1 Kings 15:4-5 says, “Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord...”
What makes those words so astounding and profoundly wonderful is the context in which they are found. Abijam the son of Rehoboam, who was the son of Solomon, was now ruler of Judah. He was nothing like David. He walked in the evil ways of his father, Rehoboam. However, the Lord had entered into covenant with David. God had promised David that his lamp would not go out in Jerusalem. David honored the Lord and walked in his ways, except in the matter of Bathsheba and Uriah. David was not perfect, but he was repentant and that is far more than one can say for the sons who came after him!
God’s faithfulness is dependent upon his word, his promise, his character, not upon our performance or perfection. This is not to say God overlooked the wickedness of David’s sons! Their idolatry was not excused! They would stand before the Lord guilty for pursuing evil and leading the people astray. They would be condemned for unbelief. However, God would remain true to his word. A son would come from David, and he would rule forever!
That coming son was Jesus Christ, son of Abraham, son of David, Son of God! As with the Davidic covenant, the New Covenant is God’s promise to save his people from their sins. We, the believers in Jesus Christ, are the recipients of New Covenant grace. God will remain faithful to his covenant, and that is good news for us who are in Christ, but don’t deserve to be!
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