II Samuel 7
Nathan tells David to build Temple to the LORDverses 1-3
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
That the king said to Nathan the prophet
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
LORD tells Nathan that HE didn’t ask for a Templeverses 4-7
And it came to pass that night
that the word of the LORD came to Nathan
saying
Go and tell MY servant David
Thus says the LORD
Shall you build ME a house for ME to dwell in?
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 build you not ME a house of cedar?
LORD tells Nathan that HE will give David peaceverses 8-11
Now therefore so shall you say to MY servant David
Thus say 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 whithersoever 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
that are in the earth
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
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
LORD tells Nathan that David’s son will build Templeverses 12-16
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 – I will establish his kingdom
He shall build an house for MY name
and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever
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
Nathan tells David what the LORD has saidverse 17
According to all these words – and according to all this vision
so did Nathan speak to David
David prays and thanks LORD for blessing promisedverses 18-21
Then went king David in – and sat before the LORD
and he said
Who am I O Lord GOD?
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?
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
David praises LORD for HIS greatnessverses 22-26
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
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
to do for you great things and terrible
for YOUR land – before YOUR people
which YOU redeemed to YOU from Egypt
from the nations and their gods?
For YOU have confirmed to YOURSELF YOUR people Israel
to be a people to YOU for ever
and YOU – LORD – are become their God
And now O LORD God
the word that YOU have spoken concerning
YOUR servant – and concerning his house
establish it for ever
and do as YOU have said
And let YOUR name be magnified for ever
saying
The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel
and let the house of YOUR servant David
be established before YOU
David prays and thanks LORD for family blessingsverses 27-29
For YOU – O LORD of hosts – God of Israel
have revealed to YOUR servant
saying
I will build you a house
therefore hath YOUR servant found in his heart
to pray this prayer to YOU
And now – O Lord GOD – YOU are that God
and YOUR words be true
and YOU hast 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 for ever
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 That the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains. (7200 “see” [ra’ah] means look, behold, appear, consider, perceive, provide, regard, lo, head, to understand, look, examine or inspect)
DEVOTION: David is concerned that he has things better regarding housing than the LORD has regarding HIS place of worship. His concern is genuine. He cared about the worship of the LORD. He cared enough to try to do something about the present circumstances. He had a suggestion.
We can look at what we have and see what others have and think we should do something about their condition. We need to go to the LORD before we act on those thoughts and ask HIM for guidance.
The LORD gives general instructions regarding those who are in need. We need to give to those in need. We are to help those who are single with children. We are to be available to help those who are going through a special time of special needs.
David thought the LORD had a NEED for a better place to receive worship from HIS people. It was not a need the LORD had from his perspective. Nathan thought it was a good idea but after he met with the LORD, he realized that the LORD had other plans.
When we are presented with a question, we need to ask the LORD for discernment regarding how to answer the question. This can only come through our communication with the LORD.
Our good intentions might not be what the LORD has in mind for us to do in a given situation. Wait on the LORD for HIS expectation regarding our actions. Don’t go ahead of the LORD.
This is especially true for those who are in leadership in the local church. Seeking the will of the LORD regarding building or starting a new program should take us time in the presence of the LORD to know what HE wants us to do, so that, we are not running ahead of the LORD.
CHALLENGE: We need to look at circumstances as they are now and consult the LORD concerning what HE wants to happen next in our lives.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 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 anymore, as beforetime. (5193 “plant” [nata] means fasten, fix, establish, to drive in, to cause to take up residence and become established, fixed in the ground, embedded, or set up)
DEVOTION: The LORD is promising something to David concerning the future of the nation. HE is going to establish them in one place and they will never be moved from that place.
They were moved from the land of Egypt but they are not going to be moved out of the Promised Land. The LORD has given that land to them forever. HE is making a promise to the children of Israel. HE always keeps HIS promises.
Now we live in a time period where the children of Israel are in the Promised Land but they are not the sole inhabitants of the land. There are many nations in the land. There is constant battles going on in what was once the Promised Land.
This has happened because of the disobedience of the children of Israel. They have been taken into captivity many times but are now back in part of the land and want to claim all of the land that used to be in their hands in the past.
God is working HIS plan with HIS people Israel. At the present time we find that HE has provided them a place but not as it will be in the future. The plan is still in the making and will happen in the future.
Today we have a time period where the followers of God are not all Jews but many of them are what the Bible calls Gentiles. We are establishing HIS church to reach the world with the Good News of the Gospel until that time period is over and the LORD works again with the children of Israel.
God doesn’t give up on Israel but HE can set them aside for a time period because of their disobedience. They will return to HIM in the future.
CHALLENGE: God is working HIS plan now as HE has in the past and will work it in the future. We are to watch for the coming of the LORD.
: 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: (5753 “iniquity” [‘avah] means to crook, do amiss, bow down, make crooked, pervert, do wickedly, or do wrong)
DEVOTION: This chapter is a chapter of communication of the LORD to Nathan and of David to the LORD. Communication is what prayer is between God and HIS people. The children of Israel were HIS people in the Old Testament. The followers of Christ are HIS people during this church age. HIS people during the Tribulation period will again be the children of Israel who are witnesses of Christ. The LORD communicates with HIS people and expects HIS people to communicate with HIM.
David wanted to build the LORD a temple. David had a nice home. He thought the LORD would like a nice temple. Nathan told him to go ahead. However, the LORD visited Nathan that night in a vision.
The LORD wanted David’s son to build the temple. The LORD promised David that he would have a king on the throne forever.
The LORD warned David that if his son should do wickedly, HE would chasten him. The LORD never condones sin in any of HIS people. Leaders are held to a higher standard than those who are called to follow.
God said that when David’s children did wrong HE would chasten them with men. HE would treat David’s children as a father should treat his son. God has a unique relationship with HIS followers. It is a Father- Son relationship. Chastening is what we would call a spanking. HE disciplines HIS children as HE expects human parents to discipline their children when they do wrong.
Today we find many fathers not treating their children as their sons from a Biblical perspective. Fathers need to chasten their children. The world says that they need to be given freedom to act as they want to act, but the Bible says that if they are not obedient to a standard GOD sets, they need to be chastened.
Are Christians obeying the Word of God? This does not say, “beat” or “abuse” but it does say “correct wrong behavior.” There are many passages of Scripture that deal with the proper way to chasten children. Our world doesn’t want to hear Biblical principles, they think they have a better way. Their way is to take the Bible out of school. Their way is to take prayer out of school. Their way is to take God out of school.
Now we look at our schools and wonder why we have so many problems. It doesn’t take a lot of intelligence to see that their way is not working. God knows what is in the heart of a child. HE understands that without correction their thinking continues to wander deeper into sin.
If you are a parent, discipline your children correctly. Discipline your children Biblically. Have a regular time of devotions with your family. Pray with your family. Husbands are going to have to answer to the LORD for the way their children mature in the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Parents have to work together in the area of PROPER DISCIPLINE in the home. Discipline is always done in LOVE!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 20 And what can David say more to you? for YOU, Lord GOD, know your servant. (3045 “know” [yada] means knowledge, perceived, understand, acquaintance, teach, familiar, discern, discriminate, distinguish, or know by experience)
DEVOTION: David is admitting to the LORD that HE understands who David really is. HE perceives what is in the heart of David. HE is familiar with all of David’s good points and bad points. HE can discern that David has a heart to serve the HIM. HE has a long association with David.
One fact that we need to understand is that God understands the life of every individual before they are born. HE lacks nothing regarding understanding every decision David will make from his birth till his death. HE is omniscient. There is nothing hidden from the LORD regarding the life of David.
This is true of every human being that is born into this world. HE knew us while we were still in the womb of our mother. HE is familiar with what decisions we are going to make throughout our life. We can’t blame HIM for our wrong decisions. HE allows us to make decisions and judges us accordingly.
Those of us who repent of our sins and become followers of Jesus Christ were known to HIM before the foundation of the world. Time means nothing to HIM. HE chastens those who are HIS followers to make us better followers. HE knows what HE wants us to do with our lives.
Here we have God telling David that HE doesn’t want him to build HIS temple because HE has given that assignment to his son, Solomon. HE has HIS plan and HE is working HIS plan.
Nathan talked to him about building the temple before he had talked to God about the temple. God instructed him to tell David not to build the temple. It is interesting that Nathan made the comment before he went to the LORD.
We need to make sure we go to the LORD in prayer about any decision we want to make regarding our service to HIM. Even individuals who are close to the LORD need to go to HIM before they answer the questions of others.
God is the one in control. We have to acknowledge this fact regularly because we can run ahead of the LORD and fail. Obedience brings success to those who ask the LORD for guidance before acting.
CHALLENGE: David is thanking the LORD in prayer for HIS future plans for his family. We need to thank the LORD for this truth as well.
: 26 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. (3559 “established” [kuwn] means to prepare, make ready, to erect, set up, appoint, to be founded, be firm, be fixed, or be firmly established)
DEVOTION: David is speaking to the LORD in prayer. His prayer is recorded in this chapter after he has learned that he is not to build the temple but that his son would build the temple. He is thanking the LORD for his mercy toward his family in the future.
He wants to magnify the LORD in his prayer. He wants to give honor to the LORD for his dealing with his future family. The LORD has promised that his kingdom would go on forever. Now we know that at present the kingdom of David is not on this earth. There is no son of David reigning in Jerusalem today. However, we know that his son will reign in the future. A descendent of David is Jesus Christ.
HE is going to come back to this earth and reign in Jerusalem for a thousand years before HE continues to reign for eternity. Those who are followers of Jesus Christ today are promised that we will reign with HIM during this millennial reign.
So the LORD has HIS plan and is working HIS plan in HIS timing. It would be great to think that soon HIS Son would be returning to set up HIS kingdom on this earth but we have to wait for HIS timing.
David understands what the LORD has promised regarding his son Solomon but beyond that he might not have understood the rest of the plan. We don’t know the LORD’S timing but we know HE has a plan.
This plan was promised back in the time of David. God never breaks a promise. So it is going to happen. Are you prepared for the LORD to return and set up HIS kingdom on this earth? Are you ready to reign with HIM?
Obedience is something we have to practice now. This doesn’t mean that we will be sinless now but we can remember to confess our sins and stay in close fellowship with HIM daily. HE wants to find us working when HE comes!!!
CHALLENGE: Our desire should be that our family or heritage should be firmly fixed on the LORD. Our children and our children’s children should love the LORD.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
LORD speaks to Nathanverses 4-17
David speaks to the LORDverse 18-29
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORDverse 4
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD– Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 1, 3-5, 8, 11, 22, 24-29
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 2, 22-28
Ark of Godverse 2
LORD of hostsverses 8, 27
Lord – Adonai (Master, Owner)verses 18-20, 28, 29
GOD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 18-20, 28, 29
Lord GOD verses 18-20, 28, 29
Greatverse 22
LORD Godverse 22, 25
God over Israelverse 26
God of Israelverse 27
God’s words are trueverse 28
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Enemiesverses 1, 9, 11
Egyptverses 6, 23
Nationsverse 23
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Wickednessverse 10
Afflict God’s peopleverse 10
Iniquityverse 14
False godsverse 23
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Prophetverse 2
Servantverses 5, 8, 19-21, 25-29
Walk with the LORDverse 7
Appointedverse 10
Inheritanceverse 10
Restverse 11
Chastenverse 14
Mercyverse 15
Redeemverse 23
Confirmedverse 24
Magnify the name of the LORDverse 26
Revealed truthverse 27
Pray prayerverse 27
Promisedverse 28
Goodnessverse 28
Blessverse 29
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Ark of Godverse 2
Children of Israelverses 6, 7
Tribes of Israelverse 7
Rulerverse 8
Judgesverse 11
Kingdomverse 12
One nationverse 23
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Sleep with your fathersverse 12
Kingdom for eververses 13, 16
Throne of David for eververses 16, 25, 26, 29
Great things to comeverse 19
Israel – people of God for eververse 24
Magnify the name of the LORD for eververse 26
Blessed for eververse 29
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QUOTES regarding passage
Three times in v.23 Israel is referred to as God’s “people” (ʿam), the one elect “nation” (gôy) out of all the “nations” (gôyim). Israel’s powerful “God” is contrasted with the nations’ impotent and ineffective “gods” (same Heb. word in both cases).
Israel’s matchless Lord, who brooks no rivals, has gone out to do three things for his grateful people: “redeem” them (cf. Deut 7:8; 9:26; 13:5; 15:15; 21:8; 24:18; Neh 1:10; Jer 31:11), “make a name” for himself (see comment on v.9; cf. also v.26), and “perform great and awesome wonders” (cf. Deut 10:21; cf. also Deut 7:21; 10:17; Neh 9:32; Pss 99:3; 106:22; 145:6; Isa 64:3; Dan 9:4; Joel 2:31 [“great and dreadful”]; Mal 4:5 [“great and dreadful”]) by driving out the enemy.
In connection with “perform great and awesome wonders,” the MT includes the phrase “for you,” “on your behalf” (pl.; omitted by NIV, apparently in the interests of economy of style in English), indicating that divine victories for Israel’s ancestors continue to bless the people of David’s time. Indeed, in vv.23–24 the Sinaitic covenant is cited in support of the Davidic (for details cf. Gileadi, “The Davidic Covenant,” p. 160). The ancient establishment of Israel as God’s own people “forever” (v.24) is now to be channeled through David and his dynasty, which will continue “forever” (vv.25, 29 [bis]; see also v.13 and comment). The old Abrahamic and Sinaitic covenant formula—“I will be your God, and you will be my people”—undergoes yet another variant (see comment on “I will be his father, and he will be my son” in v.14) as David emphasizes that the Lord has “become their [Israel’s] God” (v.24; cf. Gen 17:7–8; 28:21; Exod 6:7; 29:45; Lev 11:45; 22:33; 25:38; 26:12, 45; Num 15:41; Deut 26:17; 29:13). Thus the OT manifestation of the kingdom of God is now to be mediated through the Davidic monarchy (vv.24–25) (Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, pp. 898–899). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
This, David said, was seen especially in God’s selection of Israel and His redemptive grace on her behalf (vv. 23–24). Finally he prayed that the promise God had made might indeed find fulfillment to the glory of His own holy name—so that His name would be great forever (vv. 25–29). Interestingly David addressed God 7 times as O Sovereign Lord (vv. 18–20, 22, 28–29), words that translate the Hebrew ’ădōnāy (lit., “Lord”) Yahweh. David expressed his humility before God by referring to himself as Your servant 10 times (vv. 19–21, 25–29). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 2 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 464–465). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
In verses 22–24, David looked at the past and God’s amazing grace toward Israel. The Lord chose Israel instead of the other nations on the earth, and He revealed Himself to Israel by giving the law at Mount Sinai and speaking the Word through His prophets. The Jews were to remember the uniqueness of the Lord and not bow before the idols of the other nations. (See Deut. 4:34; 7:6–8; 9:4–5; Neh. 9:10.) God is the Lord of all nations but He did great things for Israel, His chosen people. David recognized the wonderful truth that God had chosen Israel to be His people forever! (Wiersbe, W. W. (2002). Be restored (p. 52). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor.)
7:23 Your people … Your land. David is remembering aspects of the Abrahamic Covenant (cf. Ge 12, 15, 17). Israel. In vv. 18–21, David praised the Lord for His favor to him. In vv. 22–24, David praised the Lord for the favor shown to the nation of Israel (cf. Dt 7:6–11). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Sa 7:23). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
23. And what, &c.] For what, &c., a further reason for the last statement. Cp. Deut. 4:7, 32–38.
whom God went &c.] Better, which their god went to redeem. Elôhîm, the Heb. word for God, is a plural noun, but regularly takes a singular verb when it denotes the true God. Here the verb “went” is in the plural, which indicates that the gods of the nations are meant to be included. The sense is, ‘Where can any nation be found, which has been delivered by the deity it worships, as Israel was delivered from Egypt by Jehovah?’
for you] “You” can only refer to Israel, and an address to the people is quite out of place in David’s prayer to God. We must either omit for you with the LXX, or read for them, i.e. the nation, with the Vulgate.
for thy land] This gives no satisfactory sense, and “the nations and their gods” at the end of the verse has no proper construction in the existing text. It is best to emend the text by the help of the LXX, compared with 1 Chr. 17:21, and read to drive out in place of for thy land. The close of the verse will then stand thus; “and to do great things and terrible, to drive out nations and their gods before thy people, which thou redeemedst for thyself out of Egypt.”
The construction, which began in the third person, in connexion with the relative clause, returns at the end of the verse to a direct address to God.
great things and terrible] The miracles of the Exodus, the journey through the wilderness, the Entry into Canaan. Cp. Deut. 10:21 for the phrase. (Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1890). The Second Book of Samuel, with Maps, Notes and Introduction (p. 103). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.)
Ver. 23. And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, &c.] For the knowledge and worship of the true God among them, for laws and ordinances given them, and for blessings of goodness bestowed upon them: whom God went to redeem for a people to himself; the words are plural, whom the gods went to redeem; the Targum is, “they that were sent from the Lord,” meaning Moses and Aaron, of whom Jarchi interprets them, of the first of which it is said, I have made thee a god unto Pharaoh, Exod. 7:1. but Kimchi and R. Isaiah understand it of the true God, only suppose, as the former, that the plural expression is used for the sake of honour and glory; whereas, no doubt, respect is had to the three divine Persons in the Trinity, who were all concerned in the redemption of Israel, see Isa. 63:9, 10, 11, 12. where mention is made of the Lord, and of the Angel of his presence, and of his Holy Spirit, as engaged therein: and to make him a name; either to get himself a name, and honour and glory in the world, to shew forth his power and might, as well as his mercy and goodness, or to make his people famous, great, and glorious in the earth: and to do for you great things and terrible: as he did in the land of Ham, at the Red sea, and in the wilderness, and in the land of Canaan, great things for his people, and terrible ones to their enemies: for thy land; which is either spoken to God, whose was the land of Israel, and which he had chosen to dwell in, and had given to his people; or else to Israel, to whom the grant of this land was made, and who were put into the possession of it: before thy people which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt: that is, the great and terrible things were done in their sight, when they wore redeemed from the bondage of Egypt, see Psal. 78:12. from the nations, and their gods? meaning, that they were redeemed not only from Egypt, but the nations of the Canaanites were driven out before them; nor could their idols save them, but destruction came upon them as upon the gods of the Egyptians: some leave out the supplement from, and interpret this of the persons redeemed, even of the nations and tribes of Israel, and their great men, their rulers and civil magistrates, sometimes called gods. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 594–595). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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