2 SAMUEL 7
OPENS WITH GOD'S COVENANT WITH KING DAVID
Verses 1-3 tells us Nathan's premature advice to David.
"Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains." Then Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you."
The LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around...
This leads us to believe that the events of 2 Samuel 7 happened AFTER the wars of conquest described in 2 Samuel 8. This section is placed before the war accounts in the text to show its GREATER importance.
Cedar wood was especially valued. This means that David lived in an expensive, beautiful home. When he remembered that the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains, the contrast bothered him. David was troubled by the thought that he lived in a nicer house than the ark of the covenant.
Without saying the specific words, David tells Nathan that he wants to build a temple to replace the tabernacle. More than 400 years before this, when Israel was in the wilderness, God commanded Moses to build a tent of meeting according to a specific pattern (Exodus 25:8-9). God never asked for a permanent building to replace the tent, but now David wants to do this for God.
AND WE KNOW...The tent of meeting - also known as the tabernacle - was perfectly suited to Israel in the wilderness, because they constantly moved. Now that Israel is securely in the land, and the tabernacle is in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:17), David thinks it would be better and more appropriate to build a temple to replace the tabernacle.
Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you...
Nathan said this to David because it seemed good and reasonable. What could be wrong with David building a temple?
All that is in your heart shows that David's heart was filled with this question: "What can I do for God?" He was so filled with gratitude and concern for God's glory that he wanted to do something special for God.
Verses 4-7 tells us God's response to David's offer.
"But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, "Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: "Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'" '
That night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan...
This tells us CLEARLY that Nathan's response to David was presumptuous. Nathan answered according to human judgment and common sense, but before the word of the LORD came to him.
Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?
God seems honored that David offered to build Him a house. "You want to build Me a house? No one has ever offered to do that before, and I never commanded anyone to do it."
David's wants to do more than God commands...
This is a wonderful place to be in our relationship with God. Most of us are so stuck in the thinking, "How little can I do and still please the LORD?" that we never really want to do MORE than God commands.
Would you build a house...
David now knew that God did NOT want him to build the temple, but David did NOT respond by doing nothing. Instead of building the temple, David gathered all the materials for its construction so Solomon could build a glorious temple to God confirmed to us in 1 Chronicles 29:2-9.
Verses 8-9 tells us God reminds David what He has done for him.
"Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth."
I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people...
God TOOK David from the pasture to the throne.
I have been with you wherever you have gone...
God PROTECTED David from all his enemies.
Have made you a great name...
God MADE David's name great in all the earth.
Verses 10-11 tells us God promises TWO THINGS to David.
"Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house."
I will appoint a place for My people Israel...
God promised David that under his reign, God would establish a permanent, secure, Israel. God promised this first because He knew that David, being a godly shepherd, was first concerned about the welfare of his people.
He will make you a house...
God promises David that he will build him a house in the sense of establishing a dynasty for the house of David. This was an ENDURING LEGACY for David long after his death.
David wanted to build God a temple. God said, "Thank you David, but no thanks. Let me build you a house instead." This was a greater promise than David's offer to God, because David's house would last longer and be more glorious than the temple David wanted to build.
God HONORED what David GAVE him, even though he only gave it to God in his sincere intention. There are some things that we want to give God, but are prevented from giving. In these cases God STILL RECEIVES OUR PRECIOUS intention as the gift.
Why did God say, "No" to David's offer?
Because David was a MAN OF WAR, and God wanted a MAN OF PEACE to build His temple.
1 Chronicles 22:8-10 explains this: "But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight … a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest … He shall be build a house for My name."
WE NOTICE...God's EXPLANATION to David recorded in 1 Chronicles 22:8 came years AFTERWARDS.
WHY?
MEYER answers it well, "It would have wounded David needlessly to have been told this at the time … Meanwhile David possessed his soul in patience, and said to himself, 'God has a reason; I cannot understand it, but it is well.' "
Verses 12-17 tells us God details HIS PROMISE of a house for David.
"When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."' " According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David."
I will set up your seed after you...
In this, God specifically promises a hereditary monarchy for the house of David. It was important for God to repeat this promise specifically, because there had NEVER YET been a king succeeded by his son in Israel.
This great promise that God made to David had only a future fulfillment. David would only benefit now from this promise through faith. If he had a "what's-in-it-for-me-right-now" attitude.
SPURGEON says it well, "The joy which filled David's bosom was a spiritual one, because he knew that Jesus would come of his race, and that an everlasting kingdom would be set up in his person, and in him should the Gentiles trust."
He shall build a house for My name...
Though David would not build a temple for God, David's descendent would.
I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever...
THE BIBLE TELLS US....he family of David did rule over Israel for more than FOUR centuries, but was eventually removed because of evil added upon evil. Yet out of the "stump" of Jesse, God raised up a new branch that would reign for ever and ever, confirmed to us in Isaiah 11:1-2.
I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him...
This descendent of David will enjoy a SPECIAL relationship with God. If he sins, God will NOT reject him. Instead, God will chasten him WITHOUT rejecting him.
THIS SCRIPTURE RIGHT HERE, STRAIGHT FROM THE LIPS OF ALMIGHTY GOD GIVE US AN IMPORTANT TRUTH...AND REFERENCE, FOR THOSE WHO WRONGLY TEACH AND BELIEVE THAT KING SOLOMON HAD TOO MUCH SIN FOR THE LORD TO FORIGVE. THIS SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT WE WILL SEE KING SOLOMON IN HEAVEN.
Your throne shall be established forever...
God promises David that the reign of his dynasty will last forever.
AND WE KNOW...THAT EACH of these great promises was PARTIALY fulfilled in Solomon, David's son and successor to his throne.
HOW?
1. Solomon ruled on David's throne
2. God's mercies never departed from Solomon, though he sinned
3. Solomon built God a magnificent house
But WE KNOW the prophets foretold a GREATER fulfillment of these promises:
JEREMIAH 23:5-6, "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute righteousness in the earth.... Now this is His name by which He will be called: The Lord our righteousness."
ISAIAH 9:6-7, "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder… Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it … from that time forward, even forever."
LUKE 1:31-33, "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
God's promises to David are COMPLETELY FULFILLED in Jesus Christ.
HOW?
1. Jesus does reign, and will reign on David's throne forever
2. The Father's mercies never departed from Jesus, even when He was made sin for us
3. Jesus is building the Father a magnificent house (1 Corinthians 6:19) in the sense that we are God's temples (1 Peter 2:5) and the church is God's new house.
Verses 18-24 tells us David humbly glorifies and gives thanksgiving for God and for His goodness.
"Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: "Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; and You have also spoken of Your servant's house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD, know Your servant. For Your word's sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name; and to do for Youself great and awesome deeds for Your land; before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods? For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God."
Who am I, O Lord GOD? … Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD...
When David received this spectacular gift, he didn't think it made him any greater. In David's eyes it made God greater.
David's attitude WAS NOT "I am so great that even God's gives me gifts." His attitude was, "God is so great that He gives even me gifts." We should receive salvation and every blessing with the SAME attitude. God's giving reflects the greatness of the Giver, NOT the receiver.
Your servant...
David's humble reception of this gift is shown by the repetition of the phrase Your servant - ten times in this prayer.
It shows that David humbly accepted God's "no" when he wanted to build the temple. David when his proposal was set aside found it in his heart not to murmur, but to pray.
Verses 25-29 tells us David boldly asks that the promise be fulfilled as spoken.
"Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.' And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever."
Establish it forever and do as You have said...
David's prayer boldly asks God to do what He promised. This is NOT passive prayer that says, "Well God, do whatever You want to do - I do NOT really care one way or another." This is NOT arrogant prayer that says, "Well God, let me tell You what to do." This is bold prayer that says, "God, here is Your promise - now I trust You to fulfill it grandly and to be faithful to Your word."
The phrase "therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You" emphasizes this. David is saying, "I'm only praying because You promised. You told me that this is what You want to do."
This kind of prayer appropriates God's promise. Just because God promises does NOT mean that we possess. Through believing prayer like this, God promises and we appropriate. If we do NOT appropriate in faith, God's promise is left unclaimed.
1. We MAY appropriate His promise for forgiveness...
1 JOHN 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
2. We MAY appropriate His promise for peace...
JOHN 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
3. We MAY appropriate His promise for guidance...
PSALM 32:8, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with My eye."
4. We MAY appropriate His promise for growth...
PHILIPPIANS 1:6 says, "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
5. We MAY appropriate His promise for help...
HEBREWS 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace of help in time of need."
Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You...
Notice that David prayed from THE HEART. Some people pray from a book; others pray from their head. The right place to pray from is THE HEART.
You are God, and Your words are true...
This is David's foundation of faith. He knows that God is God, and that every word of His is true. God can be trusted.
SPURGEON sums up this chapter well, "The great sin of not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is often spoken of very lightly and in a very trifling spirit, as though it were scarcely any sin at all; yet, according to my text, and, indeed, according to the whole tenor of the Scriptures, unbelief is the giving of God the lie, and what can be worse?"