The kingdom in the Abrahamic covenant is the promised future government over the nation of Israel in its own land, with the Messiah Himself as King.
Les Feldick explains the Abrahamic covenant as three promises: God would make a nation from Abraham, place that nation in the promised land, and one day become their King in the person of the Messiah. This King and kingdom are the government the covenant promises to Israel. It is not merely the historical rule of David or Solomon, but the Messianic kingdom that the Old Testament looks forward to.
2 Samuel 7:12-16 — This passage is central because God promises David a royal house, a kingdom, and a throne established forever — the kingly line from which the Messiah and His kingdom would come.
Genesis 12:1-3 — This is the foundational Abrahamic covenant promise, where God promises to make Abraham a great nation, the people who would later receive the land and the kingdom.
Scripture records the Abrahamic covenant as God's promise to make Abraham a great nation and to give that nation a land (Genesis 12:1-3). That national and territorial promise becomes the foundation for the kingdom. In 2 Samuel 7, God amplifies the covenant through David: He promises to establish David's throne forever and says, "And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever" (2 Samuel 7:16). Isaiah 9:7 identifies the coming ruler as the One upon whose shoulder the government rests, ruling on David's throne over an endless kingdom. The kingdom in view is therefore a literal, promised government for Israel under a Davidic King.
Les Feldick repeatedly summarizes the Abrahamic covenant as three promises: God would make Abraham's descendants a nation, He would put that nation in a geographical land, and He would give them a government by coming Himself as King in the person of the Messiah. He stresses that all the other covenants are wrapped up inside this one. He also teaches that a viable kingdom requires a king, and a king is of no earthly use without a kingdom, so the Messiah and the kingdom must come together. Israel was to see Jesus as their promised King, but they wanted the King and the kingdom without dealing with the sin problem. At the covenant's full fruition, the Messiah will be Israel's King, and every Jew in that kingdom will be a believer.
Les Feldick teaches that the Abrahamic covenant has three basic premises. First, God would make a nation of people from Abraham and Sarah. Second, He would put that nation in a geographical area of land, which is why it is called the promised land. Third, once the people were dwelling in their own land, God would provide them with a government — He Himself would become their King in the person of the Messiah. This is why, in the book of Matthew, Jesus is referred to as the King of Israel.
Les emphasizes that you cannot have a viable kingdom without a king, and a king is of no earthly use unless he has a kingdom. When John the Baptist presented Jesus as Israel's King, the long view was the kingdom. But Les also points out that the Jews of Jesus' day wanted the King and the kingdom to overthrow Rome; they did not want to deal with the sin problem. The Messiah had to be their Redeemer and Savior as well as their King, so both lines — the coming King and the suffering Savior — run through the Old Testament.
According to Les, when the Abrahamic covenant comes into full fruition, the Messiah will finally be Israel's King and the nation will enjoy the promised land as its homeland. There will not be an unbelieving Jew anywhere in that kingdom; they will all be believers. It will be the glorious kingdom that the Old Testament has been looking forward to.
God's Chastening and Unchanging Mercy
Les explains from 2 Samuel 7 that God will use other nations to chasten Israel, but the word 'but' in verse 15 shows God's mercy and covenant promises remain in force. This supports the future kingdom by showing that the promise to David's line continues despite Israel's failures.
The King and Kingdom Must Come Together
Les teaches that the Abrahamic covenant reaches its goal when God Himself in the person of the Messiah comes to be Israel's King, and a viable kingdom requires a king just as a king requires a kingdom.
The Three Promises of the Covenant
Les describes government as the third part of the Abrahamic covenant: God would make them a nation, give them a land, and then become their King in the person of the Messiah, the Christ.
King and Redeemer Together
Les teaches that Israel in Jesus' day wanted the King and the kingdom but refused to deal with the sin problem, whereas the kingdom could only come through the Messiah as both King and Redeemer.
The Kingdom in God's Plan from Abraham Onward
Les ties the kingdom directly to the Abrahamic covenant, saying the covenant comprises a special nation, a geographical land, and then God's government in the King — the kingdom everything looks forward to.
The Kingdom at Full Fruition
Les says when the Abrahamic covenant reaches its fruition, the Messiah will be Israel's King, every Jew in that kingdom will be a believer, and Israel will enjoy the promised land as their homeland.
Summary of the Abrahamic Covenant
Les restates the three promises and includes that the King must also be Messiah, Redeemer, and Savior, so the sin problem has to be dealt with as part of the kingdom plan.
Government and King in the Covenant
Les brings the covenant to a nutshell: a nation from Abraham, a promised land, and one day God as their government with the King, the Messiah — the kingdom substance of the covenant.
Genesis 12:2: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
This is the opening national promise of the Abrahamic covenant, setting up the people who will later receive the promised land and kingdom.
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 the son of David will have an everlasting kingdom throne, showing the eternal dimension of the covenant kingdom.
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 direct promise of an everlasting Davidic kingdom, which Les ties to the Abrahamic covenant's king and government promise.
Isaiah 9:7: Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
This verse identifies the Messiah as the King whose government and kingdom rest on David's throne, matching the kingdom promised in the Abrahamic covenant.
It is the promised government that God will establish over the nation of Israel in their promised land, with the Messiah Himself as King. Les Feldick teaches that this is the third part of the Abrahamic covenant after the promises of nationhood and land.
The Messiah, the Christ. Les Feldick teaches that God Himself would become Israel's King in the person of the Messiah, and that the Messiah would also be their Redeemer and Savior. This is why Jesus is called the King of Israel in Matthew.
According to Les Feldick, yes. When the Abrahamic covenant comes into full fruition, there will not be an unbelieving Jew anywhere in the kingdom; they will all be believers and will enjoy the promised land as their homeland.
Watch the Teaching: God’s Plan for Israel vs. Gentiles: Understanding the Abrahamic Covenant