A literal return of King David is a tenant of much of the modern religious thought today. Purveyors of premillennial doctrine, such as David Jeremiah, teach that King David will return in the flesh to rule alongside Jesus during the thousand year reign on earth. The prophets have much to say about David’s reign. However, there is one verse in particular that gets held up as the proof-text for King David’s return. Jeremiah, a prophet that lived about 500 years after David, had this to say in Jeremiah 30:8-9:
And it shall come to pass in that day, declares the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and I will burst your bonds, and foreigners shall no more make a servant of him. But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.
This certainly seems to indicate that King David will return to reign again in the flesh. But this is not the only passage we have to consider on this topic.
How Scripture answers "Will King David return to reign again?"
The notion (from one verse1) that King David will return in the flesh is immediately2 and repeatedly3 defeated in the early days of the church. David’s body had “seen corruption”23. Jesus had risen without seeing bodily corruption23 and it was Jesus that fulfilled the promise originally given to David4 by God. This was repeatedly recalled by the prophets1567891011 until “the last days.”
All of this requires the Bible student to consider the single phrase in Jeremiah 301 through a different lens. When considered with other statements from Jeremiah45 about David’s return, it’s clear that Jeremiah isn’t meaning a literal reincarnation of David in chapter 301. And if the additional prophets’ statements4567910 and inspired, New Testament writers’23471011 confirmations weren’t enough (and they are), we have the similar instance of Elijah12. In this case, the prophet Malachi said that Elijah would be raised, but multiple New Testament passages confirm this was not meant as a bodily raising of Elijah. Just like John the Baptist was to Elijah12, Jesus was to David – “a man after my [God’s] heart, who will do all my will.” (Acts 13:22)
Answer built on scripture-blocks below
And it shall come to pass in that day, declares the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and I will burst your bonds, and foreigners shall no more make a servant of him. But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.
And it will happen in that day, declares God, that I will release you from these chains and foreigners will no longer make him a slave. Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their King who I will raise up for them.
Applying Jeremiah 30:8-9 to this question...
God says there will be time (“that day”) when His people won’t be serving foreigners, but rather they will serve Him and David their king who He will raise up.
Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Brothers, I say confidently that our patriarch David has died and was buried, and his tomb is with us until now.
The very first gospel sermon given on the day of Pentecost by Peter. His main message is focused on telling the crowd that the man they had just crucified (Jesus) had risen (vs 23-24) and “God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne” (vs 30). He quotes David’s own prophetic words (vs 25-28) that incorporates a contrast that Peter makes throughout – Jesus’s body did not “see corruption” (vs 27, 31) while David’s body is in the tomb even to “this day,” the implication being that David’s body has seen corruption.
Applying Acts 2:29 to this question...
A central proof to Peter’s message that Jesus was raised and He was the One to be followed was that David was dead, buried and not coming back.
*If David were to return, why is Peter even making this point and not mentioning David’s return? That would be at least negligent on his part if not outright false teaching.
Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.
Therefore, God says in another psalm, “You will not let your Holy One see corruption.” For after David served God’s purpose in his own generation, he died and was buried and saw corruption. But Jesus, whom God raised, did not see corruption.
Paul’s gospel sermon while in the synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia on the Sabbath day.
Applying Acts 13:35-37 to this question...
Paul makes the exact same point in his sermon that Peter was making2, but even more succinctly. Jesus’ body did not see corruption and was raised; David’s body saw corruption [and won’t be raised].
*Like Peter, Paul is also leading his listeners astray by not at least mentioning David’s literal return if that were the case.
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
When you [David] have passed, I [God] will raise up a descendant from your seed and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
A key passage of the Old Testament when God, through the prophet Nathan, makes His covenant with David. David wants to build the temple of God in Jerusalem, but God tells him not to – that his son will do it. It’s an inescapable example of prophetic dualism. In fact, we can plainly see this distinction in the very next verse (14): “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. [true with both Solomon and Jesus] When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, [true with only Solomon]”
Applying 2 Samuel 7:12-13 to this question...
God’s promise to David – that he would have a descendant to reign forever – is foundational to and fulfilled in Christ and the establishment of His kingdom (the church) in the first century. David’s physical, immediate son Solomon did in fact build the temple in Jerusalem. In this physical sense, the promise is fulfilled. However, because of his disobedience, Solomon’s throne/kingdom did not last forever (1 Kings 11:11-12).
It’s in the spiritual sense that the promise is completely and finally fulfilled in Christ (also hinted at in 1 Kings 11:13). Jesus (also David’s son; Matthew 1) established His kingdom and throne that will last forever, building as it were the house of God. This is what the angel says to Mary (Luke 1:31-33) and further confirmed by other inspired writers (Acts 2:22-36, Acts 13:30ff, Hebrews 1:5-14).
Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
God declares that a time is coming when the promise He made to Israel and Judah will be fulfilled. In these later times, it will happen by His power that a descendant of David, a righteous Branch, will arise to execute justice and righteousness in the land.
Applying Jeremiah 33:14-15 to this question...
Jeremiah speaks about a rising up not of David himself but “for David” (e.g. on his behalf); a “righteous Branch”. An oft-made refrain from Jeremiah5 and other prophets6,8.
As this passage and those around it (14-26) include some of the same statements and thoughts in 31:31-34, it would be difficult to conclude anything other than “In those days” referring to Jesus’ coming.
Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
God declares a time is coming when He will raise up for/on behalf of David a righteous Branch who will reign wisely as king, and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
God through Jeremiah pronounces judgement on King Coniah (or, Jehoiachin). He only reigned in Judah three months before being sent in exile to Babylon. He never returned, as God predicts (22:24-30). He then condemns leaders (“shepherds”) and the [false] prophets of the day while inserted this brief (vss 5-8) vision of “days [that] are coming.”
Applying Jeremiah 23:5 to this question...
A repeated thought from God through Jeremiah5 about a “righteous Branch” coming from/on behalf of David (not David himself) that will reign as king.
In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
In that time the root/descendant of Jesse shall stand as a signal/sign for the all people – of him shall the nations/Gentiles inquire and his resting place will be glorious.
Isaiah chapters 11-12 serve as a near continuous vision of things/events/signs “in that day”. In fact, chapter 11 begins with a near identical statement to vs 10 – “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit” (11:1). Paul confirms that Jesus is the “root of Jesse” in Romans 15:12 and Jesus states in Revelation 22:16 that “I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”Qualifiers that jump out as familiar New Testament themes include:
- descendent of David to emerge (11:1),
- God’s Spirit will be on Him (11:2),
- He will judge the world (11:3-4),
- He will be a “signal” to the nations/Gentiles that gathers to Him along with the Jews (11:12),
- The people “will draw water from the wells of salvation” (12:1-3),
- God will be in their midst (12:6)
Applying Isaiah 11:10 to this question...
Isaiah connects the “root” with the “Branch” (from Jesse/David) and further Jesus confirms He is this “root” (Revelation 22:16) and Paul quotes this verse as pertaining to the first century (Romans 15:12).
And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.
I [God] will install over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he shall feed them and be their shepherd. I will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them. I am God; it shall come to pass.
In this entire chapter, God through Ezekiel is contrasting the spiritual leaders of his day (“shepherds”) who were leading the people astray with a shepherd through whom God would establish “a covenant of peace” (vs 25).
Applying Ezekiel 34:23-24 to this question...
Given the multiple statements from God prefaced by “I, myself”, it seems clear that “my servant David” is used figuratively (unless a risen David is God Himself).
And say to him, Thus says the Lord of hosts, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
Say to him [Joshua, the son of Jehozadak] the Lord of hosts says, ‘Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”
Zechariah prophesied to those Jews that returned to the land after the seventy years of Babylonian captivity. In this immediate context, God is telling Zechariah to crown Joshua the priest in a ceremony ushering the imminent building of the temple in their day.
Applying Zechariah 6:12-13 to this question...
It is difficult to imagine that these words and circumstances are not yet another example of prophetic duality. They were fulfilled in Zechariah’s day with the physical priest (Joshua) and temple, but these words could also apply to Jesus and His ultimate station and duty3 as priest and king (Hebrews 7-8).
In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name, declares the Lord who does this.
In that day I will raise the fallen booth/tent of David and repair/rebuild it as in the old days, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all nations/Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord who brings all this to pass.
James cites this passage in Acts 15:16-17 as evidence for his conclusion to extend the hand of fellowship to the Gentiles. (A controversy had arisen among converts that Gentiles must essentially become Jews first, before becoming a disciple of Christ. Church leaders determined from Scripture that this was false.)
Applying Amos 9:11-12 to this question...
Amos prophesies about the “booth of David” that will be raised. James confirms for us this is fulfilled in his day (the first century; Christian or church age).
Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.
In the latter days the children of Israel will return to seek me (God), and David their king, and they will come in the fear the Lord (obedience) and to his goodness.
Most of the first three chapters of Hosea are about God’s instruction to Hosea to take a wife (a prostitute) and have children, giving them specific names (“No Mercy” and “Not My People”). It was all a ‘real-life’ enactment to graphically illustrate what the relationship of God to His people had become (1:2). The disobedience of the people is elaborated on in most of chapter 2. Specific reference and the broader application of the children’s names are referenced in the New Testament by both Paul (Romans 9:25-26) and Peter (1 Peter 2, esp vs 10). As a result, we can definitively apply this as being fulfilled in Jesus’ day and the first century onward. Additionally, in these first three chapters we see the common prophetic phrase “in that day” repeated several times, especially as we draw to the close of chapter 2 and into this text with its derivative “in the latter days”. In addition to a return to the Lord and David as their king, we find Hosea divulging this time to be when:
- the peoples’ betrothal to God (2:16, 19-20),
- a new covenant made that brings peace to the land (2:18) – e.g. a “covenant of peace” (Ezekiel 34:25),
- the idea (again) that they will be God’s people and He will their God (2:22).
Applying Hosea 3:5 to this question...
The immediate and broader context in Hosea along with inspired writers’ application to first-century times all but require “David” to be interpreted figuratively (e.g. Jesus Christ).
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.
Pay attention! I [God] will send Elijah the prophet to you before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. He will cause parents to love their children and the children to love their parents in order to redeem the land from My judgment of destruction.
Malachi’s prophecy to those that returned from Babylonian/Persian captivity around 450 BC. God, through Malachi, responds to the post-captive priests with a series of “But you say” statements, to which God responds in condemnation summed up in 2:8-9, “But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”Jesus does not quote this verse, but explicitly states in the Gospels that John the Baptist was the “Elijah who is to come” (Matthew 11:14, Mark 9:11, Luke 1:17).
Applying Malachi 4:5-6 to this question...
Jesus said that it was John the Baptist that was the “Elijah who is to come”. Elijah was literally named in prophecy but he actually represented John the Baptist.
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There is a David mentioned by the label, prince in the verses. This David is not the same King David. The prince mentioned is a man that King David has been reborn in. He is alive now and is being prepared.
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