Unstoppable! 'God Promised David Our Savior' — Acts 13:16, 20-23

The list of the most celebrated leaders in Israel's history included Moses, Joshua, and King David. David, however, was more than a great leader. He was the most famous psalmist of Scripture. He was the victorious commander of Israel's armies and established Israel as an economic, military, and political power. While flawed, Scripture testifies that David was "a man after [God's] own heart." Both Matthew and Luke emphasized that Jesus was a descendant of David and fully worthy to fulfill the promise of God to David to have someone of his family line on the throne forever.* Also, Paul was emphatic with this audience familiar with Israel's history: God's promise to keep a descendant of David on Israel's throne forever was fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus, like David, was more than just a good leader; he was "God's promised Savior of Israel!" As Paul later said to the Corinthians, all of God's promises find their "Yes!" and "Amen!" in and through Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:19-20).

* See the Related Scripture Readings below for more on Jesus' genealogy and his position as a descendant of David reigning forever.