2 Samuel 7

David having attained to rest, is desirous to build the LORD an house, which the Prophet Nathan commandeth, ver.1, &c. But God straightway forbiddeth him by the same Prophet to do it, annexing a relation of the great mercies and favours bestowed on him in time past, and a Promise of yet greater for time to come, to wit, a son, Salomon, that should build God an house, and of the Messiah, that should proceed of his seed, according to the flesh; 4. Whereat David much admiring and rejoicing, maketh a very hearty and solemn thanksgiving unto the LORD, 17.

1. And it came to pass when the King [Compare this whole Chapter with 1 Chron.17.] sat in his house [dwelling quietly, and being at rest, as followeth] and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies round about; [who were so afraid of David, that they durst not make any more war against him: although David afterward of his own motion, made divers ways, to put Israel in possession of the right and freedom, that was promised them by God. See below chap.8. ver.11, 12, 13, 14. 1 Chron.18.3. & Gen.15.18.]

2. Then the King said unto the Prophet Nathan; Behold now, I dwell in an house of Cedar, [See above chap.5.11.] and the Ark of God dwelleth in the midst of Curtains. [According to Gods command, Exod.26.1, &c. intimating, that it became not him to have better dwelling then Ark had; and that therefore he purposed to build God an house of Cedar. See verse 7.]

3. And Nathan said unto the King; Go thy ways, do all that is in thine heart: for the LORD is with thee. [Nathan speaketh this in haste of his own accord, thinking no otherwise, but that David’s purpose pleased God, without expecting revelation from him in this weighty matter. See the like concerning Samuel, 1 Sam.16.6.]

4. But it happened that night, that the Word of the LORD came unto Nathan the Prophet, saying:

5. Go, and say unto my servant, unto David; Thus saith the LORD: shouldest thou build me an house, [God speaketh thus, because he manifested himself in this house, and above the Ark, by his gracious presence] for my dwelling?

6. For I have not dwelt in any house, since that day that I brought [Understand thereupon, thou shalt not do it] the children of Israel out of Egypt, unto this day, but I have walked [Heb. I have been walking] in a Tent, and in a Tabernacle.

7. Whithersoever I have walked with all the children of Israel, spake I indeed a word with one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feel my people Israel. [See above chap.5.on verse 2. Out of which I now and then took, or raised a Judge or Ruler] saying, why build ye not me an house of Cedar? [The meaning is, that the LORD never complained, that the Rulers of Israel built him no house of Cedar.]

8. Now then, thus shalt thou say unto my servant, unto David; Thus saith the LORD of hosts; [As above chap.6.on ver.2.] I took thee from the sheep-coat, from after the sheep, to be a Leader over my people, over Israel. [The following rehearsal of Gods special favours manifested unto David, and to be manifested in time to come, served to prevent the seruple and doubt, which David might have drawn thence, that God would have no house for himself built by him: whereby he might have fallen into this surmise, as if he were not accepted of God, or that he esteemed him not worthy to do it.]

9. And I have been with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have destroyed all thine enemies before thy face: and have made thee a great name, as the name of the great (ones) that are on the earth.

10. And I have appointed [Oth. I will appoint] a place for my people, for Israel, and planted him, that he may dwell in his (own) place. [i.e. in his own peculiar land] and be no more driven to and fro; and the children of perverseness [see above chap.3.on verse 34.] shall no more oppress him, [Heb. shall not add, or go on to oppress him (Israel) understand all this, on condition obedience, see Deut.28.] according, as at the first. [this may be understood of the oppression in Egypt.]

11. And from that day, that I commanded [i.e. By my command, counsel and word raised and appointed. See above chap 6. verse 21.] Judge to be over my people Israel; But I gave thee rest from all thine enemies: [since that Israel being brought into and planted in the land of Promise by Josua, was served and protected by Judges, Judg.2.on verse 16.] Also the LORD maketh known to thee, that the LORD will make thee an house, [In stead, that thou purposest to build the LORD an house, he giveth thee to understand that he will build thee an house; i.e. establish and continue thy Kingdom in thy Posterity, and (that which is far more) raise up out of thy seed (according to the flesh) the Messiah, who shall be an everlasting King over his people. This Prophecy is so be understood, that it partly looketh at Salomon, as a type of the Lord Christ, partly at Christ himself, whole type he was: and that some things suit or agree to Salomon onely some onely and properly to Christ, some to them both.]

12. When thy days shall be fulfilled, and thou shalt be fallen asleep with thy fathers, [See Deut.31.on verse 10. Act.13.36.] then will cause thy seed [i.e. thy son, or one of thy sons, meaning Salomon, and the Messiah our Lord Jesus Christ, whose type and figure Salomon was. See 1 Chron.28.6 & Heb.1.5. & Act.13.22, 23. Rom.1.3, &c.] to arise after thee, that shall proceed out of thy body, [Heb. out of thy bowels] and I will establish his Kingdom.

13. He shall build an house [Salomon the Temple of the Lord, Jesus Christ the spiritual house, that is, the Church of God] for my name, and shall establish the throne of his Kingdom for ever. [The Kingdom of Salomon and David continued indeed a long time, but this is properly to be understood of the spiritual Kingdom of Jesus Christ, forasmuch as the same above is properly everlasting: below verse 16. See Luke 1:32, 33.]

14. I will be to him father, [To him; i.e. to Salomon, by grace, viz. through adoption in Christ: but to the Lord Christ himself by nature, he being mine own, eternal, onely begotten son. See Job.1.18. Act 13 33. Heb.1.3, 5. Rom.8.3. 1 Job.4.9 &c.] and he shall be the Lord Christ was altogether without sin. See Isa.53.9. Heb.4 5. 2 Cor.5.21. 1 Pet.1.19. although he hath taken our sins upon him, and as our surely paid for them] then I will punish him with a rod of men, and with plagues of the children of men. [i.e. Fatherly and moderately, as a man useth to chasten his child: but will not cast him off, as in the following verse is set forth.]

15. But my loving kindness shall not depart from him; according as I have taken (the same) away from Saul, whom I have taken away from before thy face.

16. But thine house, and thy Kingdom shall be established forever, [See above on verse 13 and compare Luke 1:32, 33.] before thy face: [i.e. Thou shalt live to see the beginning of the accomplishment of these Promises in thy son Salomon: from whence thou shalt be confident of the rest, as if thou now beheldest the accomplishment with thine own eyes. See 1 King.1.48. & 2 4.] thy throne shall be established forever.

17. According to all these words, and according to all this vision; so did Nathan speak unto David. [i.e. Nathan delivered faithfully unto David, all that was revealed to him from the LORD, without dimishing from, or adding any thing thereunto.]

18. Then King David went in, [viz. Into the Tent, which he had called to be made for the Ark of the Covenant, above chap 6.17.] and continued before the face of the LORD: [see above chap.6.on ver.13.] and be said, Who am I, LORD, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

19. Moreover, this [Which thou hast hitherto done by me] was yet little in thine eyes, Lord LORD , but thou hast spoken also over thy servants house for a great while to come: [i.e. of things which shall not happen till after a long time; and this (accordingly) the law of men, i.e. as men are wont to dispose their house, goods, and posterity. Oth. according to an instruction of men; i.e. very freely, familiarly, and friendly, as men are wont to speak with men, and to teach and instruct them. Oth. Is this a manner of men? i.e. thus to deal with men? The meaning will be thus: Are men worthy, that thou shouldest speak to them in such a friendly and samiliar way of such great and weighty things to come, which are determined in thy counsel? Tis too much, and too great!] Lord LORD.

20. And what shall David speak yet more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, Lord LORD.

21. For thy words sake, [i.e. For thy promise sake. Or, understand by the WORD the eternal Son of God, who is the substantial Word of the father, in whom all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen: see 1 Chron.17.on verse 19. Hag. 2.on verse 6.] and according to thine heart, [i.e. gracious good pleasure, counsel, or favourable affection toward me] hst thou done [David speaketh by Faith, and according to the manner of the Prophets, of things to come, as if they were already fulfilled, by reason of the certainty of Gods promises] all these great things; [Heb. all this greatness] to make (them) known to thy servant. [or, making (them) known to thy servant]

22. Therefore thou art great, LORD God; for there is none like thee, and there is no God then thou alone, [Or, except, or, besides thee] according to all that we have heard with our ears. [i.e. according to the demonstration of all, &c.]

23. And who is like thy people, like Israel, an onely people upon earth, which [Or, that, because] God went forth [Heb. ELOHIM went forth. See of this phrase Gen.20.on ver.13.] to redeem for a people to himself, and to make himself a Name, [i.e. to the honour of his holy Name] and to do for you [to wit, O Israel] these great and terrible things, [Heb. these greatness and terribleness, or, fearfulness] to thy hand [O God] before the face of thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, (expelling) [this word is here unserted from 1 Chron.7 21.] the heathen, and their Gods. [oth. thus: before the face of thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee, from Egypt, from the Nations, and their Gods.]

24. And thou hast established to thy self thy people Israel (to be) a people unto thee forever: [Understand Israel, according to the flesh, till the coming of Christ, but the spiritual Israel (that is, the Church of God, consisting of believing Jews and Gentiles) to all eternity] and thou, LORD, art become, [or, hast been] a God unto them. [See Gen.17.on verse 7. Levit.18.on verse 2.]

25. Now then, LORD God, establish forever, which thou hast spoken over thy servant, and over his house; and do according as thou hast spoken.

26. And let thy Name be magnified forever, that it may be said; The LORD of host is God over Israel, and the house of thy servant David shall be established before thy face.

27. For thou LORD of hosts, thou God of Israel, thou hast revealed (before) the ear of thy servant, [i.e. Thou hast caused me to hear, revealed to me, made Known, that which formerly was hidden from me. See the like phrase, Ruth 4 4. & 1 Sam.9 15. See there] saying; I will build thee an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. [Heb. hath found his heart, or, found with, or, by his heart, &c. i.e. he found himself so moved in his heart at it, that he purposed to utter this prayer before thee, as an evidence of his faith and thankfulness.]

28. Now then, Lord LORD, thou art that God, and thy words shall be truth: and thou hast spoken this good unto thy servant.

29. So let it now please thee, and bless the house of thy servant, that it may before thy face: for thou lord LORD hast spoken (it), and with thy blessing shall thy servants house be blessed forever. [By these words David testifieth his Faith, whereby he received these promises of God, being strongly confident, that they shall be fulfilled.]