The Divine Covenants

The Davidic Covenant (Part 3)

Now I would like for us to look at the song of Hannah which certainly was an inspired revelation. Hannah was a married woman who had not been able to have children. She was one of two wives of Elkanah. The other wife Peninnah already had children. Her nature was to deride Hannah because of her childless condition. So Hannah prayed that God would give her a son. God heard her prayer and she had a son that she named Samuel. Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2, was the result of the birth of her son Samuel and spoke to the present time and the future. The spiritual life of Israel at this time was at a very low ebb. The barrenness of Hannah hinted at the spiritual condition of Israel. The provocation of Peninnah was a picture of the contempt that Israel faced from its enemies. A careful reading of Hannah’s song reveals a strong hint of the coming Messiah.  

· 1 Sam 2:1-10  Then Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. 2 "There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. 3 "Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed. 4 "The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. 5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry hunger no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away. 6 "The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. 7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. 8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world. 9 He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails; 10 those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed."

Notice the last line of her song which speaks of the anointing of God’s king. “His anointed” or literally “His Messiah” or “Christ”. This is the first time in the Bible that this title is found. Also notice in verse 10 that God’s enemies will be shattered and that the Lord will judge the ends of the earth. This shows that it was the Messiah’s kingdom that Hannah spoke of.

It is of interest to compare Hannah’s song with the “Magnificat” of Mary in announcing the birth of Jesus in Luke 1:46-55.

· Luke 1:46-55 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me-holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

Mary and Hannah seem to speak the same sentiment and in some cases even use the same words. This can only be because the Holy Spirit wanted us to see a connection between the two. The Spirit clearly wants us to see that there is an intimation of the future advent of the Messiah.

Until the time of Samuel, Israel was strictly a theocracy and had no recognized head but God Himself. This was a distinguishing feature of the nation that stood in this close relation to God. But, Israel was far too carnal to appreciate the favor that had been shown them. This was evident with their insistence on having a human king. Therefore it is not surprising that God showed His displeasure with Israel when He declared to Samuel in 1 Sam 8:7-8.

· 1 Sam 8:7-8 And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.

So it is natural for us to ask, “Why did God yield to this evil desire of the people?” Interestingly enough there was a hint of things to come in this situation. It was the eternal purpose of God that He would later entrust rule of the universe to the Man of His own choosing. What an example of the overruling providence of God! The great feature of the Messianic kingdom was the Son of God assuming human nature.

The first person to occupy the throne of Israel as king was one that was not inclined to submit to God’s authority. His name was Saul. But it is the second king that we are now concerned with. He was the foundation of the earthly kingdom in which the divine and the human were officially united. His name was David. The various trials through which David passed before he reached the throne were typical of the future sufferings, work, and kingdom of the Messiah. (We are told that a whole volume could be written for a full consideration of the similarities of David as a type of Jesus. Likewise, many of the Psalms were predictions of what was to be realized by Jesus, but obviously on a much higher plane).

An illustration of the combination of  typical history with prophecy is Psalm 2.

· Psalm 2 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. 3 "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." 4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.  5 Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6 "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." 7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:  He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father.  8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." 10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. This has been called the “inaugural hymn” designed to celebrate the appointment of God’s King.

In verses 1 and 2 the heathen nations are pictured as opposing the appointment of God’s King and in verse 3 vowing together that they would defy the appointment. In verse 4 God laughs at His adversaries and in verses 5-9 proceeds to speak of His Son who shall rule with complete authority. The psalm closes with a call to earth’s rulers to submit to the authority of the King of kings and warning them of their doom if they fail to be obedient.

There is an obvious connection of this psalm with the life and history of David, but first let’s notice a few things. In his elevation to the throne of Israel, David was not opposed by the heathen nations and their rulers. They probably knew little of it and cared less. The “appointment” of David as king was not coincident with him taking the throne in Jerusalem because there was a period of some years between.

When he was established as king, there is no record of him claiming that other kings were required to submit to him. Now if David is a type of Jesus, why would we mention such items as these? Well, there is no failure of the type, but it is important to keep in mind that there is a danger in an effort to be too literal in interpretation of the Scriptures. However, we can say with certainty that the Messianic Psalm 2 definitely is intended as picture on a higher plane of what was to be accomplished by the Son and Lord of David. In David and the Psalm we see the sovereign determination on the part of God to the royal office.

Secondly, in each case there is violent opposition against the appointment of each. (Saul’s opposition)

Thirdly, in each case we see the slow removal of obstacles raised against God’s purpose. The lines of history are parallel and the agreement between the type and antitype is unmistakable.

As we move further into the study of the Davidic Covenant we will be faced with a matter that tends to divide those who attempt to interpret prophecy more than anything else, and that is the matter of whether to take the various prophecies literally or figuratively. The only safe answer that I can give you is that some prophecy is to be taken literally and some is to be taken figuratively.

Now I know that that really settles the matter for you. However, there are two other bits of advice that I would give: attempt to determine the answer by looking elsewhere in scripture, and secondly, and this is important, depend on the teaching power of the Holy Spirit. Even so, you will find yourself in debate with others on some interpretations that you will come up with.