In the prophecies we find predictions regarding the future, along the lines of: “My servant David, who would be king over them (=Israel)”. For example in Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:24-25. These verses are about the future Messianic Kingdom that Christ will establish from Jerusalem: a restored Israel that will be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth, as promised thousands of years ago to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
literally David?
But that raises a question. Christ would be King (Ps.2:6; Matt.2:2; 1 Cor.15:25) and don’t these verses speak of David, who would be king in the Messianic kingdom? After all, it says My servant David? Why wouldn’t this literally speak of David himself? Let’s take a closer look at the Scripture passage from Ezekiel 37.
Ezekiel 37
22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel: and one king shall be king over them all. And they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more.
(…)
24 And David My servant shall be king over them, and one shall be shepherd to them all. And they shall walk in My judgments, and they shall keep My statutes, and do them.
25 And they shall dwell in the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt. And they shall dwell therein, they and their sons and their sons’ sons, for the eon. And David My servant shall be prince to them for the eon.the Son of David
It is Jesus Himself who quotes these verses and indicates that He is this one Shepherd of whom Ezekiel speaks. Ezekiel 37 describes a people of Israel that is scattered among the nations and will be restored by God and gathered back to the land (verse 21).
John 10
14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me,
(…)
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd.
Without this commentary of Jesus on Ezekiel 37, there might have been reason to take My servant David literally. But by supplementing the prophecy from Ezekiel, Jesus shows that He Himself is the One Shepherd and that He is the promised King and Shepherd of the people of Israel.
the throne of David
David was promised seed (offspring) that would sit on the throne of David (1 Kings 8:25). This seed would not only be the son of David, but also the Son of God (2 Sam. 7:14). God would establish His Kingdom for the eon (2 Sam. 7:13,16). These promises are of course fulfilled in the Son of David, Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:1). Isaiah already prophesied about Him when he said:
Isaiah 9
5 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, Father of the future, Prince of peace.
6 And His government will be increased, and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over His kingdom, to establish it (…)
This Son will have great dominion and peace without end. That speaks of the new covenant from Ezek.37:26: the covenant of peace. When His birth is announced, the angel Gabriel also says that this is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the promised Son of David.
Luke 1
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and ever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.And later in the same chapter Zacharias says:
69 and He will raise up for us a horn of salvation in the house of His servant David,
70 as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets who have been from the eon.
My servant
Just like David, the Lord Jesus Christ is also called Servant in the prophecies, many times! See for example: Isa.42:1, 50:10, 52:13 and 53:11. Compare also Phil.2:6-7.
David, a prophet
The concept of servant is also found in the Psalms several times, or just like in Ezek.37:25: My servant David. The apostle Peter sheds a very special light on this in his speech on the day of Pentecost when he speaks of the death and resurrection of Christ. He cites a number of Psalms in which David at first glance seems to speak of himself. But Peter says:
Acts 2
29 Men and brethren, give me boldness to speak to you concerning the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30 Therefore because he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of the fruit of his loins to sit on his throne,
31 He, seeing this beforehand, spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that he was neither forsaken in the unseen (Greek: hades), nor did his flesh see corruption.
David was a prophet, both in person and in speech. His words and actions are truly prophetic and speak of the Son of David, Christ Jesus!