The Expectation for the Future King

The formal declaration of the Davidic Covenant was not the first mention of an enduring monarchy for the nation descended from Abraham.  The Lord promised Abraham that kings would come from him (Gen. 17:6, 16), and repeated the promise to Jacob, his grandson (Gen. 35:10-11). The passage of Genesis 49:8-12 holds several prophecies that clarify this kingship.  A future ruler of Israel would come from the tribe of Judah, as indicated by his brothers bowing to him in v. 8, and by the symbol of the scepter in v. 10.  The imagery of much wine and milk foretold of the prosperity to accompany Israel’s promised ruler.¹

The next passage to prophesy a future king for Israel is Numbers 24:15-19.  Balaam, Son of Beor, was contracted by Balak, king of Moab, to pronounce curses on the Israelites while they were coming out of Egypt (Num 22-24).  However, the Spirit of God came upon him to speak a final blessing on Israel (Num. 24:2), and proclaim God’s promise of future leadership through one of Jacob’s sons (v. 17).  Balaam is speaking of a future leader as shown by his words in verse 17, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near.”  The symbols of a star and a scepter (v. 17) confirmed this future leader’s royalty.  Further, this ruler will have dominion (v. 19) and crush all the enemies of Israel (vv. 17-19),² ironically including Moab.

The most significant pre-Davidic promise for a king comes in Deuteronomy 17:14-20.  Here the Lord sets down the guidelines by which the Israelites were to choose their king, and the guidelines by which the king was to live.  Their choice of a king was to be “whom the LORD your God chooses, one from among your countrymen…you may not put a foreigner over yourselves...” (v. 14).  The king was not to multiply horses (building a strong standing army, v. 16), or have multiple wives (v. 17).  Additionally, he was to write his own copy of the Law for himself in front of the priests, so that it could always be with him (vv. 18, 19).  The king should be diligent to study the Law, in order that his kingdom and his sons’ kingdom would be established.³

As Saul’s claim on the throne of Israel is being taken away from him (1 Sam. 13:14; 15:2, 23-35), the Lord prepares David to take his place.  Saul was never able to fulfill the monarchial prophecies because he was of the tribe of Benjamin, not Judah.  Abigail hints at David’s succession and the future promises of God in 1 Samuel 25:28, that “the LORD will certainly make for my lord an enduring house,” and in v. 30 that David would be “ruler over Israel.”  Finally, Samuel anoints David  king after Saul’s death in battle (2 Sam. 2:4), and shortly thereafter he desires to build the temple for God.  This sets the stage for Nathan to formally declare the promises of God to David.  David, of the tribe of Judah, descendant of Abraham, would soon discover how God planned to fulfill all the prophecies of kingship.