuel 7:14-15 that even if the royal son committed iniquity, God would chasten him with the rod of men, but His mercy would not depart—thus preserving the royal line until Christ (Clip 4).
Promises Belong to Israel
Les reminds that the covenant promises belong to the nation of Israel, including the regathering promised in Deuteronomy 30—context for why the Davidic covenant is an Israel-specific covenant.
The House of David
Les points to 2 Samuel 7 as God's promise that a royal family—the house of David—would continue until Christ, with Mary as the physical mother and Joseph as legal father.
Royal Bloodline to the King
Les explains that God's covenant with David established a royal family bloodline from which the King of Israel would come, with Solomon and Nathan as branches of David and Bathsheba's family tree.
A Perpetual Throne
Les connects the Davidic promise to the Abrahamic covenant and stresses that Solomon's throne is established forever—a perpetual kingdom.
Chastening but Mercy
Les highlights God's promise in 2 Samuel 7:14-15: even when the royal line sinned, God would chasten but not take away His mercy, preserving the line to Christ.
Christ the Promised King
Les teaches that the genealogy of David came down through Joseph and Mary to Christ, the last possible son of David who could be King, and that these promises belong to Israel (Romans 9:4-5).
A Righteous, Eternal Monarchy
Les shows that the royal family from David leads to an eternal government—a benevolent monarchy ruled by the King of kings—resting on the Abrahamic covenant.
Other Covenants in the Plan
Les explains that the Davidic covenant is one of the later covenants alongside the Mosaic covenant, all part of God's unfolding plan leading to the King.
2 Samuel 7:13: He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
God promises that David's son would build the Temple and that his throne would last forever.
2 Samuel 7:14: I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
God's covenant allowed for the king's sin and promised chastening rather than abandonment.
2 Samuel 7:16: And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
This is the central pledge of the Davidic covenant: an everlasting house, kingdom, and throne.
Romans 9:4: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Paul identifies the covenants, including the Davidic covenant, as belonging to Israel.
God made the promise to David in 2 Samuel 7, speaking through the prophet Nathan. The covenant concerns a royal family from David and an everlasting throne.
It provides Israel with the royal line that would bring the King of kings, Jesus Christ. Les teaches that it is part of God's covenant purpose for Israel and connects to the Abrahamic covenant.
Jesus is connected through Mary, His physical mother, and Joseph, His legal father, both of whom are from the royal bloodline of David and Solomon. Christ is the promised King from David's line.
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