1 Chronicles 29:26–30
26 29:26Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 29:27The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 28 29:28Then he died at a good age, full of days, riches, and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his place. 29 29:29Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the Chronicles of Samuel the seer, and in the Chronicles of Nathan the prophet, and in the Chronicles of Gad the seer, 30 29:30with accounts of all his rule and his might and of the circumstances that came upon him and upon Israel and upon all the kingdoms of the countries.
Section Outline
- II.B.2.f. David’s Charges and Solomon Crowned King (28:1–29:30) . . .
- (3) Summary of David’s Reign (29:26–30)
Response
It may not be coincidental that the last words in the Chronicles account of David’s reign are “all the kingdoms of the countries.” In the Chronicler’s time, Yehud (Judea) may have been only a small province in the larger Persian Empire, but that was no reason to limit the vision of what God intends; his rule over “all Israel” through David and his successors has implications for “all the kingdoms of the countries.” Here is an expectant vision that leads on to the last words in Matthew, where the resurrected Jesus has “all authority” to command that people of “all nations” be taught to “observe all that I have commanded” (Matt. 28:18–20). This is a vision that drives Paul forward; he frames his letter to the Romans with his commission to “bring about the obedience of faith . . . among all the nations” (Rom. 1:5; 16:26). Jesus’ response to Pilate that “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36a) is not a statement of having nothing to do with human kingdoms but rather speaks of its source and methods (v. 36b; cf. John 1:10–11). We can affirm that “great David’s greater Son”3 is indeed the “ruler of kings on earth” (Rev. 1:5).