Daily Bread - Dec 27 2006

Acts 13:34 - "And that He raised Him from the dead never again to return to corruption; therefore, He has said, 'I will give you the holy things of faithful David. '"

This quote is found in Isaiah 55:3, "I will cut an everlasting covenant for you of faithful David's mercies (covenant love)." The last five Greek words used here in Acts 13:34 are identical to those found in the Septuagint, "ta hosia David ta pista" (the holy things of David's faithfulness). In the Hebrew Bible, this same passage reads, "mercies (covenant love) of David's faithfulness" ("chasdey david hanneemaneem"). Those who translated the Hebrew Bible into Greek understood the Hebrew word that many translate 'mercy' (chesed) to mean holy or sacred things.

What we can understand from looking at all of these texts is that the holy things of David was the covenant love that he had with God - a covenant love that was established by the mercies of God. The covenant love that God cut with David He also cut with Jesus, His only begotten Son. This same lovingkindness and tender mercies has been extended to us today through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org