David Sleeps

So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David” (1 Kings 2:10). David’s tomb was “evidently in Mt. Zion, on royal ground near David’s palace (2 Sam. 5:9). The ‘sepulchres of David,’ the tombs of the successors of David, are mentioned by Nehemiah (Neh. 3:16), and were probably south of the Temple (Eze. 43:7–9). . . . It was in existence in NT [New Testament] times (Acts 2:29), but its exact location is at present unknown.” Christ and David both describe death as an unconscious “sleep” (Psalm 13:3; Luke 8:52; John 11:11–14).

Peter made reference to King David during his sermon on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:29–36). Peter was explaining the resurrection of Christ.

His point was that the tomb could not hold Christ, for He had risen from the dead (v. 24)! David, on the other hand, was still asleep in the grave, awaiting the resurrection of the saints. “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses” (vv. 29–32).

Peter’s argument was unambiguous.

David was dead and buried; therefore, the statement made in Psalm 16:10 could not pertain to him. Peter plainly preached that man does not ascend to heaven at death but rather “sleeps” (see also 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17).

“For David is not ascended into the heavens” (Acts 2:34).

God welcomed His Son to heaven and placed Him at His right hand.

David rejoiced in vision at the coronation of Christ and rested in the promised hope of his own resurrection at Christ’s second coming (Psalm 16:9).

We share this hope—hope in the soon coming of our Lord!