Acts 13:34 (NKJV)
34 And that HE RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, no more to return to CORRUPTION, He has spoken thus:‘ I will give you the sure mercies of David.’
The Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 55:3 here, in his sermon at Pisidian Antioch. He speaks of the “sure mercies of David” (“ta hosia Dauid ta pista“) given to the Christ, upon His Resurrection. God had promised King David that his Seed would reign forever. This was God’s lovingkindness toward him, which was sure to come to pass.
2 Samuel 7:12-16 (NKJV)
12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I WILL SET UP YOUR SEED AFTER YOU, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I WILL ESTABLISH THE THRONE OF HIS KINGDOM FOREVER. 14 I will be his Father, and HE (the Seed) SHALL BE MY SON. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and YOUR KINGDOM SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOREVER before you. YOUR THRONE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOREVER.”
The Psalms also speak concerning this. Psalm 84:3-4 says, “I have made a covenant with My chosen, I HAVE SWORN TO MY SERVANT DAVID: ‘Your seed I WILL ESTABLISH FOREVER, and BUILD UP YOUR THRONE TO ALL GENERATIONS.’ Selah.” The 132th Psalm says, “The Lord has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: ‘I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body’” (vs. 11).
Therefore, “the sure mercies of David” refer to the promises of rulership and dominion made to him; that the Seed of David would rule and reign forever. That Promised Seed is Jesus.
Jesus, upon His Resurrection, receives ALL POWER and ALL AUTHORITY, to this effect, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth’” (Matthew 28:18).
The Apostle Paul speaks concerning this, in Ephesians 1.
Ephesians 1:19-22 (NKJV)
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and SEATED HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND (the place of all authority) IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES, 21 FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And HE PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS (Jesus’) FEET, and gave Him (Jesus) TO BE HEAD OVER ALL things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
It is explicit here (Ephesians 1) that the dominion God foretold (concerning David’s Seed) is spiritual, not political. Jesus does not ascend a physical throne, at His Resurrection (see John 18:36). Rather, He receives ALL authority in Heaven and on Earth, sitting at the Father’s right hand!
The “mercies” (or kind promises) God made to David are therefore “sure” or “true” (i.e. affirmed as trustworthy) in Christ—He died, was buried, is raised and now reigns, just as God said He would! God did not speak falsehood to David (see Heb 6:18)—those “mercies” have found fulfilment in Christ. They have surely come to pass.
© Josh Banks Ministries. 2022.
