...The expression, 'the throne of David,' often occurs in prophecy; and it is difficult to understand exactly what the spiritualists make of it. According to them, so far as we can see, David’s throne might mean any throne, David’s kingdom any kingdom; or rather, it must mean every throne and every kingdom. But surely David’s throne was not in heaven. His kingdom was not in heaven. His throne was not in the hearts of men. His reign was not a mere reign of principles.

...whatever it means, it must at least mean the peculiar sovereignty of Messiah over the literal Israel. It appears to us, that Christ’s being to receive the throne of his father David, must refer to the peculiar dominion which he is to exercise over the tribes and land over which David ruled. It may mean more, but at least it means this, else it does seem to us to be as vague a term as could be employed. We cannot consent to explain away such an important phrase as this. Not that we deny the truth that Christ is really the Head and King of all his saints; we admit this most fully,—as fully as our opponents can possibly do. All we contend for is, that this phrase does not refer to this; that it means something more, and has reference to the peculiar exercise of his dominion over the nation of Israel. Surely no one will deny that it may mean this. None will say that his being in a peculiar and pre-eminent manner King of Israel, prevents his being also King of saints. No one will refuse to admit that such is the plain and natural meaning of the words. And if so, why are the strong and peculiar words of Scripture to be spiritualized till all their strength and peculiarity are gone?

That 'the throne of David,' and such-like expressions, have the literal meaning we have stated, is, we think, evident from many passages of the Old and New Testament Scriptures.

....Alas, for the forlorn exiles, the homeless tribes of Israel, that once were the people of the Lord, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood! But she shall yet rise again. She has dwelt in dust and been clothed with sackcloth, but she shall put on her beautiful garments,—garments more glorious than in the days of old. Rebuilt and re-adorned, as the metropolis of the earth, she shall forget her misery in the joy of her second espousals and remember her shame no more.

In Israel we see the standing memorial of Jehovah’s faithfulness and truth. Nothing has failed of all that the Lord had said that he would do for or against that people. All has come literally to pass. The curse has gone forth against them and every threat has been verified. Yet they are not consumed; they are still beloved for their fathers’ sakes, and preserved because of the covenant which cannot be broken. Destined for brighter days, they still live on. Monuments now of God’s righteous severity, they are yet to be more signal monuments of his unchanging grace, for 'where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.' Tossed from billow to billow upon a single plank, they have weathered centuries of storm, seeing the mightiest vessels part anchor in the blast and go down at their side, themselves buoyant still. Merses profundo pulchrior evenit! To this day, as hitherto, unfixed, unanchored, unsheltered, unprotected—driven hither and thither by the tide or the tempest, they are awaiting the outburst of the world’s last hurricane, which, while it devastates the earth, and strews the sea with shipwreck, shall leave them unharmed, nay, waft them home! What faithfulness, what patience, what unchanging love. In Jehovah’s eyes they are precious still; the chosen heritage of God. Their covenant abideth sure; their promises are imperishable. Were it not for these, where had they been? Would they not have perished from the earth, and been found no more among the nations? These promises held them fast and bound their roots 'as with a band of iron and brass,' that they should not be swept away nor consumed. Through all these 1800 years they have been sustained as a nation, emerging from the smoke and ruin of a thousand cities,—rising out of the fragments of an hundred empires, surviving, with mysterious tenacity of life, the storm, the sack, the massacre, the flood, the flame!

The prominence given to Israel in the prophets forces itself vividly upon our notice. Nay, history and prophecy are in this respect alike. Such is Jehovah’s purpose; such is one of his ordained channels of self-manifestation! 'O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.'"

[Horatius Bonar, Prophetical Landmarks; Containing Data for Helping to Determine the Question of Christ’s Pre-Millennial Advent (London: J. Nisbet & Co., 1847), pgs. 295–332.]

Via BA Purtle