Nathan's Oracle

Today (January 30), we read of the promise of an eternal kingdom for David in 2 Samuel 7.
David was really a good king for he always remembered God in his heart. He told Nathan the prophet that he felt uncomfortable because "... I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent" (2 Samuel 7:2). So, he wanted to build a Temple to house the ark of God. No doubt, David had a political agenda in mind when he moved the ark into Jerusalem, his city. He needed the ark to legitimize his rule over both Judah and Israel to show that he was not a usurper to the throne of Saul. Aside from that, David was no doubt a good humble servant of God.
His good intention was highly appreciated by God who needed no fixed abode on earth. "Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the house which you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the LORD. But this is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word" (Isaiah 66:1-2). Though God denied David the honour of building Him a Temple, He announced through Nathan that He would award him an eternal kingdom. "... the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever" (2 Samuel 7:11-13). The Temple would be built by his son, Solomon, and God promised to establish the throne of his kingdom forever. This is the famous Nathan's Oracle.

Reality is, the United Kingdom established by David was split after the death of Solomon. 10 tribes in the north formed the new state of Israel and the remaining 2 in the south Judah. Israel in the north was conquered by the Assyrians in 721 B.C. and Judah in the south by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The northern tribes were exiled and vanished forever in history. Those of the south were also exiled but only for 50 years. Cyrus, the Persian king conquered Babylon and for unknown reasons, sent the captives home. He even financed them to rebuild the Solomon Temple in Jerusalem out of the coffers of his palace! No wonder Isaiah called Cyrus, the Messiah, God's anointed (Isaiah 45:1). Imagine, a Gentile Messiah. How unthinkable God's deed was! Be prepared. More is to come!
The Jews never regained national independence throughout the Persian Empire, Greek Empire and the Roman Empire, until 1948 A.D. [Except for a brief period from 164 B.C. to 63 B.C., the Hasmonean dynasty established by the Maccabees during the Greek Empire.] There is no more Davidic Empire, not even the modern Israel state. But God cannot tell lies. How shall God's vow to David come true? I believe the Jews solved this problem with the 'Messianic expectations'. They expected an Anointed One, a Messiah, a descendent of David (Isaiah 11:1), who would be sent by God to rebuild the kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6). This was how most of the Jews, and even his disciples expected of the miracle-worker-cum-rabbi Jesus.
Of course, the Jewish expectation was a myopic nationalistic view. Jesus challenged their view in Mark 12:35-37. The Messiah is not only the son of David. He is also the Son of God! It was unthinkable for the Jews to dream of God coming in person to restore the kingdom of Israel. Naturally, they rejected Jesus. Of course, God does not think in terms of the kingdom of Israel, but the Kingdom of God. The Israelites rejected God's kingship over them (1 Samuel 8:5-7). Yet God would not reject them. Instead, He came to build up an eternal kingdom, including all Israelites as well as Gentiles. This was accomplished through Jesus, the incarnated 2^nd Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Son of God.

My God, Your wisdom is beyond our understanding. To satisfy the Israelites' demand for a human king and Your vow to David of an eternal kingdom, You sent us Jesus to take up human flesh and blood. To satisfy, expiate our sins for all generations past and future, You pour out Your Son's blood, that is Your own blood, on the cross. How sweet and perfect Your love is! May we sing praises to You and glorify You for Your wonders forever and ever. Amen.