David, the servant of the Lord in the last days

A servant of the last days is a servant of the Lord. Therefore a servant is not the Lord Jesus Christ, if he is identified as a servant of the Lord. One servant is identified as the Davidic servant who many believe will arrive on the scene before Christ comes to the millennial earth.  There are a few reasons why some people think that the Davidic servant is the Lord Jesus Christ. Headings in the Bible have led us astray. Interpretations of men have become the precepts of men. 

Headings in the LDS Bible

The headings to the Old Testament books found in the KJV Bible published by the LDS church were edited in 1982 to reflect the opinion of Bruce R. McConkie. He believed that the servant named David is Jesus Christ (specifically in Jeremiah 30, Ezekiel 34, and 37.) We will take a look at these chapters further on. But I want to mention that Rodney Turner had this response to the McConkie theory:

As we shall see, however, Christ is not the only king in Israel; he is “King of kings.” Then too, the relevant passages in Hosea, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel distinguish between the Lord God and that “servant” whom he will raise up in the last days as a Davidic king. Is Jehovah a servant to himself? Joseph Smith’s brief reference to this king does not suggest divinity. But, as with so many theological questions, we need not close and bolt the door on this matter. It is not imperative that we have the final answer now; in good time we will see “eye to eye” on the second David. (Rodney Turner, “The Two Davids”, in A Witness of Jesus Christ, The 1989 Sperry Symposium on the Old Testament, p. 254)

McConkie’s opinion that all of those scriptures are about the Messiah — Jesus Christ contradicts Joseph Smith’s statement about a second David being raised in the latter days.  In 2013, the LDS church made some changes to the headings and replaced “Christ” with “the Messiah” — interesting but not very definitive. The teachings that declare  Jesus Christ and David, the servant, are the same person is probably a precept of man. It can lead us to believe false traditions. So, we need to take a closer look at this.

The meaning of the anointed one — “Messiah” in Hebrew:

If we take a look at the Hebrew word, mesiah, מְשִׁ֥יחַ  (mə-šî-aḥ) — it is often translated as “anointed one.” 1 Samuel 24:10:

HEB: בַּֽאדֹנִ֔י כִּי־ מְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהוָ֖ה הֽוּא׃

KJV: for he [is] the LORD’S anointed.

 

Moreover, as King David was called the “anointed one” or “Messiah” of Israel (1 Samuel 16:12–13; 2 Samuel 22:51; 23:1), it also implies messianic status for his latter-day descendant and heir. (Gileadi, Avraham (2011-12-02). Studies in the Book of Mormon (Kindle Locations 353-355). Hebron Books. Kindle Edition.)

 

What Joseph Smith said about the David of the last days:

On March 10, 1844, Joseph Smith gave a discourse where he revealed a servant of the Lord whose name would be David and would be given the kingdom of David:

Although David was a King he never did obtain the spirit & power of Elijah & the fulness of the Priesthood, & the priesthood that he received & the throne & kingdom of David is to be taken from him & given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage. (Joseph Smith, at the Temple, as recorded by Wilford Woodruff Journal, 10 March 1844)(in Ehat and Cook, Words of Joseph Smith, pp. 331) also found in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 339)

Joseph Smith believed that someone named would  David take the role of King, which may have led to him wanting Emma to name his son, David Hyrum Smith to take on this role:

At the time of his birth, it was intimated by old Mrs. Durphee and others that Joseph the Prophet said that he (David Hyrum, which name Joseph gave him before his death — see note 38, Turner: “When leaving for Carthage, the Prophet told Emma,’If the child is a boy, name him David Hyrum'”) was to be the David the bible speaks of to rule over Israel forever, which David spoken of most people took to be old king David. (Oliver B. Huntington journal, 1844 as quoted in Hyrum Andrus, Doctrinal Commentary on the Pearl of Great Price, p. 464, n. 109, as quoted in Rodney Turner, “The Two Davids” p. 252 of  A Witness of Jesus Christ, the 1989 Sperry Symposium on the Old Testament)

What Jeremiah said about a future King David:

Jeremiah 30: 1-9

— Heading:  In the last days, Judah and Israel will be gathered to their own lands—David, their king (the Messiah), will reign over them. (current LDS edition of KJV) (the 1982 version has “Christ” in parentheses.)

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book…For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:  But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

Jeremiah 30, The Inspired Version of the Old Testament (Joseph Smith’s inspired edition):

–Heading: The return of the Jews–Wrath shall fall on the wicked (p. 763)

The Jewish Study Bible (Tanakh translation) Has this for Jeremiah 30:8 -9:

The oracle alludes to the exodus tradition by promising that God will restore Israel from its oppressive slavery to other nations so that it might serve God and its Davidic king. (p. 986)

In that day–declares the LORD of Hosts–I will break the yoke from off your neck and I will rip off your bonds. Strangers shall no longer make slaves of them; instead, they shall serve the LORD their God and David, the king whom I will raise up for them.

What Ezekiel said about my Servant, David:

Ezekiel 34: 22-24 KJV

Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.

Ezekiel 37: 21-25 — KJV, LDS edition :

Heading — The children of Israel will be gathered and cleansed—David (the Messiah) will reign over them—They will receive the everlasting gospel covenant.

And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:  And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:

Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.

And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.

What Hosea said about the future King David:

The book of Hosea, chapter 5 talks about the roles of Jehovah and David, their king in the latter days:

Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.

 

Updated May 13, 2022.

I think that perhaps there are many servants of the last days. One may be named David and take the place on the throne so to speak for the House of David. Or the name David may signify a King.