2 Samuel 7

2 Samuel 7:1-9

Shat 1093. Still the ark is David’s care, as well as his joy. In this chapter, 1. He confides with Nathan about building a body for us, ver. 1, 2. Nathan approves his purpose, ver. 3. 2. God sends him a grazing message, accepts his purpose, canter-mands the performance, but promises an entail of blessings upon his family, ver. 4—17. 3. David pains out his heart in prayer and praise to God for us, ver. 18—29.

1. AND is came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; 2. That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in an house of cedar,” but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. 3. And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that in thine heart: for the LORD is with thee.

David is now at rest from all his enemies, enjoying in peace that kingdom he so worthily deserved; yet is not his comfort complex, whilst the ark of God dwells under curtains Therefore,

1. He purposes to build a house, meet for its reception. He could not look upon his own house of cedar, without a secret reproach. He resolves therefore to improve the calm he enjoyed in so grateful a service to the God who had done such great things for him. Note, A gracious soul is ever seeking to testify its gratitude, and happy to be employed for the glory of God.

2. David confides with Nathan the prophet about the matter, and as the piety of the design was evident, Nathan hesitates not to encourage him to proceed in the good purposes which were in his heart; but as they confided not God in the matter, his will appeared different, though the good intention was accepted. Note, (1.) We ought to strengthen these hands, who have it at heart to build up the church of Christ. (2.) If the Lord is with us, then the desires of our heart will be to please him.

3. And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, a Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, “Shall thou build me an house for me to dwell in? 6. Where- Veiz. I.

as I have not dwelt in any house; since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent, and in a tabernacle. 7. In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel, spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build me not me an house of cedar? 8. Now therefore, so shall thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of holts, I took thee from the sheep-cure, I from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel. 9. And I was with thee whithersoever thou wenteft, and I have cut off all those enemies out of thy sight, and I have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. 10. (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: neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime. 11. And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee, that he will make thee an house. 12. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will let up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13. He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chafen him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 15. But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16. And thine house, and thy kingdom, shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. 17. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

2 Samuel 7:4-17

David’s heart was big with his design, but God’s time was not yet come; therefore the same night, before any preparations had been made, God appeared to Nathan, and sends him to David with a message concerning it.

1. He enjoins him to desist from his purpose. God had hitherto, since he delivered his people from Egypt, abode in a tent, moving from place to place, and never yet spoke to any of the tribes, or as the word figuishes, forgeries, or rulers in Israel, to build him a house of cedar, chushing rather thus to walk in the midst of them; and till further orders David may not change the manner of his abode. Note, The church of Christ, like the ark, is in this would moving from place to place. In heaven alone, it may hope to find a sure abode, and an binding rest.

2. God reminds him of his gracious dealings towards him, in raising him from his low estate of a poor Shepherd, to be a great king, famed for conquest and valour; not as ophthalmating him therewith, but as an assurance of his regard, though he accepted not the offer of an house which he intended him. Note, (1.) A well-meant design, though it he uninterestedly, is in God’s sight equally acceptable. (2.) A great name is valuable, when it is acquired under the Divine blessing, and as the gift of God.

3. Under his government, he promises to give rest to his people. Though denied in Canaan; their enemies had often afflicted them before the times of the judges, and in the intervals between these divinely appointed Saviours; but now they shall be more securely fixed, and the children of wickedness, their idolatrous neighbours, be suffered to afflict them no longer; and this was a great satisfaction to a king like David, to whom God’s people were so dear.

4. His own house should be established, to reign over this favoured people. His seed should sit upon his throne, when he was gathered to his fathers; and the crown deserved to a long potterity: his son and immediate successor should accomplish the work he had planned, and build a house for God; and such tender regard would be these him, as a father doth to his dearest child; never, though froward, disinteresting him, but correcting him in measure, and preserving still his loving-kindness towards him. These promises immediately and primarily regarded Solomon, in whom they were in many respects fulfilled; but they had a further view, and were completely accomplished in that son of David, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and who shall sit upon the throne of David for ever; so whom, in the most distinguished sense, Jehovah saith, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son, whose church is the glorious house, where God designs to dwell; and though no iniquity was found in him, to deserve the stripes of men, yet

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was he chafened and afflicted of God, for his people’s fine, which were laid upon him. And the same is true of all the faithful God of Christ, though corrected for their infirmities, God’s covenant of everlasting love stands firm with them; God will not cast them off in displeasure, but will refuse and establish them in the kingdom of his grace, till they come to the kingdom of his glory, to reign with him for ever and ever. Blessed surely are the people who are in such a cafe!

18. ¶ Then went king David in, and far before the LORD, and he said, ‘Who am I, O LORD God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 19. And ’this was yet a small thing in thy light, O LORD God: but ’thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and ‘is this the ‘manner of man, O LORD God? 20. And what can David say more unto thee? for ’thou LORD God, knoweth thy servant. 21. For thy word’s sake, and ‘according to thine own heart hath thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. 22. Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for ’there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23. And ‘what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people ‘which thou redeemed to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 24. For thou hast confessed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and ’thou, LORD, art become their God. 25. And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, ’establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. 26. And ’let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. 27. For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: wherefore hath thy servant ‘found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. 28. And now, O LORD God, thou art that God, and ’thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant. 29. Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O LORD God, hast spoken it, and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

19. 18-20. Overcome with this gracious message from the Lord, though his purposes were prevented, their great and precious promises awaken the liveliest returns of thankfulness. He immediately repairs to the tabernacle, and there pours forth his prayers and praises before his covenant God.

20. Abused in the dull, he confesses his own vileness and unworthiness of these distinguished favours; speaking with deep humility of himself, though so distinguished in gifts and graces; and of his family, though so nobly defended. Nor, They whom God honours, will have the lowliest opinion of themselves.

21. He acknowledges with thankfulness and admiration, what God had done for him. It was to him alone he was indebted for all that admonition he was arrived at, and God now had added still the promise of many days to come. He is overwhelmed with such goodness, so unlike the manner of men, who do not thus probably laugh their gifts on their inferiors, and those who have nothing to recommend them. Yet thus hath God done; exceeding even his utmost wishes, and leaving David nothing more to ask. Nor, (1.) God befitows on his people not only more than they deserve, but more than they can desire. (2.) Men are migrants of their gifts, especially in those who have offended them: but God blesses them that were his enemies; first reconciles them to himself, then covers them with mercies and loving kindness, and more than all, gives them still greater blessings in promise, even than those they at present enjoy. (3.) God’s covenant of grace consists all a dinner needs; when we plead that before God, and thy hold by faith on John, to whom this covenant stands full, then all things are ours.

22. He ascribes the whole to God’s sovereign grace; who for his word’s sake, according to his promise by Samuel, or for the sake of his incarnate Son, the Word made forth, thus graciously respected him, and had also made him know these mercies yet in favor. Nor, (1.) All the blessings of God’s covenants are so exaggerated for. From, to without defect; and sovereign, bestowed, according to the counsel of his own will. (2.) To

know and be assured of our interest in the blessings of the covenant, is a distinguished mercy.

4. He excels the glorious God, whose mercy was so great towards him. There is none like unto him, nor God besides him; none that can do as he does, in works of power and grace towards his favoured people.

5. The people of God, from their relation to him, appear also great and distinguished in his eyes. God, or, as the original is, Gods went to redeem them, not Moses and Aaron, though they as magistrates may be called Elohim, but the virtue God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; to save them from the nations, and their Gods, to be a peculiar people to Jehovah, their covenant God, and this not for a nation, but for ever and ever. Nor, More glorious is our spiritual redemption from idolatrous affections and servants to sin, more peculiar our consecration to him through the blood of Jesus, than there by the blood of bulls and goats: and our relation to God, without a figure, literally immovable and eternal, focused to us in that everlasting covenant ordered in all things and furs.

6. He concludes with his humble supplications for the fulfilment of the promises wherein God had caused him to put his trust. Since it had plagued him to reveal his great goodness to his servant, David can ask nothing greater, nothing better. Let the word be established; and this he confidently expects from the truth and faithfulness of God, and is thence encouraged in his heart to pray, because God hath promised. Let God therefore be magnified, his great and glorious name be exalted in mercy, and according to the truth said, Let David’s house be built and blessed, and his throne continue for ever. Nor, (1.) We may holdly ask, when we have God’s promises to encourage us. (2.) Let us not flagger at the greatness of the promise, but pray in faith, nothing doubting. (3.) Whenever we find in our heart to pray, God will not fail to hear and answer us. (4.) This is the constant desire of the faithful God, that God may be glorified; and as this is especially the case when the kingdom of his dear Son is enlarged, therefore he prays, thy kingdom come. (5.) All repetition of our prayers is not vain repetition, but rather is often the liveliest expression of faith and importunity.

2 Samuel 7:14-23

14. ¶ And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites, and they were gathered together, and went also after him. 15. And they came and besieged him in Abed of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab? battered the wall, to throw it down. 16. ¶ Then cried ‘a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear, say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither that I may speak with thee. 17. And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. 18. Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask, maybe at Abel: and so they ended the matter. 19. ¶ I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city, and a mother in Israel: who wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? 20. And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 21. The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim (Sheba the son of Bichri by name) hath left up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. 22. Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom, and they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab: and he blew a trumpet, and they get retired from the city, every man to his tent: and Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

The men of Israel seem to have quickly repented of their choirs of Sheba, and to have deferred him. His own countrymen of Beirush, in Benjamin, cleared to him, and after having in vain attempted to raise the country in his favour, he it forced to take refuge in a fortified city, called Abd-Beth-maach, in the north, whither Joab and Abithai quickly follow him.

1. Joab besieges the city, fills the ditch, batters the wall, and is ready to give a general assault. Note, (1.) One wicked man often involves many in his ruin. (2.) Every stronghold of sin in the heart, whether our traitor halts-retire, must be thus blat-tend down by Almighty grace.

2. A wise woman saves the city from ruin by her interposition. (1.) She asks from the wall, and obtains a personal conference with Joab. (2.) She expolulates with him upon the evil of destroying a city so famed for wisdom, so great and populous, a mother in Israel, that desired nothing but peace, and was a part of the Lord’s inheritance that should be preferred unhurt; and as ver. 18. may be rendered, ye shall surely ask Jesus at Abel, propose it, and so the matter had been ended, but this Joab had neglected. (3.) Joab declares his intentions were as peaceable as her’s, that he abhorred the thoughts of destroying them, but they must blame their own obstinacy in supporting Sheba; deliver him up, and the siege shall be raised. (4.) This she promises to do, and for that purpose assembles the elders of the city; they embrace the proposal, and Sheba’s head is cut off, and cast over the walls to Joab, who immediately raises the siege, and returns to Jerusalem. Note, (1.) Women’s wise are often keenest. (2.) They who are peaceable in the land, surely ought not to be disturbed. (3.) Sin is the traitor; whilst that is wilfully harboured, peace with God is impossible. (4.) God hath no pleasure in our destruction; if we by faith yield up our rebel faith to him, he will save us from the ruin we should otherwise provoke.

3. ¶ Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benatah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherechites, and over the Pelechites: 24. And Adoram was over the tributes: and Jehoha, what the son of Aitilad was re-ordered: 25. And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were priests: 26. And Ira also the Jarrite was a chief ruler about David.

Vol. I.

2 Samuel 7:23-26

We have been an account of David’s officers. Before Chud 1019. Joab, who had by crashing this rebellion done so favourable a service, and was so beloved by the soldiers, in two great to be displaced from his usurped offices, or to be punished as he deserved for his crimes now, though judgment at last overtook him. The other officers are the same as before, chap. viii. 16. only Adoram was over the tribute, which was levied from the conquered nations, or raised for the support of the state at home.