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<h2><a onclick="return mV('2Sa',7,'1-');">2Sa 7</a> - God's Covenant with David</h2>
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<p>A. David proposes to build God a permanent house.</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',7,'1-3');">1-3</a>) Nathan's premature advice to David.</p>
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<p class="c2">Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the <span class="c6">Lord</span> had given him rest from all his enemies all around, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains." Then Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that <i>is</i> in your heart, for the <span class="c6">Lord</span> <i>is</i> with you."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">The <span class="c6">Lord</span> had given him rest from all his enemies all around</span></b>: This leads us to believe that the events of <a onclick="return mV('2Sa',7,'1-');">2Sa 7</a> happened after the wars of conquest described in <a onclick="return mV('2Sa',8,'1-');">2Sa 8</a>. This section is placed before the war accounts in the text to show its greater importance.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">I dwell in a house of cedar</span></b>: <b><span class="c3">Cedar</span></b> wood was especially valued. This means that David lived in an expensive, beautiful home. When he remembered that <b><span class="c3">the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains</span></b>, the contrast bothered him. David was troubled by the thought that he lived in a nicer house than the ark of the covenant.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <b><span class="c3">A house of cedar</span></b>: "It was a remarkable contrast to the shelter of Adullam's cave." (Meyer)</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. Without saying the specific words, David tells Nathan that he wants to build a <i>temple</i> to replace the <i>tabernacle</i>. More than 400 years before this, when Israel was in the wilderness, God commanded Moses to build a tent of meeting according to a specific pattern (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',25,'8-9');">Exd 25:8-9</a>). God never asked for a permanent building to replace the tent, but now David wants to do this for God.</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. The tent of meeting - also known as the tabernacle - was perfectly suited to Israel in the wilderness, because they constantly moved. Now that Israel is securely in the land, and the tabernacle is in Jerusalem (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',6,17);">2Sa 6:17</a>), David thinks it would be better and more appropriate to build a temple to replace the tabernacle.</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">Go, do all that is in your heart, for the <span class="c6">Lord</span> is with you</span></b>: Nathan said this to David because it seemed good and reasonable. What could be wrong with David building a temple?</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <b><span class="c3">All that is in your heart</span></b> shows that David's heart was filled with this question: "What can I do for God?" He was so filled with gratitude and concern for God's glory that he wanted to do something special for God.</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',7,'4-7');">4-7</a>) God's response to David's offer.</p>
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<p class="c2">But it happened that night that the word of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> came to Nathan, saying, "Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus says the <span class="c6">Lord</span>: "Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'" '</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">That night that the word of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> came to Nathan</span></b>: Nathan's response to David was presumptuous. He answered according to human judgment and common sense, but before the <b><span class="c3">word of the <span class="c6">Lord</span></span></b> came to him.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. "It is of the utmost importance that we should ever test our desires, even the highest and holiest of them, by His will. Work, excellent in itself, should never be undertaken, save at the express command of God. The passing of time will always vindicate the wisdom of the Divine will." (Morgan)</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?</span></b> God seems honored and "surprised" that David offered to build Him a house. "You want to build Me a house? No one has ever offered to do that before, and I never commanded anyone to do it."</p>
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<p class="c5">i. David's wants to do more than God commands. This is a wonderful place to be in our relationship with God. Most of us are so stuck in the thinking, "How little can I do and still please the <span class="c6">Lord</span>?" that we never really want to do <i>more</i> than God commands.</p>
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<p class="c5"><span>ii. "Though the Lord refused to David the realization of his wish, he did it in a most gracious manner. He did not put the idea away from him in anger or disdain, as though David had cherished an unworthy desire; but he honored his servant even in the non-acceptance of his offer." (Spurgeon)</span></p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">Would you build a house</span></b>: David now knew that God didn't want him to build the temple, but David didn't respond by doing <i>nothing</i>. Instead of building the temple, David gathered all the materials for its construction so Solomon could build a glorious temple to God (<a onclick="return mV('1Ch',29,'2-9');">1Ch 29:2-9</a>)</p>
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<p class="c5">i. "If you cannot have what you hoped, do not sit down in despair and allow the energies of your life to run to waste; but arise, and gird yourself to help others to achieve. If you may not build, you may gather materials for him that shall. If you may not go down the mine, you can hold the ropes." (Meyer)</p>
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<p>B. God proposes to build David a permanent house.</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',7,'8-9');">8-9</a>) God reminds David what He has done for him.</p>
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<p class="c2">"Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who <i>are</i> on the earth.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people</span></b>: God took David from the pasture to the throne.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">I have been with you wherever you have gone</span></b>: God protected David from all his enemies.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">Have made you a great name</span></b>: God made David's name great in all the earth.</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',7,'10-11');">10-11</a>) God promises two things to David.</p>
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<p class="c2">"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; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, since the time that I commanded judges <i>to be</i> over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the <span class="c6">Lord</span> tells you that He will make you a house.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">I will appoint a place for My people Israel</span></b>: God promised David that under his reign, God would establish a permanent, secure, Israel. God promised this first because He knew that David, being a godly shepherd, was first concerned about the welfare of his people. </p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">He will make you a house</span></b>: God promises David that he will build <i>him</i> a house in the sense of establishing a dynasty for the house of David. This was an enduring legacy for David long after his death.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. David wanted to build God a temple. God said, "Thank you David, but no thanks. Let me build you a <b><span class="c3">house</span></b> instead." This was a greater promise than David's offer to God, because David's house would last longer and be more glorious than the temple David wanted to build.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. God honored what David gave him, even though he only gave it to God in his sincere intention. There are some things that we <i>want</i> to give God, but are prevented from giving. In these cases God receives the intention as the gift.</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. Why did God say, "No" to David's offer? Because David was a man of war, and God wanted a man of peace to build His temple. <a onclick="return mV('1Ch',22,'8-10');">1Ch 22:8-10</a> explains this: <i>But the word of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> came to me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight...a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest...He shall be build a house for My name</i>.</p>
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<p class="c5">iv. The explanation to David recorded in <a onclick="return mV('1Ch',22,8);">1Ch 22:8</a> came years afterwards. "It would have wounded David needlessly to have been told this at the time...Meanwhile David possessed his soul in patience, and said to himself, 'God has a reason; I cannot understand it, but it is well.' " (Meyer)</p>
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<p class="c1">3. (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',7,'12-17');">12-17</a>) God details His promise of a house for David.</p>
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<p class="c2">"When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took <i>it</i> from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."' " According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">I will set up your seed after you</span></b>: In this, God specifically promises a hereditary monarchy for the house of David. It was important for God to repeat this promise specifically, because there had never yet been a king succeeded by his son in Israel.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. "The family of Saul became <i>totally extinct</i>; the family of David remained till the incarnation." (Clarke)</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. This great promise that God made to David had only a <i>future</i> fulfillment. David would only benefit <i>now</i> from this promise through faith. If he had a "what's-in-it-for-me-right-now" attitude.</p>
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<p class="c5"><span>iii. "The joy which filled David's bosom was a spiritual one, because he knew that Jesus would come of his race, and that an everlasting kingdom would be set up in his person, and in him should the Gentiles trust." (Spurgeon)</span></p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">He shall build a house for My name</span></b>: Though David would not build a temple for God, David's descendent would.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever</span></b>: The family of David did rule over Israel for more than four centuries, but was eventually removed because of evil added upon evil. Yet out of the "stump" of Jesse, God raised up a new branch that would reign for ever and ever (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',11,'1-2');">Isa 11:1-2</a>).</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him</span></b>: This descendent of David will enjoy a special relationship with God. If he sins, God will not reject him. Instead, God will <b><span class="c3">chasten</span></b> him without rejecting him.</p>
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<p class="c4">e. <b><span class="c3">Your throne shall be established forever</span></b>: God promises David that the reign of his dynasty will last forever.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. Each of these great promises was <i>partially</i> fulfilled in Solomon, David's son and successor to his throne. </p><ul class="c6"><li>Solomon ruled on David's throne </p><li>God's mercies never departed from Solomon, though he sinned</p><li>Solomon built God a magnificent house</p></ul>
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<p class="c5">ii. But the prophets foretold a greater fulfillment of these promises:</p><ul class="c6"><li><i>Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute righteousness in the earth....Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE <span class="c6">Lord</span> OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Jer',23,'5-6');">Jer 23:5-6</a>)</p><li><i>For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. . . Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it...from that time forward, even forever.</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',9,'6-7');">Isa 9:6-7</a>)</p><li><i>And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Luk',1,'31-33');">Luk 1:31-33</a>)</p></ul>
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<p class="c5">iii. God's promises to David are completely fulfilled in Jesus Christ.</p><ul class="c6"><li>Jesus does reign, and will reign on David's throne forever </p><li>The Father's mercies never departed from Jesus, even when He was made sin for us</p><li>Jesus is building the Father a magnificent house (<a onclick="return mV('1Cr',6,19);">1Cr 6:19</a>) in the sense that we are God's temples (<a onclick="return mV('1Pe',2,5);">1Pe 2:5</a>) and the church is God's new house</p></ul>
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<p>C. David's prayer of thanksgiving.</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',7,'18-24');">18-24</a>) He humbly glorifies God for His goodness.</p>
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<p class="c2">Then King David went in and sat before the <span class="c6">Lord</span>; and he said: "Who <i>am</i> I, O Lord <span class="c6">God</span>? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord <span class="c6">God</span>; and You have also spoken of Your servant's house for a great while to come. <i>Is</i> this the manner of man, O Lord <span class="c6">God</span>? Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord <span class="c6">God</span>, know Your servant. For Your word's sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know <i>them</i>. Therefore You are great, O Lord <span class="c6">God</span>. For <i>there is</i> none like You, nor <i>is there any</i> God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who <i>is</i> like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name; and to do for Youself great and awesome deeds for Your land; before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods? For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, <span class="c6">Lord</span>, have become their God."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Who am I, O Lord <span class="c6">God</span>?...Therefore You are great, O Lord <span class="c6">God</span></span></b>: When David received this spectacular gift, he didn't think it made <i>him</i> any greater. In David's eyes it made <i>God</i> greater. </p>
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<p class="c5">i. David's attitude wasn't "I am so great that even God's gives me gifts." His attitude was, "God is so great that He gives even me gifts." We should receive salvation and every blessing with the same attitude. God's giving reflects the greatness of the Giver, not the receiver.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">Your servant</span></b>: David's humble reception of this gift is shown by the repetition of the phrase <b><span class="c3">Your servant</span></b> - ten times in this prayer.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. It shows that David humbly accepted God's "no" when he wanted to build the temple. "<span>There are some professors who would do a great thing if they might, but if they are not permitted to act a shining part they are in the sulks and angry with their God. David when his proposal was set aside found it in his heart not to murmur, but to pray." (Spurgeon)</span></p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',7,'25-29');">25-29</a>) David boldly asks that the promise be fulfilled as spoken.</p>
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<p class="c2">"Now, O <span class="c6">Lord</span> God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish <i>it</i> forever and do as You have said. So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, 'The <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts <i>is</i> the God over Israel.' And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. For You, O <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed <i>this</i> to Your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. And now, O Lord <span class="c6">God</span>, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord <span class="c6">God</span>, have spoken <i>it,</i> and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Establish it forever and do as You have said</span></b>: David's prayer boldly asks God to <i>do</i> what He <i>promised</i>. This isn't <i>passive</i> prayer that says, "Well God, do whatever You want to do - I don't really care one way or another." This isn't <i>arrogant</i> prayer that says, "Well God, let me tell You what to do." This is <i>bold</i> prayer that says, "God, here is Your promise - now I trust You to fulfill it grandly and to be faithful to Your word."</p>
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<p class="c5">i. The phrase "<b><span class="c3">therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You</span></b>" emphasizes this. David is saying, "I'm only praying because You promised. You told me that this is what You want to do."</p>
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<p class="c5"><span>ii. "God sent the promise on purpose to be used. If I see a Bank of England note, it is a promise for a certain amount of money, and I take it and use it. But oh I my friend, do try and use God's promises; nothing pleases God better than to see his promises put in circulation; he loves to see his children bring them up to him, and say, 'Lord, do as thou hast said.' And let me tell you that it glorifies God to use his promises." (Spurgeon)</span></p>
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<p class="c5">iii. This kind of prayer <i>appropriates</i> God's promise. Just because God promises doesn't mean that we possess. Through believing prayer like this, God promises and we appropriate. If we don't appropriate in faith, God's promise is left unclaimed.</p><li>We may appropriate His promise for forgiveness: <i>If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness</i> (<a onclick="return mV('1Jo',1,9);">1Jo 1:9</a>)</p><li>We may appropriate His promise for peace: <i>Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',14,27);">Jhn 14:27</a>)</p><li>We may appropriate His promise for guidance: <i>I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with My eye</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',32,8);">Psa 32:8</a>)</p><li>We may appropriate His promise for growth: <i>He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Phl',1,6);">Phl 1:6</a>)</p><li>We may appropriate His promise for help: <i>Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace of help in time of need</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Hbr',4,16);">Hbr 4:16</a>)</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You</span></b>: Notice that David prayed from the <b><span class="c3">heart</span></b>. Some people pray from a book; others pray from their head. The right place to pray from is the <b><span class="c3">heart</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. It also says that David came before God to <b><span class="c3">pray this prayer</span></b>. Some prayers are not <i>prayed</i>. They are said or read or thought, but not <i>prayed</i>. "<span>Not to say this prayer, but to pray this prayer. There is great force in the expression. Some prayers are never prayed, but are like arrows which are never shot from the bow. Scarcely may I call them prayers, for they are such as to form, and matter, and verbiage, but they are said, not prayed. The praying of prayer is the main matter." (Spurgeon)</span></p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">You are God, and Your words are true</span></b>: This is David's foundation of faith. He knows that God is <b><span class="c3">God</span></b>, and that every word of His is <b><span class="c3">true</span></b>. God can be trusted.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. "The great sin of not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is often spoken of very lightly and in a very trifling spirit, as though it were scarcely any sin at all; yet, according to my text, and, indeed, according to the whole tenor of the Scriptures, unbelief is the giving of God the lie, and what can be worse?" (Spurgeon)</p>
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