The Prophecy of David

Order of Service

• Hymn — God the Lord a King Remaineth
• Call to Worship — Psalm 93
• Hymn — Lord Have Mercy
• Prayer of Invocation
• Prayer of Confession
• Assurance of Pardon — Exodus 34:6-7
• Scripture Reading — Acts 24:1-21
• Hymn — The Day of Resurrection
• Pastoral Prayer
• Offering
• Prayer of Dedication
• Hymn — Till He Come
• Sermon
• Hymn — O Quickly Come, Dread Judge of All
• Benediction — Hebrews 13:20-21

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Sermon Title: The Prophecy of David

Scripture: 2 Samuel 23:1-7

I. The Future Kingdom Is Joyful

A. David's oracle uses agrarian imagery to describe the Messianic King's reign

1. 2 Samuel 23:4 — the king dawns like the morning light, like sun and rain that makes the grass sprout
2. The three harvest festivals (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles) frame Israel's joy; each is tied to the land's abundance

B. The righteous rule of the Messianic King — not the sun or rain alone — is the true source of joy and abundance

1. 2 Samuel 23:3 — "when one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God"
2. Worthless men are likened to thorns (2 Samuel 23:6); since Adam's fall, thorns symbolize misery and the curse

C. Christ fulfills all three harvest festivals

1. At Passover, Jesus declares his body true bread and his blood true drink
2. At the Feast of Tabernacles — John 7:37-38 — Jesus cries out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink," and in John 8:12 declares himself the light of the world
3. At Pentecost, the ascended Christ pours out the Spirit from the right hand of the Father
4. Application: Matthew 6 — "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" — true joy and contentment are found in Christ's reign, not in the things of this world

II. The Future Kingdom Is Secure

A. 2 Samuel 23:5 — the Everlasting Covenant points back to the Davidic Covenant of 2 Samuel 7

1. God promised David's house, dynasty, and kingship would stand forever
2. "Ordered in all things and secure" — the kingdom reflects a new creation, reversing the curse of thorns and thistles

B. The Davidic Covenant finds its fulfillment in Christ's resurrection and ascension

1. Acts 13:32-35 — Paul declares that God fulfilled the promise to the fathers by raising Jesus; the coronation language of Psalm 2 ("You are my Son, today I have begotten you") is realized at Christ's enthronement
2. Christ rises never again to see corruption; the sure blessings of David are confirmed in him

C. Application: when self is on the throne, life fills with thorns and thistles — disorder and insecurity; only Christ's reign brings order, Shalom, and security

1. Submit to the righteous rule of the Messiah and seek first his kingdom

III. The Future Kingdom Is Precious

A. 2 Samuel 23:6-7 — worthless men (Hebrew: Belial — "without value") are like thorns that must be removed with iron tools and burned

1. Worthlessness does not equal harmlessness — thorns hurt and must be destroyed to protect what is valuable
2. The farmer's task of weeding illustrates Christ's work of purging enemies from his kingdom

B. Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 26 — Christ executes his kingly office by subduing us to himself, ruling and defending us, and restraining and conquering all his and our enemies

C. Assurance for believers today

1. If you are a Christian who hates sin, Christ has subdued you to himself and is actively defending you
2. John 10:27-29 — "No one will snatch them out of my hand … no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand"
3. The only reason any believer remains in the faith is because Christ restrains and conquers every enemy — Satan and all his worthless forces

D. Application: you are precious to your King; one day Christ will cast all enemies into the Lake of Fire and you will know fully how precious you have always been to him — seek first his kingdom and righteous rule