The title for this book is taken from the Prophecy of Zechariah: “The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah” Zech.12.7. This is the first of five references to the “house of David” that appear in close succession in that part of Zechariah: Zech.12.7,8,10,12; 13.1. These speak of a time yet to come. When we think of the names of famous royal households that have arisen in the past, but which are now history, and then reflect on the many assertions in the Scriptures that David’s royal family still has a future, even though it began some three thousand years ago, we cannot escape the conclusion that “the house of David” must be glorious indeed!

The reason for the longevity and greatness of this royal house is not found in the person from whom it takes its name, to whom we are introduced as a humble shepherd boy, the youngest of his family, born and brought up in what was then a relatively obscure small town. No: the glory of the house of David is due to One born many years later, in the same town, as seen in the following three references from the opening chapters of Luke’s Gospel: “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary” Lk.1.26,27; “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David” Lk.1.68,69; “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David🙂 to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” Lk.2.4-7. God’s eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, came “of the seed of David according to the flesh” Rom.1.3, and “the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end” Lk.1.32,33. The greatness of the house of David is because of that blessed One Whom James Montgomery, in his hymn, “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”, called “great David’s greater Son”.

So the subject of the house of David ought to be of great interest to all who are believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a diverse subject, including historical, doctrinal, prophetic, devotional and practical aspects. That variety is reflected in this book, and the purpose of this brief Introduction is to give the reader an idea of what to expect as he or she proceeds.

Chapter 1 goes right back to when David is introduced to us in the Bible, in 1Samuel chapters 16 and 17. It is a devotional consideration of descriptions of David in his youth, before he became king, which prefigure the Lord Jesus Christ, as He is presented in the four Gospels.

Chapter 2 is an exposition of 2Samuel chapter 7, in which God makes a covenant with David, commonly known as the ‘Davidic Covenant’, promising to him that the nation of Israel, and his throne, will be established for ever. The truths expounded in this chapter lay a basis for what will be a recurring theme as the book proceeds, and are vital for a Scriptural understanding of this great subject.

The next three chapters deal with the reigns of the first three kings of the house of David: David, Solomon and Rehoboam. The chapter on David (Chapter 3) gives comprehensive coverage of his preparation for his reign and of the course of it. His many praiseworthy characteristics and actions are applied devotionally and practically; while, with suitable balance, his regrettable lapses are not shied away from, and are brought before us for our admonition. While the life of Solomon also contains both good and bad, the emphasis in the chapter on him (Chapter 4) is on the features of his reign that typify the future reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. The chapter on Rehoboam (Chapter 5) covers the division of the kingdom into two, and its implications for the house of David. This chapter also contains salutary lessons on the root and results of division among the people of God.

The next six chapters are studies of six kings of Judah: Asa (Chapter 6), Jehoshaphat (Chapter 7), Joash (Chapter 8), Uzziah (Chapter 9), Hezekiah (Chapter 10) and Josiah (Chapter 11). There were of course other kings of the house of David, after the division into Israel and Judah, to whom chapters have not been devoted in this book. The reason is that, although they were physical descendants of David, they did not follow his Godly example. In the case of each of the six kings covered, it is explicitly stated in Scripture that he lived after the good pattern established by “David his father” and/or that he “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord”:

Asa

“And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father” 1Kgs.15.11.

Jehoshaphat

“And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim” 2Chr.17.3; “And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord” 2Chr.20.32.

Joash (Jehoash)

“And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him” 2Kgs.12.2; “And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest” 2Chr.24.2.

Uzziah (Azariah)

“And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done” 2Kgs.15.3; “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah did” 2Chr.26.4.

Hezekiah

“And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did” 2Kgs.18.3; “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done” 2Chr.29.2.

Josiah

“And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left” 2Kgs.22.2; “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left” 2Chr.34.2.

The one exception is Jotham, of whom it is also recorded that “he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord” 2Kgs.15.34; 2Chr.27.2. He is omitted because we do not know sufficient details about his life to allocate a chapter to him, but he is certainly worthy of an honourable mention here, and he is a reminder to us that there have always been, and still are, many saints of God about whom we know little or nothing, but who are all fully known by Him, and who will receive due acknowledgement in a coming day.

As the years progressed, the trend in Judah was one of definite spiritual decline, culminating in the Babylonian Captivity. On the face of it, the fact that the descendants of David were no longer sitting on the throne would appear to put an end to the promise of the endurance of the house of David for ever. However, in Chapter 12 it is demonstrated that the Scriptures teach that, even in the context of the carrying away into Babylon, the Divine promises still stood, and many quotations from the Prophets and the Psalms are employed to show God’s faithfulness to His promises, despite the failure of the Nation.

Moving into the New Testament, the Gospel records, and particularly those of Matthew and Luke, declare that it is in the Lord Jesus Christ that the promises to the house of David will be fulfilled. Chapters 13 and 14 both concern the descent of the Lord Jesus Christ from David, and the reality that He is the heir to the throne of David. However, the former chapter is more concerned with the details of the genealogy itself, whereas the latter concentrates on the huge significance of it: that His relationship to David establishes His authority to set up His Kingdom and to rule.

Finally, in Chapter 15, a comprehensive overview of that Kingdom is presented: that reign which will initially be for one thousand years, but which will be eternal in character, culminating in “the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” 2Pet.1.11.

As we make our way through this book, starting in its early chapters, where we consider David and his descendants who sat upon his throne in days past, may we ever be conscious that “the glory of the house of David” is not in them, but in Him of Whom we read in the latter chapters, Who was “born of David’s line” and in Whom the promises to David and his house will be fulfilled. All the glory is His, now and for ever, as expressed in this anticipatory hymn:

Bright with all His crowns of glory,

See the royal Victor’s brow;

Once for sinners marred and gory,

See the Lamb exalted now,

While before Him

All His ransomed brethren bow.

 

Blessèd morning! long expected,

Lo! they fill the peopled air,

Mourners once, by man rejected,

They, with Him, exalted there,

Sing His praises,

And His throne of glory share.

 

Judah! lo thy royal Lion

Reigns on earth, a conquering King:

Come, ye ransomed tribes of Zion,

Love’s abundant offerings bring;

There behold Him,

And His ceaseless praises sing.

 

King of kings! let earth adore Him,

High on His exalted throne;

Fall, ye nations, fall before Him,

And His righteous sceptre own;

All the glory

Be to Him, and Him alone!

(Edward Denny)

David McAllister, Ireland, January 2024