Is David to rule Israel again?

david

Statue of King David, outside the Tomb of King David, Jerusalem

Scriptures speak about King David coming again and rule Israel in the last days.

Jer 30:9 But they shall serve the LORD their God, And David their king, Whom I will raise up for them.

Ezek 37:24 “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.

Hos 3:5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.

What does this mean? Is David really going to come back? Let’s explore the Scriptures.

The time of David’s return

Jer 30:3-10 For behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD. ‘And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’ ” ..  (7) Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it. .. (9-10) But they shall serve the LORD their God, And David their king, Whom I will raise up for them. Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,’ says the LORD, ‘Nor be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar, And your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, And no one shall make him afraid.

God spoke through prophet Jeremiah that David will return after the end of Israel’s captivity, after they return to their own land and after Jacob’s trouble. We are living in the days we had witnessed all the three above. Though Israel went through Jacob’s trouble otherwise known as holocaust (1933-1945) , they were not wiped out but saved and today Jews throughout the world had returned to their own homeland (1948) and dwell safely in their own nation Israel. Does this mean David is going to return anytime soon?

Ezek 37:21-25 “Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. … (24-25) “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.

God also spoke through prophet Ezekiel regarding David’s  return around the the same time as prophet Jeremiah spoke. According to the book of Ezekiel, David will return after God had gathered the Jews from all nations into their own land and after the formation of one united kingdom of Israel (1948). We can clearly all the prerequisites for David’s return had been fulfilled. Thus, David’s return is right around the corner.

Hos 3:4-5 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.

God also spoke through prophet Hosea regarding David’s return in latter days. However, the time of David’s return comes with a different description.

Israel shall be,

  • Without king or prince. This means, there will not be any ruler for children of Israel which implies Israel will not be an independent nation.
  • Without sacrifice. This  means, there will not be any temple to make the sacrifice, since the Jews cannot make sacrifice anywhere they like (Deut 12:5-6).
  • Without sacred pillars. This means, the children of Israel will not be able to continue in their abominations of idol worship using sacred pillars (1 Kgs 14:22-23)
  • Without Ephod. This means there will not be any priests, since only priests are allowed to put ephod (Exodus chapter 28; Judg 8:27).

Hence, the book of Hosea implies that Israel will not be a nation, no temple or abominations of any  sacred pillars and without any priests. Then, the children of Israel will seek the Lord and David their king. Israel is a nation today, however, there is no temple built yet for any sacrifice to happen. Does this mean the third temple in Israel is a key trigger to look for David’s return?

David’s Characteristics

Ezek 34:23-24 “I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them–My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd.  And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.

Ezek 37:24-25 “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.

There are some interesting characteristics about David.

  • David is a king/prince forever (Jer 30:9).
  • David will be the only shepherd (Ezek 37:24-25)

Mic 5:2-4 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” Therefore He shall give them up, Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; Then the remnant of His brethren Shall return to the children of Israel. And He shall stand and feed His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God; And they shall abide, For now He shall be great To the ends of the earth;

Jer 23:5-6 Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Interestingly, the expected King is the Messiah and He shall feed His flock, which is also around the same time David is expected to return.

Isa 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

The Everlasting King who will sit upon the throne of David is the Messiah, who is God Himself.

David is that Jesus Christ

David was not the only person expected to return a second time on earth.

Mal 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Bible also refers to Elijah returning back. To understand these prophecies about David, we need to see look into how Christ explained the above verse.

Matt 11:13-14 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Matt 17:10-13 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

Jesus is teaching His disciples that Elijah who was prophesied to come as in the book of Malachi was John the Baptist.

It is certainly possible that many scribes may be expected a resurrected Elijah just like many today who may be expected David as prophesied by the prophets. Just as Jesus taught Elijah is John the Baptist, the prophesied David who is to come is the Messiah, who is Jesus Himself.

Jesus is the King and the Shepherd

John 18:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king.  … John 19:21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’

John 10:14-16 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. … And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Jesus is the Messiah who is the King forever. He is also the One Shepherd over all His flock.

Conclusion

Is David to rule Israel again? Absolutely. Just like John the Baptist is Elijah, if you are willing to receive it, Jesus Christ is King David in all the prophecies referring to King David returning back to rule Israel.

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David VanWilliams
3 years ago

It was such a Blessing to read this Bible Study Lesson. Confirming the Prophecy of David returning as King and Shepherd over Israel and All People. Brilliant Teaching, the Scriptures highlighted were perfect. Tying in the the Messiah of Israel, was Genius and True. May the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth continue to Bless You and Keep You.

HalleluYah. 👑

Babby
3 years ago

Thank you for this wonderful teaching. I’m listening to someone right now who says King David will be resurrected and return at the side of Messiah to rule and reign as spoken in Jeremiah 30. Jesus won’t be sharing His glory and rule with ANYONE! Even David needed the saving Salvation Jesus afforded him on the cross. Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, period!

Dawoody
3 years ago

Thank you for this… soaked in tears of joy and gratitude… Thank you ⚘

David Wood
2 years ago

Hello, I think that while your interpretation is very good, I believe that there are things being mixed together that are actually separate things. In the new testament, which was written by people more familiar with these prophecies than most of us – Christ is not called “David” ever. He is actually called “the son of David” and the “offspring of David” – not “David.”

It would seem to me that if Christ was David, that the apostles, who knew these references would have mentioned it at least one time in the New Testament or the gospels. But even the demons call Jesus “the son of David.”

The word used to say “offspring” in Revelation 22:16 (Jesus is the offspring of David) means “literal son” and is the greek word “genos”. The language suggests that the Father (God in John 3:16) is actually “David” in Ezekiel 37. Thus Christ is the righteous branch, he is the king of kings, he is both the descendant of David, and his offspring.

So, I believe that David (Ezekiel 37) is actually Jesus’s Father, not Jesus, who will probably incarnate at a later time, before the second coming. I think that interpretation actually makes more sense than what you are describing.

David David
2 years ago

Be not confused, I and my father are 1…

April
1 year ago

I disagree with this teaching. David will return as king/prince over Israel and Christ is king/prince over the whole world. In the resurrection the saints are to reign with Christ as kings and priests. David will be in the resurrection unless you deny that the dead are raised. When David is raised, what is he going to be doing? I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to twiddle his thumbs on a harp in his spare time, but that’s not the only thing he will do with his immortal life. He’s already been trained as a king; he understands the law and the politics. David will be in God’s Kingdom ruling with Christ as. . .a king. And Elijah will be in God’s government ruling as a priest.

Christ is returning with His saints, therefore David is returning as well.

David
7 months ago
Reply to  April

This is a correct interpretation. David will be prince to the King. A king to rule alongside the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.
David will also come before Jesus. The first horseman of the Apocalypse, is David. Much like John the baptist came to lay the foundation for the first coming, so will David, for his second coming.

David
6 months ago

The white rider is a man. White was always the color of righteousness in the Scriptures. He is coming to announce the good news of the second coming of the Messiah. And to gain victory over false religion. He is the third ‘Elijah’, after John the Baptist.

It is King David. David will be prince to the King. A king to rule alongside the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. Ezequiel 37:25 says that King David will be a prince to Israel forever.
It was prophesied that David would come in the final days, in many scriptures (see below), before Jesus, when Israel finds Jehovah once again and is finally free of false worship. Much like John the Baptist came to lay the foundation for the first coming, so will David, for His second coming.

Hosea 3:5
Jeremiah 30:8-9
Ezequiel 34:23-24; 37:24-25
Revelation 6:2

Christina
6 months ago
Reply to  David

We must remember that Jesus was also a man while being fully God. He is the rider on the white horse:

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:11-16

Brother, I’ve not heard of the interpretation that David will “prepare the way” for the Second coming of Jesus as John did in the first.

I did a little research on this as the bible says to study to show yourself approved and Iron sharpens iron.

Remember that Jesus is a descendant of David. Often when Scripture uses the name “David” it refers to the Descendant of David- Jesus Christ.

See Hosea 3:5 in AMP:

Afterward the sons of Israel will return [in deep repentance] and seek the Lord their God and [seek from the line of] David their king [the King of kings—the Messiah]; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness and blessing in the last days.

There are several commentaries that support this.

StudyLight is a great source to consider.

“And David their King – David himself, after the flesh, this could not be. For he had long since been gathered to his fathers; nor was he to return to this earth. “David” then must be “the Son of David,” the same, of whom God says, “I will set up One Shepherd over them, and He shall feed them, even My servant David, and He shall be their Shepherd, and I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David a Prince among them” Ezekiel 34:23-24. The same was to be a “witness, leader, commander to the people Isaiah 55:4; He who was to be “raised up to David Jeremiah 23:5-6, a righteous Branch,” and who was to “be called the Lord our Righteousness; David’s Lord” Psalms 110:1, as well as “David’s Son.” Whence the older Jews, of every school, Talmudic, mystical, Biblical, grammatical, explained this prophecy, of Christ. Thus their received paraphrase is: “Afterward the children of Israel shall repent, or turn by repentance, and shall seek the service of the Lord their God, and shall obey Messiah the Son of David, their King.”

“Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek Jehovah their God, and David their king, and shall come with fear unto Jehovah and to his goodness in the latter days.”

The strong Messianic thrust of this passage is undeniable. It is no longer the old Israel which is in focus here, for the new Israel suddenly enters the picture. The words “afterward” and “in the latter days” which begin and close the passage make this certain. Also, the return to “David their king” can only mean that the return will be to the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Son of David (Matthew 1:1), whose resurrection from the dead and subsequent exaltation at God’s right hand in heaven were flatly declared by the apostle Peter to be the fulfillment of the ancient promise of God’s raising up one to sit on David’s throne (Acts 2:19-31).
.

Rina
3 months ago

This is typical New Testament thinking. Jesus has to fit in there somehow. Truth be known God is the King of Israel and David His prince.
The veil that covers all the Nations/ Goyim shall be lifted in the Land (Isaiah 25:7). NOTE: the Jews are not veiled.
A sign shall be given, a young woman/ not virgin shall be with child re Isaiah 7:14… a sign can be seen (the rainbow), virginity not. King Ahaz had many enemies. The prophet assured him that he will see the child grow up. Taken out of context!
Israel, the servant of the Most High (Isaiah chptrs 43-53; the 4 servant songs; Ch 53 Israel the suffering servant (The Iquisition, the Pogroms, the Crusades, the Holocaust & Martyrs for Allah; Christian and Islamic terror on the Jews). The Jews suffered most at the hand of the other 2 Abrahamic Faiths: Christianity and Islam.
10 men from the Nations to take hold of the Jew (on the corner of the garment is tzitzit, the forever Covenant honoring) saying ‘Let us go with you for we heard that Elohim is with you’ Zech 8:23
The NT, like the Koran ‘borrowed’ from the Hebrew Bible. May our Creator Father reveal His truth to the Nations.

Anthony M
3 months ago

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Surely in My burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who took My land as their own possession with wholehearted joy and utter contempt, so that its pastureland became plunder.