God’s Promise to David

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Key verse: 16

“Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; 

your throne will be established forever.”

Introduction:

When David brought the ark of God in the prescribed way after going through a mistake at first, he was very joyful. He then took an initiative to do something for God. God was pleased with his intention, but God had bigger and better plans for him. It was to bless him with everlasting promises of God. Although it was not tangible now and here for David and his own generation, it reminds us of what God had done to Abraham in the book of Genesis. Always God’s promise is the best! May the Lord help us to make a well tune with what God has in mind for us and our offspring and have vision for this nation and the whole world!

Read verses 1-3. What does David say to Nathan after he was settled in his palace? (1-2) How does Nathan encourage him? (3)

1-1) Read verses 1-3.

After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” 3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you.”

1-2) What does David say to Nathan after he was settled in his palace? (1-2) 

i) “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

We can learn of his desire to be mindful of God. When he was settled down, he could have corrupted with his self centered life style. But he thought about how to please the Lord!

We may see through David’s heart to give thanks to the Lord for he knew that the Lord has blessed him. 

David is good at reminding of who God is and what He has done for him. For example, 

2 Samuel 5:12 “Then David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.”

It is important for each of us to acknowledge how much God has blessed us in every aspect.

ii) David tells Nathan that he wants to build a temple to replace the tabernacle. 

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. (Exodus 25:8-9)

The tent of meeting - also known as the tabernacle - was perfectly suited to Israel in the wilderness, because they constantly moved.

God never asked for a permanent building to replace the tent, but now David wants to do this for God.

Now that Israel is securely in the land, and the tabernacle is in Jerusalem. ( 2Sam 6:17)

David thinks it would be better and more appropriate to build a temple to replace the tabernacle.

1-3) How does Nathan encourage him? (3)

“Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you.”

Nathan’s response to David was presumptuous. 

He answered according to human judgment and common sense for he was glad to see his thankful heart to do something special for God.

Read verses 4-7. What does God say to Nathan? (4-5)  How has the ark been housed from the time when God brought the Israelites up out of Egypt? (6) What does God say about building a house of cedar for the ark? (7)

2-1) Read verses 4-7. 

4 But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

2-2) What does God say to Nathan? (4-5)  

4 But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying: 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?

“But” indicates that God has a different plan.

‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?

God was honored and a bit “surprised” that David offered to build Him a house. 

2-3) How has the ark been housed from the time when God brought the Israelites up out of Egypt? (6) 

6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 

2-4) What does God say about building a house of cedar for the ark? (7)

7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

Read verses 8-11a. How has God blessed David? (8-9a) What does God promise David? (9b-11a)

3-1) Read verses 8-11a. 

8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+7&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-8192a" \t "_blank" a] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.

3-2) How has God blessed David? (8-9a) 

8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. 

God reminds him of what he has done. 

It is important to remember what God has done through our personal life testimony whenever it is good or bad time.

3-3) What does God promise David? (9b-11a)

Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+7&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-8192a" \t "_blank" a] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.

The word, “will” is repeated more than five times. It reminds me of Genesis 12:1-3.

God is pleased with David’s good intention to do something special for God and promised him more than he can possibly imagine. 

Like the case of Abraham, David wants to do something visible to build a nice house for God’s ark. But God focus on blessing on a permanent basis. 

God promised David that under his reign, God would establish a permanent Israel through Jesus. 

God promised this first because He knew that David, being a shepherd king, was first concerned about the welfare of his people.

Read verses 11b-17. What does God say He will establish for David? (11b, 13b) Who will build a house for God’s name? (12-13a) What do you think it means that God will be his father and he will be his son? (14) How is God’s relationship with his son different from his relationship with Saul? (15) What is God’s covenant for David and his descendants?  (16)

4-1) Read verses 11b-17. 

“‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you:

12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul,whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+7&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-8197b" \t "_blank" b]; your throne will be established forever.’” 17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

4-2) What does God say He will establish for David? (11b, 13b) 

“‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you:

and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 

He will make you a house: God promises David that he will build him a house in the sense of establishing an enduring dynasty for the house of David. 

David wanted to build God a temple. God said, “No thanks. Let me first build you a house 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.

God honored what David gave him, even though he only gave it to God in his sincere intention. There are some things that we want to give God, but are prevented from giving. 

4-3) Who will build a house for God’s name? (12-13a)

12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name,

While Saul’s royal line stopped, David’s offspring would continue to inherit his crowns.

Solomon, one of his sons will build His temple. 

1 Chronicles 22:8-10

But the word of the LORD 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.

4-4) What do you think it means that God will be his father and he will be his son? (14) 

14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 

This offspring of David will have a special relationship with God. If he sins, God will not reject him. Instead, God will discipline him without rejecting him.

4-5) How is God’s relationship with his son different from his relationship with Saul? (15) 

15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

4-6) What is God’s covenant for David and his descendants?  (16)

16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”

Jeremiah 23:5-6

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 LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS 

Isaiah 9:6-9

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.

Luke 1:31-33

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. 

Thanks to our Lord Jesus, we are God’s temples (1 Corinthians 6:19 and 1 Peter 2:5).

In this way we are gloriously synchronized with the Holy Spirit through his daily bread. 

In conclusion) 

First of all, praise the Lord our God who raises up a righteous branch in and through Jesus. Nothing is more blessed than being a part of eternal family of God in heaven. Without dream or vision we perish. Likewise I see through this passage that God is exciting to work together with David whose heart is willing like a 11 year old boy to serve the Lord. May the Lord help us to get such fire in us to know hidden treasures in Jesus Christ and his words of promises!

One word: God’s everlasting promises to David!

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