If you have children, would you like them to follow in your footsteps? If you are children, would you like to follow in those footsteps of your parents who went before you?
It’s not always the case that children are like mom and dad, but it often happens. They show the same interest in music. They have a similar athletic ability. They like to help others. They continue on in the family business.
Nothing’s guaranteed in the next generation. Apparently, the average life-span of a family-run business is around . . . . 24 years, and only 3% of them make it to the fourth generation. Certainly four generations is impressive! But it’s not a sure thing, and even then it’s not going to last forever.
King David has some of that concern. He wants a son of his to take his place on the throne. He is the first in a new dynasty. He came out of nowhere from the fields watching over sheep. He doesn’t want that position to be lost in his family. God assures him that the kingdom will continue in his family.
What if you had a special promise from God that your child would be president? Or your granddaughter would someday be the first to live on Mars? The promise to David is even greater!
12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (2 Samuel 7:8-16)
Not just his son Solomon who would be king after him. Also a descendant further down the line who would do the impossible (for humans, at least) and set up a kingdom that will never end.
Israel as a nation with a king doesn’t really have a big impact on us as believers in the New Testament. That earthly kingdom had its role and its time. Israel lost it land and its temple not too long after the time of the apostles. But not before David’s greatest descendant was born, Jesus Christ. His kingdom is for us and for all who believe in him as their Savior.
The God who gave the promise of an eternal Savior to David’s family also gives the promise of an eternal Savior to your family. You don’t know what all will happen as the generations go by. But as faith in Jesus remains in your family line, you know where they will be. Established in his kingdom forever.