Chapter 7, and the first part of chapter 8 of Belcher’s The Fulfillment of the Promises of God and chapter 8 of Covenant Theology are identical treatments of the Davidic covenant.
Belcher begins with an exegesis of 2 Samuel 7, noting that even though the term for covenant does not occur in 2 Samuel 7, covenant language is used of the Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 23:5; Pss. 89:3, 28; 132:12. Belcher traces the context for the covenant from David’s proposition to build a temple for Yhwh to Yhwh’s covenant promise to build a house for David. He observes that the blessings outlined in 7:9-11 are blessings that David already enjoys to some extent, but the Davidic covenant will guarantee them for future generations.
Belcher sees that Davidic covenant as the culmination of previous covenants, and he documents the many links between them. For instance, he thinks that the use of Adonai Yhwh, unique in Samuel to these verses, is an allusion to Genesis 15:2, 8 and thus to the Abrahamic covenant. He follows Walter Kaiser’s interpretation of 7:19, “This is the Charter for mankind, O Lord God,” which picks up on the universal blessing aspect of the Abrahamic covenant. Belcher traces the idea of kingship back through the Abrahamic and Mosaic to Genesis 1:26-28. He also argues that specific covenant promises from the previous covenants find their fulfillment through the Davidic covenant. For instance, the promise of numerous seed is fulfilled in Solomon’s reign (Gen. 13:16; 15:5; 2 Sam. 7:0-10; 1 Kings 4:20) as is the promise of blessing to the nations (Gen. 12:3; 1 Kings 4:34). Solomon’s reign also saw rest in the land (Dt. 28:1-14; 1 Kings 4:25) and Israel’s witness to the nations (Dt. 28:10; 1 Kings 4:30). The promise of God’s dwelling with his people is furthered by the construction of the temple (1 Kings 8:54-61).
Belcher argues that the Davidic covenant also highlighted the role of the king as covenant mediator for the people and the significance of Zion as the location from which God will reign over the nations.
Finally, Belcher, looking at the specific wording of the Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 7, the outworking of the covenant in redemptive history, and the commentary upon the Davidic covenant in Psalms 89 and 132, argues that the covenant is conditional with respect to “each individual king” but that “the promises of an enduring dynasty and kingdom” are unconditional because they are not “ultimately dependent on the obedience of individual kings” (176-77).