God’s Covenant with David God made covenants with his people five times in the Old Testament: (1) when he promised Noah that humanity would never again be destroyed by a flood (Gen 6:18; 9:1-17); (2) when he promised Abraham that he would inherit the land of Canaan and establish a great nation (Gen 15:1-21; 17:1-27); (3) when he formed a unique relationship with Israel at Mount Sinai through Moses (Exod 19–23); (4) when he promised a priestly dynasty to Phinehas (Num 25:10-13); and (5) when he promised a royal dynasty to David (2 Sam 7:4-17). In addition, God promised through Jeremiah to make a “new covenant” in the future (Jer 31:31-34). God’s promise to David is not explicitly identified as a covenant in 2 Samuel 7. However, other passages do identify the event as a covenant (see 23:5; 2 Chr 7:18; 21:7; Pss 89:3-4, 28-29; 132:11-12; Isa 55:3; Jer 33:20-21). God’s promise to David that his “favor will not be taken from him” (2 Sam 7:15) speaks of a covenant relationship. Like God’s promise to Abraham, his covenant with David is unconditional: It does not depend on human obedience or faithfulness but only on God’s unchanging love. At the heart of this covenant is God’s pro...