2 Samuel 7
Overview
2 Samuel 7 is a foundational chapter in the Old Testament, outlining the Davidic Covenant — a key moment in the history of Israel and in the development of biblical theology. This chapter underscores the significance of David’s dynasty and God’s plans for his people. Key aspects include:
David’s Desire to Build a Temple: David, settled in his palace and at peace with surrounding nations, expresses his desire to build a permanent house (temple) for the Ark of the Covenant, as it was still in a tent.
Nathan’s Initial Response and God’s Message: Prophet Nathan initially encourages David to build the temple, but that night, God speaks to Nathan, delivering a different message for David.
God’s Promises to David: Through Nathan, God tells David that He will establish David’s house (dynasty) forever. Instead of David building a house for God, God promises to establish a house for David — a dynasty that will endure.
David’s Line to Rule: God promises that David’s offspring will succeed him as king and will build the temple. The LORD assures that He will be a father to David’s descendants and that His love will never be taken away from them, unlike Saul.
Discipline, but Not Rejection: God says that if David’s descendants sin, He will punish them but will not reject them as He did Saul.
David’s Prayer of Gratitude and Humility: In response to God’s promises, David offers a prayer of gratitude, humility, and awe. He acknowledges God’s greatness and expresses his amazement at God’s plans for his house.
David’s Recognition of Israel’s Unique Relationship with God: David highlights the unique nature of Israel’s relationship with God, as there is no other nation on earth like Israel, whom God redeemed for Himself.
2 Samuel 7 is a theological high point in the biblical narrative, emphasizing God’s commitment to David and his descendants and setting the stage for the future messianic expectations tied to David’s line. This covenant is central to Israel's understanding of God's providential care and promises of an eternal kingdom, which are later fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, a descendant of David. The chapter reflects David’s deep faith and understanding of his role in God’s divine plan.
David’s Desire to Build a Temple: David, settled in his palace and at peace with surrounding nations, expresses his desire to build a permanent house (temple) for the Ark of the Covenant, as it was still in a tent.
Nathan’s Initial Response and God’s Message: Prophet Nathan initially encourages David to build the temple, but that night, God speaks to Nathan, delivering a different message for David.
God’s Promises to David: Through Nathan, God tells David that He will establish David’s house (dynasty) forever. Instead of David building a house for God, God promises to establish a house for David — a dynasty that will endure.
David’s Line to Rule: God promises that David’s offspring will succeed him as king and will build the temple. The LORD assures that He will be a father to David’s descendants and that His love will never be taken away from them, unlike Saul.
Discipline, but Not Rejection: God says that if David’s descendants sin, He will punish them but will not reject them as He did Saul.
David’s Prayer of Gratitude and Humility: In response to God’s promises, David offers a prayer of gratitude, humility, and awe. He acknowledges God’s greatness and expresses his amazement at God’s plans for his house.
David’s Recognition of Israel’s Unique Relationship with God: David highlights the unique nature of Israel’s relationship with God, as there is no other nation on earth like Israel, whom God redeemed for Himself.
2 Samuel 7 is a theological high point in the biblical narrative, emphasizing God’s commitment to David and his descendants and setting the stage for the future messianic expectations tied to David’s line. This covenant is central to Israel's understanding of God's providential care and promises of an eternal kingdom, which are later fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, a descendant of David. The chapter reflects David’s deep faith and understanding of his role in God’s divine plan.
2 Samuel 7
1 And it 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 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 an 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 an 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:
🔑→ Devotion
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 an house.
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 an house for my name, and I will stablish 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 chasten 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.
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 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.
🏆↑ The Winner's Circle: Overcoming the Canaanites
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 an 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.
End of 2 Samuel 7
1 Year Plan: May 9 - 2 Sa 7, 2 Sa 8, Acts 3
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 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 an 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 an 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:
🔑→ Devotion
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 an house.
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 an house for my name, and I will stablish 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 chasten 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.
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 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.
🏆↑ The Winner's Circle: Overcoming the Canaanites
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 an 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.
End of 2 Samuel 7
1 Year Plan: May 9 - 2 Sa 7, 2 Sa 8, Acts 3
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