CHAPTER 7 OF II Samuel portrays to us one of the greatest moments in human history. It is when the Lord chose David and those in his family lineage to be the ones through which the Messiah, the Saviour of mankind, would be born into the world, in other words, the incarnation - God becoming man. Watching the progression of this is interesting indeed.
The Lord informed Abraham, “For in Isaac shall your seed be called” (Gen. 21:12). At that time, Isaac pertained to the entire nation of Israel, which, in reality, did not even then exist except in the family of Abraham.
Then, about 200 years later, the Lord spoke through Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, that the Redeemer would come through the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:8-10).
Now the Lord told David, who lived about 600 years after Jacob and was of the tribe of Judah, that the Messiah would be born through his family (II Sam., Chpt. 7).
Then, about 300 years after David, the great Prophet Isaiah predicted that the Redeemer would be born of a virgin, who, of course, would be in the tribe of Judah (Isa. 7:14).
As a result of the prophecies of Jacob, Israel knew that the Redeemer would come through the tribe of Judah. However, until David, they had no idea what part of the tribe of Judah would be used by the Lord. Now we know that it was David.
THE TEMPLE
It was David’s desire to erect a temple for the Lord, which would house the ark of the covenant, etc. This precipitated the great word given to David by the Lord that it was David and his family who had been chosen by the Lord to bring the Redeemer into the world. As we shall see, David would not be allowed to build the temple, with that being reserved for his son Solomon. But yet, the entirety of the plans for its design and construction was given totally to David. To be sure, David did not contribute anything toward those plans, but such was totally given to him by the Lord in every capacity.
Considering that this select information concerning the coming of Israel’s Messiah and the Redeemer of the world is such an important intersection in history, I feel it would be proper for us to take the information from The Expositor’s Study Bible.
The Scripture says: “And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest roundabout from all his enemies (this pictures the Lord Jesus Christ in a posture of absolute lordship. The great plan of redemption has been won at Calvary, and He today is “sat down at the right hand of the Father” [Heb. 1:3]; every enemy has been defeated, which is symbolized by the posture of David at this time in his reign over Israel. When we consider that our Lord did all of this for us, we should understand that it is the will of God for us as believers to have victory over every enemy of our soul. This can be done only by and through what Jesus did at the Cross and our faith in that finished work).
“That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, (here Nathan the prophet first appears. He will figure prominently in David’s life), See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains.
“And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart; for the LORD is with you” (II Sam. 7:1-3).
When Nathan told David to do all that was in his heart as it regarded building the temple, Nathan was wrong in this answer, as we shall see. The fact is, he did not seek the Lord; consequently, his answer was rash and, thereby, wrong! This shows us how easy it is to miss God, even by someone as close to the Lord as was Nathan the prophet. We must never take the Lord for granted! We must not assume that we know exactly what the Lord wants. This means we must seek the Lord about everything that we do, believing that He will give us leading and guidance.
If no leading and guidance seems to be forthcoming, it would be best not to move forward or backward, so to speak, until we do get an answer. If, in fact, circumstances are such that we cannot remain where we are, in such a case, we can only do what we think the Lord would want.
GOD’S COVENANT WITH DAVID
“And it came to pass that night, that the Word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,
“Go and tell My servant David, Thus says the LORD, Shall you build Me an house for Me to dwell in?” (II Sam. 7:4-5).
There is no disapproval of David’s purpose as such, but only the deferring of its full execution unto the days of his son, Solomon. However, there is more than this. The idea which runs through the divine message is that the dwelling of Jehovah in a tent was a fitting symbol of Israel’s unsure possession of the land. In fact, they had conquered the land a long time before but had never been able to maintain their liberty unimpaired. David would rectify that.
“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.
“In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people Israel, saying, Why do you not build Me an house of cedar?” (II Sam. 7:6-7).
For a proper house for the Lord to be built, proper leadership must first be established - leadership that would properly feed the people. To properly feed is to properly govern. David was the first one to fit this bill, so to speak; therefore, the plans would be given to him, but not the right to actually build. That would go to Solomon.
DAVID THE SHEPHERD
“Now therefore so shall you say unto My servant David, Thus says the LORD of Hosts, I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel:
“And I was with you wheresoever you went, and have cut off all your enemies out of your sight, and have made you a great name, like unto the name of the great men who are in the earth” (II Sam. 7:8-9).
Now the Lord tells David that admittance into this house will be by the way of humility and the shed blood of the Lamb, hence, “the sheep.”
The widespread conquests of David and his great empire were not for the sake of mere earthly dominion. It was, first of all, a type of Messiah’s reign, to whom God has promised the heathen for His inheritance, and that His Gospel shall be carried to the ends of the earth (Mk. 16:15).
“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 anymore, as beforetime,
“And as 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 an house” (II Sam. 7:10-11).
In Genesis, Chapter 15, God promised the land to Abraham’s seed. In II Samuel, Chapter 7, He promises the throne to David’s seed. The seed is Christ; and, therefore, in each instance, the covenant is unconditional, for there can be no failure on Christ’s part.
In Genesis 49:10, through Jacob, as stated, the Lord promised that the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. And now, He selects the family in Judah which will bring forth the Messiah, and David is clearly chosen. David had thought to build the Lord a house, but, instead, the Lord tells him that He (the Lord) will build David a house.
“And when your days be fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish His kingdom.
“He shall build an house for My name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom for ever” (II Sam. 7:12-13).
The seed of which the Lord speaks in Verse 12 is the Lord Jesus Christ.
As stated, these promises are unconditional, meaning that there is nothing that man can do that will abrogate them, and that they most certainly will come to pass.
THE HOUSE AND THE THRONE ESTABLISHED FOREVER
“I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
“But My mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.
“And your house and your kingdom shall be established for ever before you: your throne shall be established for ever.
“According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David” (II Sam. 7:14-17).
Verse 14 pertains to Solomon and those who would follow after him in the lineage of David, through whom the Messiah would come, which pertains to the first phrase of the verse.
Verse 15 actually means that whatever happened and whatever the disposition of men, the Messiah would come through the lineage of David. As previously stated, these promises are unconditional.
All of this is in Christ, and through Him, every promise will be established at the second coming.
DAVID’S THANKSGIVING TO GOD
“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 You have brought me hitherto?
“And this was yet a small thing in Your sight, O LORD God; but You have spoken also of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O LORD God?” (II Sam. 7:18-19).
The magnitude of all this overwhelmed David, as well it should! God’s thoughts are always so much bigger than our thoughts.
In 2010, when the Lord began to move upon us to establish the SonLife Broadcasting Network, which would broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week, I had not at any one time had such a thought in my mind. To be frank, I was overwhelmed when I realized what the Lord was wanting done. As stated, the Lord’s thoughts are always so much greater, so much bigger, and so much wider sweeping than are our thoughts. It is so much better to allow Him to lead us and to guide us, rather than us trying to do so ourselves, which we cannot do.
While there is no direct reference here to the Messiah in David’s words, the Psalms indicate that he did connect the duration of his house with the Messiah’s advent (Ps. 2:8; 89:27). In effect, David was saying, “So this is the manner in which You will redeem man. You will do so by God becoming man, fulfilling Genesis 3:15.”
Verses 20 through 22 of II Samuel read: “And what can David say more unto You? for You, LORD God, know Your servant.
“For Your Word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, have You done all these great things, to make Your servant know them.
“Wherefore You are great, O LORD God: for there is none like You, neither is there any god beside You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”
As David used the title in Verse 20, LORD God, in the Hebrew, it is LORD Jehovah, signifying covenant relationship.
From Verse 21, we know that David knew that the Lord had chosen him for this great honor, not because the Lord saw something good in David, but because of the good within Himself.
Until we see God as David did, in His mercy and grace, we really do not know Him.
ISRAEL<br />
“And what one nation in the earth is like Your 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 Your land, before Your people, which You redeemed to Yourself from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
“For You have confirmed to Yourself Your people Israel to be a people unto You forever: and You, LORD, are become their God” (II Sam. 7:23-24).
Israel both was and remains to this day a nation unique in its history, both in those early dealings of God with it, and also in its later history, and even its marvelous preservation unto this day.
Until Jesus came, the people of Israel, with the exception of a few proselytes, were the only people on earth who truly knew God. Even though Israel rejected her Messiah and has suffered terribly, the prediction by the prophets, and especially by the Apostle Paul, is that Israel will ultimately be restored, which is yet future, and which will take place at the second coming (Rom. 11:25-27).
THE NAME OF THE LORD
“And now, O LORD God, the Word that You have spoken concerning Your servant, and concerning his house, establish it forever, and do as You have said.
“And 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 to Your servant, saying, I will build you an house: therefore has Your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto You.
“And now, O Lord GOD, You are that God, and Your words be true, and You have promised this goodness unto Your servant.
“Therefore now 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” (II Sam. 7:25-29).
The special relation of Jehovah to Israel is throughout constantly in view; for Jehovah is the name of deity in covenant with His people.
David prayed that the blessing may now at once begin to take effect. It is the language of firm faith and should be rendered, “And now begin of Your own good will, and bless the house of Your servant.”
We must understand that all of these great promises were given by the Lord. They were promises, as stated, which were unconditional. This meant that they would most definitely come to pass, even though the Lord knew that David would fail him miserably in the not too distant future.
The Lord is omniscient, meaning that He knows all things—past, present, and future. So, despite knowing what David would do and how that he would commit such dastardly sins, which would bring terrible trouble and heartache to David and Israel, still, the Lord gave him promises that were astounding, to say the least.
Unfortunately, the Lord doesn’t have any perfect people. There is only a perfect Christ. As we’ve said previously, if you are looking for perfection, don’t look in the church and don’t look in the mirror. So, knowing that the Lord knew what David would do in the near future, why would the Lord give him these promises that are so astounding that they defy all description?
The Lord knew that David would sin and sin greatly, but He also knew that David would humble himself and repent. So, the Lord knows all things and bases His judgment on His perfect knowledge.
All of this points to the Lord Jesus Christ and, as well, to the throne of David, which will be reestablished in the coming kingdom age. In other words, David will reign as king over Israel during that coming time, all under the Lord Jesus Christ. This means that these promises will come to fruition and be totally fulfilled in every capacity. What a mighty God we serve!
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