The Kingdom

December 24 Simbang-Gabi

Fr. Randy Flores, SVD

Readings: First Reading: Second Samuel 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 89: 2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

Gospel: Luke 1: 67-79

With all due respect to the forthcoming Filipino-made movie of the same title, The Kingdom first belongs to King David and remains his forever (ad-olam in Hebrew). The rise and fall of David’s kingdom, as recounted in the Second Book of Samuel by the Deuteronomic historian, is more gripping than any cinematic portrayal of kingdoms. Dive into its pages to experience the drama, intrigue, and divine purpose intricately woven into its narrative.

Artistic AI representation of King David's kingdom and its connection to Jesus

The Second Book of Samuel tells the compelling story of David—a man after God’s “own heart”—whose ascent to power is marked by divine favor and human flaws. While David unites Israel and establishes a kingdom meant to endure forever, his life reflects profound moral complexity, showing how sin and its consequences ripple through history. At the heart of this narrative is a theological promise: a kingdom that transcends human frailty, pointing to the hope of redemption and the birth of messianism.

2 Samuel 1–8: David’s Reign Over a United Israel

The story begins with Saul’s death and David’s rise. David’s grief for Saul and Jonathan reveals his deep loyalty and the covenant he shared with Jonathan. His lamentation is a psalm of mourning:

“O mountains of Gilboa, Upon you be neither dew nor rain…I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother! Most dear have you been to me; Your love to me was more wondrous Than the love of women.”(2 Samuel 1:21, 26)

With Saul’s dynasty extinguished and David anointed as king over all Israel, the nation unites under one ruler. Jerusalem becomes the center of this new kingdom—a city symbolizing both political power and divine worship.

Amid David’s triumphs, the prophet Nathan delivers a divine promise that shapes Israel’s theology for generations:

“Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; Your throne shall be established forever.”(2 Samuel 7:16)

This covenant forms the foundation of messianic hope: the belief that David’s lineage will bring forth a perfect king who will reign with justice and peace.

2 Samuel 9–20: A House Divided

At the height of his power, David succumbs to grievous sin. From his palace rooftop, he sees Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and is consumed by desire. He takes her and orchestrates Uriah’s death in battle to conceal the resulting pregnancy.

The prophet Nathan confronts David with a piercing parable:

“There were two men in a city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb…Yet the rich man took the poor man’s lamb.”(2 Samuel 12:1–4)

David, enraged by the injustice, declares:

“The man who did this deserves to die!”(2 Samuel 12:5)

Nathan’s reply strikes like a thunderbolt:

“You are the man!”(2 Samuel 12:7)

The consequences of David’s sin are devastating:

• The child born from this union dies.

• Violence and betrayal plague David’s household.

• His son Absalom leads a rebellion, fracturing the kingdom.

  
  

Though David repents, saying, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13), his actions cast a long shadow over his reign. His sin with Bathsheba marks a turning point, exposing the fragility of even the greatest leaders.

The Ripple Effect of Sin

The unraveling of David’s house is striking:

• Amnon, David’s firstborn, commits the heinous crime of raping his half-sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:1–22).

• Absalom avenges Tamar by killing Amnon and later rebels against David, forcing him to flee Jerusalem (2 Samuel 13:23–18:33).

• Absalom’s rebellion ends in tragedy when he is killed, leaving David to grieve deeply:

“O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom!Would that I had died instead of you,O Absalom, my son, my son!”(2 Samuel 18:33)

Royal Theology and the Birth of Messianism

David’s life reflects the tension between divine promise and human failure. The covenant assures that his dynasty will endure forever, yet his sin underscores the brokenness of earthly kingship.

Through Nathan’s prophecy, a deeper hope emerges. The promise of an eternal kingdom is not contingent on David’s perfection but on God’s unwavering faithfulness. This hope becomes the foundation of messianism: the belief in a future Anointed One—the Messiah—who will fulfill the ideals of kingship in ways no human ruler could.

In David’s story, Israel witnesses both the cost of sin and the boundless mercy of God. His lineage carries the seed of redemption, culminating, for Christians, in Jesus Christ—the descendant of David who establishes a kingdom not of this world but of eternal peace and justice.