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“Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:16

Read: 2 Samuel 7:1-17
Listen: 2 Samuel 7

This year, we look for Jesus in the Old Testament to see how God’s plan always included Jesus saving us from our sins. This month, we read David’s story to see how the events of his life point to Jesus.

Shepherd. David’s is a humble shepherd from an ordinary family. Following God’s directions, the prophet Samuel arrives to anoint the next king. David’s family doesn’t even call him inside. They do not think David could be the Lord’s chosen one (1 Samuel 16:11). Similarly, Jesus is born into a humble family who does not always recognize him as the Lord’s chosen one (John 7:5). David’s life as a shepherd foreshadows Jesus. Jesus even refers to himself as the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).

Son of David. David wants to build a house for God, but God turns the situation around and instead builds a house through David. This promise points to a son who will build a house for God’s name and whose kingdom will endure forever. While Solomon later builds the temple, Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this promise (2 Samuel 7:13). Jesus comes from the line of David (Matthew 1:1). Jesus refers to himself as the “Son of David,” and many others also assign him this title (Mark 12:35, Matthew 21:9). Jesus is the son who proclaims God’s name and builds an eternal kingdom.

Warrior King. Scripture describes David as a warrior king. His kingship is a type that represents Jesus’s complete victory over God’s enemies. He is a man of prayer and “after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). His dependence on the Lord foreshadows the intimacy of Jesus and the Father.

TODAY: David’s life provides rich pictures of Jesus’s coming. Commit to reading this month’s passages prayerfully. Ask God to open your eyes to all the ways David points to Jesus.

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read 1 Samuel 16-17. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Consider David’s occupation as shepherd and defeat of an enemy who defies God.