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No.11.
pp. 207 - 211
In our last study, we came to Paul's first public speech in chapter 13: of the Acts and
there we found he brought forward the truth of the resurrection in a special way, as Peter
had done, bearing upon the people of Israel and not upon the world generally. He says
(13: 32), "We declare unto you glad tidings how that the promise which was made unto
the fathers". The promise that God made to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, was it
real--did God mean it? Yes, Paul said, He did mean it and He has fulfilled it by raising
Christ from the dead. "He hath fulfilled the same unto us their children in that He hath
raised up Jesus again", and he quotes the second Psalm to prove that: "Thou art my Son,
this day have I begotten thee." And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead.
"Now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure
mercies of David." So here is the resurrection of Christ with the purpose of giving these
`sure mercies of David' to the people of Israel. What does that mean? It was a
quotation, first of all, from Isa. 105: 3, but to understand it properly we must look back at
Psa. 89: This is the psalm of God's faithfulness, seven times mentioned. Verse 3: "I
have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant", concerning
his posterity (his seed) and his throne--he was a king--"to all generations" (verse 4).
Now these are the sure mercies of David, concerning his seed, the people of Israel, and
his throne. The promises that God makes are so definite and so clear, that surely, nobody
should fail to understand them! Let us come to the middle of the psalm, verse 29: "He
seed also will I make to endure for ever and his throne as the days of heaven." So here is
a promise that God will not allow the seed of David ever to become annihilated, nor will
He allow his throne to perish, although the psalmist warns this people that if they do not
walk in God's ways there will be Divine chastisement (verse 31): "If they break My
statutes and keep not My commandments, then will I visit their transgression with the
rod."
But in contrast He says (verse 33) "Nevertheless (although I have to chasten), my
loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer (nor allow) my faithfulness to
fail". He is the God of faithfulness, the God of truth. Again in verse 34: "My covenant
will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips." In view of this we cannot
accept any scheme of Biblical interpretation that makes God change His plan for world
blessing and reject the people of Israel. God has said He will not alter it, so there must be
a future for this people, sinful though they may be. "Once (verse 35) have I sworn by my
holiness that I will not lie unto David." Look what language God is using! He has put
the onus on Himself--"I have sworn. I have promised", and this cannot fail, no matter
what Israel does. Verse 30: "His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun
before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon and as the faithful witness in
heaven." These precious and definite promises are `the sure mercies of David'. Now, the
Apostle Paul says, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ has made them possible for
Israel. He was raised so that He might take His place as the true descendants of David
and sit on David's throne.