:BangHead:
The Davidic Covenant cannot be instituted yet, given its key tenet is that it reaffirms the promise of the land that He made in the first two covenants with Israel, those being the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants. That renewed promise is given to the judge and prophet Samuel.
2 Samuel 7, NASB
10 "I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly,
11 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you.
It is completely unreasonable to attempt to make the promise be passed to the church, given God never put judges over the church, and that God uses the phrase "My people Israel" twice. When a thought is twice expressed, it's for a reason: "Pay attention to this" is what it's saying. As they are already in the land, this is not a promise of their occupancy of the Promised Land the first time. It is a promise that they will be returned to the land after leaving it, or being forced off it. This happened several times, but there was only view to the final fulfillment of this prophecy, and that is to the faithful nation Israel after the Tribulation.
Now ...
... let the outcry begin ...[/FONT][/SIZE]
If we only had 2 Samuel 7 then you might be right. But Peter clearly sees the Ascension of Christ as the beginning of the Christ's Kingdom in fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant.
Act 2:24-36 NASB - [24] "But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. [25] "For David says of Him,
'I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE;
FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN.
[26] 'THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED;
MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE;
[27] BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES,
NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.
[28] 'YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE;
YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.'
[29] "Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. [30] "And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE, [31] he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. [32] "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. [33] "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. [34] "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:
'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
[35] UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET."'
[36] "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified."
Peter points out that David prophesied of Christ's resurrection, saying of himself, but really speaking of Christ, "YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY." Peter says that David was prophesying of Jesus' resurrection and immediately ties this to the Davidic Covenant promise that God had sworn an oath (Covenant) to David that one of his decedents would sit on his throne. This was completed, according to Peter, when God not only raised Jesus from the dead, but also exalted him (referring to the ascension) to the throne at the right side of the Father and proving it by pouring out the Spirit. This exaltation of the Son to the right hand of the Father is clearly seen to be the fulfillment of the promise to David.
Verse 34-36 prove this further when Peter refers to the OT promise that the Messiah, as God, would sit at the right hand of God until all his enemies are overcome. This siting at God's right hand is tied to Jesus ascension at the beginning of verse 34 when Peter says, "it was not David who ascended into heaven" meaning that instead of David, Christ did this and has now sat at the right hand of God taking his throne. Then verse 36 says, "God has made Him both Lord and Christ" - Christ,the Messiah, referring to his role as the promised savior and Lord, referring to his Kingship over all things, fulfilling the promise that a son of David would rule forever. Peter says this has already happened and it is sure, "
know for certain that God has made [Jesus] both
Lord and Christ."
This shows, IMO, why a
strictly literal interpretation, particularly of prophecy, fails. It doesn't take into account how the apostles and NT writers interpreted the OT. Literarily not literally many times.
BTW, using the indent to differentiate scripture is a good idea. I like it. Hope you don't mind I borrowed your idea.