Over the years I have had some very challenging things spoken over me and the differing churches that I have led. They have been said, in the main, from people believing them to be from God. To be honest some have been horrible “God says you are this”, “God says your church is this”, these have been hurtful, painful and upsetting. Some words I have never seen anything near a fulfilment of and I wonder if they were just wrong. We seem to be very reticent to say “No, we have weighed that against scripture and over time believe that what was said was wrong”. I don’t know, maybe we are not brave enough? Also there have been words that have come at just the right time, without any previous knowledge of my circumstances that have swept me off my feet. They have been full of encouragement and are still shaping my life.

There are two words God speaks over David that stir my heart. The first one is about David’s son Solomon.

I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 2 Samuel 7:14-15

What a promise that is! God will protect him, help him, teach him, guide him, help him, pick him up when he falls, encourage him. Solomon would be a son to God. This father/son relationship will never be broken as it was subject to a promise of God. God’s love for his son would never be withdrawn because God had made a promise.

Psalm 89:30-37 makes this very clear.

We all will have an earthy view of a father. Maybe good, maybe kind and gentle, maybe violent and smelling of alcohol, maybe distant or absent. Whatever it may be, every father is an imperfect father.

Just think of it, the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent one true God that calls you to himself with the promise of perfect love is none other than your father, Abba. You need not fear a stern look or rejection, or an aggressive grasp. He longs to embrace you, relieve your woes, wipe your tears, soothe your wounds. You can have as much time as you need.

The second promise is about an eternal kingdom

And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'” 2 Samuel 7:16

This promise started with David, then came Solomon, David’s son. The other sons of David, the following Kings, were all failures to a lesser and greater extent. So it was clear that this promise would only be fulfilled through a perfect ‘Son of David’.

The prophets began to expect a new David so Ezekiel prophesied,

And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. Ezekiel 34:23

The Psalmists wrote songs about a king who would bring forth an everlasting kingdom.  Jeremiah speaks of a branch from the line of David. Isaiah tells King Ahaz about a child to be born

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.  Isaiah 9:6-7

Jesus was the one in view. Like David, he is the man of God’s choice who will usher in this kingdom that will be established forever. Jesus allowed the people to call him ‘Son of David’ (Mark 10:47-48). Paul called Jesus ‘Son of David’ (Romans 1:3). Luke in his genealogy points out that Jesus was from the house of David. The angel told Mary that God will give Jesus the throne of David (Luke 1:32-33) and through Jesus we are participators in this everlasting Kingdom.

Empires inevitably come to an end. Rome conquered the known world but it eventually fell to barbarian invasions. About a thousand years later the Byzantine Empire was overrun by Muslim armies and its capital, Byzantium, was renamed Istanbul. The sun never set on the British Empire until it was broken up in the aftermath of World War II. 

Germany had its 3rd Reich. Today, some nations are claiming that their kingdom will be the greatest kingdom!

Unlike the kingdoms of men, the reign of the great divine King is everlasting. Apart from the work of the Holy Spirit human beings do not acknowledge the sovereignty of God; nevertheless, the Lord’s throne does not depend on a rebellious creature’s willingness to bow to His reign. The psalmist is clear God’s kingdom is eternal, His dominion from generation to generation (Psalm 145:13)

Let me finish by leaping to a description of this everlasting kingdom.

to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 1 Peter 1:4

This is so wonderful.  Verse 4 says, we will, through the new birth “obtain the inheritance which is – ” three things “ – imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.” 

This causes us great joy to know that we have an inheritance which, first of all, is imperishable.  The Greek word ‘Aphthartos’ means basically “not corruptible, not subject to passing away,” or “not liable to decay or passing away.”  But beyond that, it has been used in secular language and secular Greek to speak of a very interesting concept, and that is to refer to something that was unravaged by an invading army. Wow!

Second word is “undefiled.” The Greek word ‘Amiantos’ means “unstained, unpolluted.”  Unstained with sin, evil, decay.  Everything in this world is defiled.  Everything in this world is stained.  Everything in this world has been touched by sin. Everything fails.  Not in this place. Wow again!

The third term is one word, “unfading.”  The New American Bible translates it “will not fade away.”  It’s the word “unfading.”  It’s basically used of flowers that decay, that wither and die and it suggests to us here that we have an inheritance that will never lose its supernatural beauty.  It will never fade.  It will never grow old. 

You see, the kingdom of heaven has no decaying elements.  It has no sin.  Nothing perishes.  Nothing is defiled and nothing fades away.  All the strokes of time cannot touch it because it’s in a timeless place.  All the taint of sin cannot touch it because it’s in a sinless place.

Now that’s worth shouting about!