2 Samuel 7
OGCA DIGEST OF CHAPTER 7
David’s desire to build a temple thwarted. David wanted to build a temple as a place of worship for God’s people. Nathan the prophet was in favor of this at first but God told him that this was not to be David’s privilege.
God’s covenant with David. Nathan the prophet came to David with the announcement that it was not to be his privilege to build the temple. He also told him that God would bless his house for generations to come. It was promised of David that there would not cease to be a man out of his loins to sit on the throne of Judah as long as there was a kingdom of Judah.
David’s response to the Lord’s will. David went in and sat before the Lord when he heard of His will for his life (2 Samuel 7:18). His disappointment over not being able to build a temple did not keep him from accepting God’s will for his life.
LESSONS FOR LEARNING
God does not dwell in a house of stone. David’s purpose of building a temple was admirable, but God told him that He had not dwelt in any house since the time that He had brought the children of Israel out of Egypt (2 Samuel 7:6). When it was the Lord’s will to have a temple as a center for worship, He made it known to the man who was to build it. Until it was his intention, God would not let man’s pride or ambition take precedence. We need to remember that it is not necessary to have a grand building as a center of worship.
God knows best. The things that God did for David were much better for him than would have been the glory he achieved by building the temple. The fact that the House of David was established as the ruling house as long as the kingdom stood was a much greater blessing. When God refuses our requests, He always has something better in mind for us.
Thy will be done (Matthew 6:10). Jesus taught His disciples to pray in this way. This was David’s prayer as he went in and sat down before the Lord. He gave God thanks for the blessings He had promised to him. He was willing for God’s will to be done in his life. Christians need to have this same attitude.
CHAPTER 7 IN REVIEW
To what prophet did David tell of his plan to build a temple?
In what had the Ark been housed?
Of what material was David’s house made?
Did God permit David to build the Temple?
Whom did God want to build the Temple?
What posture did David take as he prayed?
What title did David give himself as he prayed?
Out of what country had Israel been redeemed?
What title did David give to God?
In what way did David describe God’s word?
2 Samuel 7:1-11
- God’s Covenant With David, 2 Samuel 7:1-29.
David’s Desire to Build a Temple Thwarted. 2 Samuel 7:1-11
And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, 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 a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee,
4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan, saying, 5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou build me a house for me to dwell in? 6 Whereas 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 ye not me a house of cedar?
8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: 9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and 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 a house.
*1.
When did David express his desire to build a temple? 2 Samuel 7:1*
The first part of David’s reign was given over to conquests of surrounding territories. The first seven years of his reign were spent in Hebron as he ruled over the tribe of Judah only. David was obliged to take the city of Jerusalem as his capital. Another of his duties at the beginning of his reign was the centralization of the worship in Jerusalem. He accomplished the major part of this purpose by bringing the Ark up from the house of Abinadab and Obed-edom. He built a temporary structure to house the Ark (2 Samuel 6:17). David was entering into the prosperous period of his reign; and the Phoenicians at the instigation of Hiram, King of Tyre, sent cedar trees, carpenters, and masons. They built David a house (2 Samuel 5:11). As David viewed his own personal prosperity, he realized that very little provision had been made for a house of the Lord. This prompted him to propose the building of the temple.
*2.
How did the Ark dwell within curtains? 2 Samuel 7:2*
The Ark was kept in a tent or a tabernacle (2 Samuel 6:17). This had been the provision made by God for the housing of the Ark when the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness of Sinai. The original structure was described as being a tent with ten curtains (Exodus 26:1). This was the covering of fine-twined linen. Another curtain of goat’s hair was laid over the tabernacle (Exodus 26:7). In addition, there was a veil hanging inside the tabernacle to separate the holy place from the most holy place (Exodus 26:31). The court itself was enclosed with a curtain (Exodus 27:5). It would be hard to find any better way to describe the tabernacle than to call it a dwelling of curtains.
*3.
Who was the Nathan? 2 Samuel 7:3*
Nathan was a prophet and a close friend of David’S. He seems to take the place formerly occupied by Samuel in the affairs of the king. Some have called him a court prophet. It is probable that his name was the shortened form of Nathanael, the name of one of Jesus-’ apostles (John 1:48-49; John 21:2). Nathan first came to David when he proposed to build the temple. Later, Nathan was sent to rebuke David for his sin with Bathsheba. It is also known that Nathan wrote the history of David (1 Chronicles 29:29). He was with David even at the time when David was dying (1 Kings 1:11). At first David’s proposal appealed to Nathan; he encouraged him to do all that he planned because it was apparent that the Lord was with David.
*4.
How did the word of the Lord come to Nathan? 2 Samuel 7:4*
God spake in times past in different ways and varied manners as he revealed His will to the fathers by the prophets (Hebrews 1:1). On occasions, men saw visions (Joe 2:28). This expression of the word of the Lord coming to a man was also used with regard to Samuel (1 Samuel 15:10). The expression occurs frequently in Jeremiah and Ezekiel; and unless there is a definite statement in the Scripture, it is impossible to tell whether the word came by an audible voice, a dream, a vision, or some other manner. There was no question about its being the word of the Lord, and Nathan spoke what God had told him to reveal to David.
*5.
Why did God oppose David’s proposal? 2 Samuel 7:5*
The first reason given for not building the temple was that it was contrary to precedent. God said that His dwelling place had not been a house from the time that He brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt until David’s time. Through all those ages God had used a tent or a tabernacle as a place for His worship. Joshua had established the tabernacle in Shiloh (Joshua 18:1). The tabernacle had remained there throughout the three hundred years of the judges and it was still there when Samuel was born (1 Samuel 1:3). God reminded David that He had not said anything about building a house.
*6.
Who was to feed God’s people? 2 Samuel 7:7*
From the context it is apparent that God is speaking of different tribes whom he had commanded to lead His people Israel. Throughout the time of the judges, men of different tribes were raised up to be leaders. Othniel, the first judge, was of the tribe of Judah (Judges 3:9). Ehud, the second judge, was from Benjamin (Judges 3:15). Deborah, the only female leader, was from Ephraim (Judges 4:5). Other judges were from Manasseh, Gilead, Naphtali and Dan. To none of these men from the different tribes had God ever given an order to build a permanent residence for the Ark.
What blessings had God showered upon David? 2 Samuel 7:8-9
God reminded David that he had brought him from the sheepcote. This was where Samuel had found him when he went to Bethlehem to anoint a king. God reminded David that he had made him ruler over Israel. First David had been king over only one tribe, but finally he was brought to the place where he ruled over all his people. God reminded David that He had been with him wherever he had gone throughout the wanderings as he fled from Saul. God had been with him and spared his life. God had cut off all his enemies, so that he had peace in his kingdom. Only recently in his career David had been victorious over the Philistines; these were the people who had oppressed most persistently; but in all his campaigns against them, he had been successful. Finally, God had made a great name for David. His reputation had reached to the Phoenician kingdom in the north; and Hiram, their king, had sent messengers to express his good will (2 Samuel 5:11). Remembering these blessings would soften the blow of disappointment which was to be David’s as God told him that he could not build the temple.
What blessings did God promise to Israel? 2 Samuel 7:10
God told David that He would appoint a place for his people. He gave them the land of Canaan as their inheritance. He also promised to establish them there. They were to be planted in Palestine. Their roots were to go down deep, and this was to be their perpetual inheritance. God said that these Israelites would dwell in a place of their own and move no more. They had been nomads, driven from pillar to post. Abraham and Isaac had sojourned in tents. Jacob had died in the foreign country of Egypt. The descendants of Jacob had been slaves for four hundred years in a land that was not their own. God had brought them into a place that was their own, and this was to be their land. Although in later history they disobeyed God and were driven out, they have been allowed to return and establish the nation of Israel. In a very real and unusual sense Palestine belongs to the Jews. God said that the children of wickedness would not afflict His people any more as beforetime. How far into the future this reaches, man unheeded by Divine guidance cannot say for sure. The forty years of David’s reign plus the forty years of Solomon’s grandeur, would fulfill this prophecy. God’s people were to enjoy a long stay in the promised land. The children of wickedness did not afflict them any more as they had in their former years.
*9.
What blessing did God promise to David? 2 Samuel 7:11*
God promised to build a house for David. Since David already had a building in which to live, this reference can only be to the fact that his family is to be established as a royal family. David wanted to build God a house out of stone and wood. He was not to be given this privilege, but God was to build him a house that would live for generations. Saul’s house had been deposed. His family was not allowed to continue to rule over Israel. David’s house was to be established as the ruling family in Israel.
2 Samuel 7:12-17
God’s Covenant With David. 2 Samuel 7:12-17
12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a 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 chastise 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.
*10.
Who was to build God’s house (in Israel)? 2 Samuel 7:13*
Although David was not allowed to have the privilege of building a temple for God, David’s son was to be given this privilege. God made it clear that after David slept with his fathers, his son would rule after him. His kingdom was to be established, and he would have the privilege of building the temple. God also repeated His promise to establish the throne of His kingdom.
*11.
Whom did God call His son?* 2 Samuel 7:14
God referred to Solomon as His son. Solomon was not His only begotten son, the express image of His person; but Solomon was a man who walked with God as a son would walk with his father. David understood this, and referred to it on a number of occasions (1 Chronicles 22:10; 1 Chronicles 28:6). The verse reached beyond Solomon and has an application in prophecy to Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. This idea is carried out as David spoke by the inspiration of the Spirit in Psalms 2. God fulfills the relationship of a father to all His children, but He was the Father of the Messiah in a unique way. The father and son relationship between Jesus Christ and the Lord God Jehovah, helps the Christian to understand his relationship to his heavenly Father.
*12.
Was David’s kingdom unending? 2 Samuel 7:16*
As long as there was a kingdom in Jerusalem, there was a son of David to sit upon the throne. Twenty kings ruled in Jerusalem, and each of them was a direct descendant of David. David was succeeded to the throne by his son Solomon. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam ruled over the Southern Kingdom when it was divided. To call the roll of the kings in Judah is to call the roll of the descendants of David. Since Jesus Christ sits on the right hand of the Father yet today, He rules the spiritual kingdom of Israel as a direct descendant of David (Daniel 7:13-14 and Acts 7:55-56).
*13.
Why was David not permitted to build the temple? 2 Samuel 7:17*
Sometime after David had overcome all his enemies, he proposed to build a house to keep the Ark in and to be known as God’s house. It seemed that God had walked in a tent because the Ark had been moved about so much.
At the first, the proposal sounded good to Nathan, the prophet. Jehovah answered by telling David that because he had been a man of war and had shed blood he could not build the temple (1 Chronicles 28:2-3). This was not a condemnation of David’s method of warfare, but it showed that David’s place in God’s plan was to subdue Israel’s enemies and establish the kingdom. Great consolation came to David, moreover, in the promise made by God that the kingdom of David should last forever. The kingdom would not be wrested from the hands of his heir as it had been wrested from the hands of Saul and his heirs. In Christ, known as David’s son, was a kingdom set up forever.
2 Samuel 7:18-29
David’s Response to the Lord’s Will. 2 Samuel 7:18-29
18 Then went king David in, and sat 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 sight, 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, knowest thy servant. 21 For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
22 Wherefore thou are 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 redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
24 For thou hast confirmed 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 a house: therefore 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.
*14.
What caused David’s thanksgiving? 2 Samuel 7:18*
Even though he was not allowed the blessed privilege of building the temple, David knew that he had received great blessings from the hand of Jehovah. Had not God promised him that his kingdom should last forever? Therefore had David taken a place in the tent in Jerusalem that he had placed there for the housing of the ark and rendered up to God a song and prayer of thanksgiving. His background was one of humble origins, but he had risen to a place of national and international prominence.
*15.
Why did David sit before the Lord? 2 Samuel 7:18*
David’s gratitude for all the blessings of God overwhelmed him. He would not be allowed to go into the tabernacle proper and probably sat by the altar which was outside the temporary tent erected to house the Ark. Sitting is not the usual attitude of prayer in the Old Testament. The oriental mind does not see anything inappropriate in it, as is evidenced by the Mohammand ritual; where it is one of several postures. The Coptic Christians also practice this kind of posture. The fact that David was sitting would indicate that he may have been meditating as well as praying the prayer which is recorded. He may have spent quite an extensive time in rendering this thanksgiving to God.
*16.
Why did David call this a small thing in God’s sight? 2 Samuel 7:19*
David had a faith in God that was deep and abiding. He thought that God could do whatever pleased Him. It was a great thing to David, but nothing was impossible with God. God had not only cared for David in the immediate past, but He had also revealed to him the future. Martin Luther saw in this verse, an indication of the mystery of the incarnation as David said, and is this the manner of man, O Lord God? Certainly the virgin birth of Jesus Christ was not the manner of men.
*17.
Why did David say no more? 2 Samuel 7:20*
David did not make a long speech or prayer. The heart of a true worshipper is revealed without much speaking. David was overwhelmed by the revelation that was given to him and in a sense was left rather speechless. He simply said for God to do that which was best. He believed that God knew him even better than he knew himself.
*18.
How could this be for God’s word’s sake? 2 Samuel 7:21*
The word of God is true. God honors His word. Mankind should learn that when God speaks, man should listen. No word of God has ever yet been broken. Jesus said that heaven and earth would pass away, but His word would never pass away (Matthew 24:35). If God made a prediction about David’s house and the prophecies came true, then God’s word would be established. David viewed these things as coming to pass in order that God might demonstrate the veracity of His word.
*19.
What was David’s concept of God? 2 Samuel 7:22*
David viewed God as being a great God. He expressed his faith in the fact that there is none like God. As a matter of fact, he did not believe that there was any God except the Lord God of Israel. David was a monotheist through and through. He had no images, as far as we have any record. He was not led astray, as was Solomon, to worship other gods. The faith of David was outstanding, pure, and deep. His faith was based on what he had heard. The faith of the fathers had been handed down to the children from generation to generation. David had experienced many manifestations of God in his own life. These things had led him to have the faith which he possessed.
*20.
What was Israel’s position? 2 Samuel 7:23*
David believed that there was no nation as blessed as Israel. God had redeemed His people out of difficult times. He wanted a people for His own possession. By this He had made him a name. As other nations viewed the fortunes of Israel, they would come to the logical conclusion that God was blessing His people. This would bring many people to worship the God of Israel. God had done many great and terrible things for Israel. He had redeemed them from Egypt; they had been spared from many nationssuch as the Amalekites, Edomites, Ammonites, and Philistines. None of the superstitious practices of people who believed in false gods had been able to stop the advance of Israel. Israel was unique.
*21.
What was God’s purpose in all this? 2 Samuel 7:24*
As Israel came out of Egyptian captivity, God said that He was to make of them a nation of priests (Exodus 19:6). They were to be a peculiar treasure unto God. God was looking forward to the time when they would say that they were God’s people and that He was their God. This was the tragedy of the circumstances in the days of Hosea. They had turned their backs on God, and God had said to them that they were not His people. He said, furthermore, that He would not be their God (Hosea 1:9). Throughout the intervening years, God has been wooing people. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. His activities look forward to the time when they can say in truth that the tabernacle of God is with men, that He will dwell with them, that they shall be His people, and that God Himself shall be with them and be their God (Revelation 21:3).
*22.
What was David’s final prayer? 2 Samuel 7:25*
David concluded his prayer by beseeching God to fulfill the promises that He had made. He prayed that the name of God might be magnified forever (2 Samuel 7:26). He saw this being fulfilled as people would say, the Lord of Hosts is the God over Israel. David did not have overweening ambitions for himself. He put God first, He would not reject God, as the people had rejected Him when they asked for a king to rule over them (1 Samuel 8:7). David prayed that it might be understood that the Lord God Himself was the ruler of Israel. He put himself second and then prayed that his house might be established forever before God.
*23.
What assurance did David have? 2 Samuel 7:27*
David rested his hope in the word of God. He said that God had revealed these things to His servant, and it was this that had given him confidence to pray his prayer to God. His final petition was that the words of God be found true (2 Samuel 7:28). As far as David was concerned, the fulfillment was as sure as the nature of God was true. God could not lie (1 Samuel 15:29 and Hebrews 6:18). What God had spoken to David was sure to be fulfilled.