Jesus, Son of David

The question was ‘We know David is King but is there any other significance behind him being called ‘Jesus Son of David’? Why wouldn’t he be called ‘Son of God’?

Great Question. Obviously Jesus is the Son of God so people often call him that and are right when they do. The significance of him being the Son of David is actually really exciting. David is arguably the most important King of Israel because he gets a really important promise made to him by God. There are a few really key promises in the OT and this is definitely one of them.

In 2 Samuel 7:9-16, the God of Israel says this to David.
9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders [a] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'

There’s lots in here but see how God promises to

• Make David’s name great
• Give his people a place & rest
• Build a house for God (temple)
• Establish David’s kingdom forever

Ultimately, all of these promises are not fulfilled completely in David but in Jesus whose name is above all names, who is the place where we meet God and His kingdom is the one that is everlasting. Israel were waiting for these promises to come true so that fact Jesus is called the Son of David specifically recalls these promises – and we can know that Jesus fulfills them!