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.