What does God mean when He promises, "My servant David will be prince among them"
Is He referring to King David, or is this a prophecy of Christ?
Ezekiel 34:24
NIV - 24 I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken.
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Asked October 14 2015
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Kyle Gillette
Supporter
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Singapore Moses
Supporter
We are to take this literally and not as a symbolic name of Christ, for we do not have the slightest proof that this David refers to Him (Ezek. 34:23-24). David will be the chief under-shepherd of Israel--all Israel, all 13 tribes--under the Messiah (Ezek. 34:23-24; 37:24-25 Hos. 3:5; Amos 9:11). Christ will be the Chief Shepherd (Heb. 13:20; 1Pet. 2:25; 5:4). The 12 apostles will reign over one tribe each under David and the Messiah (Mt. 19:28; Lk. 22:30).
Kenneth Heck
Supporter
The context of this verse is established in Ezek 34:13, where the LORD promises to gather all his flock to their own land. This has already begun and will continue until all Jews in the world are relocated to Israel (Ezek 37:21). So, the time of David as a prince begins in the last days and extends through the Millennial Kingdom. In the bible, God is king of the earth, and princes function as authorities over different ethnicities. Thus we have had the Prince of Persia, the Prince of Grecia (Dan 10:11) the Chief Prince of Meshech and Tubal (Ezek 38:2), for example. David will be the Prince of Judah, or the Jews (Jewish Christians) in the land of Israel during the Millennial Kingdom. His direct reign would extend for a 1,000 years in the same manner as Christ's reign does. He may likely be one of the 24 elders with crowns seen in Rev 4:4. The twelve apostles will reign over the 12 tribes of Israel (in its largest, final spiritual sense) in the regeneration (resurrection) after the Millennial Kingdom has passed (Matt 19:28).
BoldPreachers Fellowship.bpf
Supporter
I strongly believe that this passage is speaking about Christ and His Kingship reigning on earth for one thousand years.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Good question, Kyle Gillette! The “prince” (Ezekiel 34:24) will not be King David, resurrected and enthroned, but the Lord Jesus Christ whom Israel will receive and trust when they see Him (Zech. 12:9-13:1; see Jer. 23:5; 30:8-10; Hos. 3:5). Ezekiel mentions “David the prince” in Ezek. 37:24-25 (24 "My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. 25 They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their childrens children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever.); Ezek. 45:22; 46:4, and these references point to the Messiah. https://storage.snappages.site/7STCWP/assets/files/The-Wiersbe-Bible-Commentary-Old-Testame-90.pdf I agree with Singapore Moses that David will be the chief under-shepherd. To further solidify this, it is helpful to remember that David was a specific "Type" of Christ. Not only did David prophesy about Christ, he resembled Him in many ways. For example: Birth and Estate: Both were born in the humble town of Bethlehem. Both were of low estate on earth, having no rank to boast of or wealth to recommend them to the world. Shepherding: Both were shepherds—the one caring for literal sheep, the other for the souls of men. Suffering: Both were sorely oppressed and persecuted but opened not their mouths in rebellion. Kingship: Both came to kingship. David subdued his foes and had a kingdom stretching from shore to shore. Jesus was born a King, and is to have an everlasting Kingdom. The Star: David has lighted many a spiritual traveler on the way to heaven—glory alone will reveal what his psalms meant to God's people. Yet he is nothing compared to the Sun of Righteousness Himself. None can compare to David’s greater Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, when Ezekiel speaks of "David the prince," he is using the historical king as a prophetic foreshadowing of the ultimate Shepherd-King, Jesus. This interpretation honors the literal context while recognizing that the promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah.
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