And when your days will have been fulfilled, and you will sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will go forth from your loins, and I will make firm his kingdom. (2Sm 7:12)
כִּי יִמְלְאוּ יָמֶיךָ וְשָׁכַבְתָּ אֶת־אֲבֹתֶיךָ וַהֲקִימֹתִיאֶת־זַרְעֲךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא מִמֵּעֶיךָ וַהֲכִינֹתִי אֶת־מַמְלַכְתּוֹ׃
Cumque completi fuerint dies tui, et dormieris cum patribus tuis, suscitabo semen tuum post te, quod egredietur de visceribus tuis; et firmabo regnum eius.
To firm (כּון kûn), this verb in Hebrew has many meanings: “to be strengthened, to resist, to establish, to be steadfast, to abide, to be calm, to firm, to stand.” As a participle it means “truth, that which is trustworthy”. Often the subject of the verb כּון (kûn) is YHWH, which means that it indicates a very effective action.
In today’s first reading (2 Sam 7), the prophet Nathan receives a message for King David, who wanted to build a house for YHWH – a temple in Jerusalem. In the message, God asks David an interesting question, and the answer is not only surprising, but truly divine: “Will you build Me a house to dwell in?” In response, God tells what He did in David’s life and states that He will build a house for David. It is worth noting that in this Hebrew context, “house” can also mean “dynasty”: “I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come out of your bowels, and I will firm (כּון kûn) his kingdom.” Then God once again confirms his promise: “Your throne will be firmed (כּון kûn) forever.” The responsorial psalm (Ps 89) celebrates the power of God’s grace and the durability of His faithfulness: “grace is established forever; you have firmed (כּון kûn) your faithfulness in the heavens; I will firm your descendants forever, and I will firm your throne throughout all generations.” The conclusion is obvious that since God, His grace and His action are permanent, He can perpetuate the Davidic dynasty forever.
That’s exactly what Saint Paul says in the Letter to the Romans: “To Him who is able to “firm” you according to the Gospel… to Him be glory forever and ever.” Similarly, in the scene of the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel says about the Son whom Mary is about to conceive, that the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David, and He will rule over the house of Jacob, and there will be no end to His reign. Often, in our good actions, sincere and strong commitment, we have a more or less conscious belief in the durability of our works. Sometimes, however, reality exposes the weakness and instability of our human actions. Then we can experience the paradox that it is the Lord who gives durability to our actions and that it is in our weakness that His power is revealed, the sign of which is the Baby in Bethlehem.
