2 Samuel 7

2 Samuel 7

Vernon McGee points out, “God says to Nathan, ‘You go tell David that I will make him a house.’ David said, ‘I want to build God a house.’ God says, ‘David, you can’t do it you’re hands are bloody. You can’t build a house, but I know the desires in your heart. I will give you credit for building me a house, and I will build you a house.’ Isn’t that just like the Lord? You can’t outdo the Lord.” 2 Samuel 7:10 "I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly, BGT 2 Samuel 7:10 καὶ θήσομαι τόπον τῷ λαῷ μου τῷ Ισραηλ καὶ καταφυτεύσω αὐτόν καὶ κατασκηνώσει καθ᾽ ἑαυτὸν καὶ οὐ μεριμνήσει οὐκέτι καὶ οὐ προσθήσει υἱὸς ἀδικίας τοῦ ταπεινῶσαι αὐτὸν καθὼς ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς LXE 2 Samuel 7:10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell by themselves, and shall be no more distressed; and the son of iniquity shall no more afflict them, as he has done from the beginning, KJV 2 Samuel 7:10 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, NET 2 Samuel 7:10 I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle them there; they will live there and not be disturbed any more. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning CSB 2 Samuel 7:10 I will establish a place for My people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not afflict them as they have done ESV 2 Samuel 7:10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, NIV 2 Samuel 7:10 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 NLT 2 Samuel 7:10 And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won't oppress them as they've done in the past, will plant them: 1Ch 17:9 Ps 44:4 Ps 80:8 Jer 18:9 Jer 24:6 Eze 37:25-27 Am 9:15 not be disturbed again: Ps 89:22-23 Isa 60:18 Eze 28:24 Ho 2:18 Rev 21:4 any more as formerly: Ex 1:13,14,22 Jdg 4:3 6:2-6 1Sa 13:17 Related Passages: 1 Chronicles 17:9+ "I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and not be moved again; and the wicked will not waste them anymore as formerly, Genesis 15:18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: Genesis 17: 7 “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.8 “I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Jeremiah 24:6 ‘For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. Ezekiel 37:25-27+ “They will live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons and their sons’ sons, forever; and David My servant will be their prince forever. 26 “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. 27 “My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people (cf Jer 31:31-34) Hosea 2:18 “In that day I will also make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, The birds of the sky And the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword and war from the land, And will make them lie down in safety. Amos 9:11-15+ “In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, And wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins And rebuild it as in the days of old; 12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom And all the nations who are called by My name,” Declares the LORD who does this. 13 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When the plowman will overtake the reaper And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; When the mountains will drip sweet wine And all the hills will be dissolved. 14 “Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, And they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 “I will also plant them on their land, And they will not again be rooted out from their land Which I have given them,” Says the LORD your God. GOD'S PROMISE OF THE LAND TO ISRAEL FOREVER I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them - I will also appoint a place is interesting as in fact it was a prophecy made long before. What place? The land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see Ge 12:1+ "the land which I will show you." Ge 13:15 "all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.") Plant them implies that the redeemed of Israel will grow and flourish, a truth which will become a reality in Israel in the coming Messianic Kingdom. You can get a preview of this glorious time in the beautiful description in Isaiah 35:1-10+. That - (Term of purpose) God's purpose for appointing and planting. They (ISRAEL) may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, (TIME PHRASES IN GREEN ON THIS PROPHETICALLY RICH PAGE) nor will the wicked (unrighteous, violent, unjust) afflict them any more as formerly - NLT has a good paraphrase of the wicked rendering it as "Evil nations." Not be disturbed again implies that they (Israel) have been disturbed, a fact borne out by past and present world history! This awaits the return of the Son of David as King of kings, the Prince of peace, Who will establish peace in His Messianic Kingdom in which Israel will never again be disturbed or afflicted by the wicked because the wicked will have been removed (cf Rev 19:17-21+) and are not allowed to enter into the glorious Messianic Kingdom! The parallel passage in 1Ch 17:9+ amplifies the idea of not be disturbed by adding the purpose clause "so that they may dwell in their own place and not be moved again." In short, God promises a future permanent possession to His people Israel! The Septuagint translates may live with kataskenoo (from kata = down, intensifies meaning of + skenoo = pitch one's tent) which literally means “to pitch one’s tent” and to settle permanently. This same verb is used to describe Yahweh's dwelling in Nu 35:34+ = "I the LORD am dwelling in the midst of the sons of Israel." Indeed, in the Messianic Kingdom The promise that Israel would have an enduring land of their own was also based on earlier commitments of the Lord. The seed of Abraham, God said, would be given Canaan as a home forever (Ge 13:15; 15:18; 17:8; Dt. 34:4). 2 Samuel 7:11 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you. BGT 2 Samuel 7:11 ἀπὸ τῶν ἡμερῶν ὧν ἔταξα κριτὰς ἐπὶ τὸν λαόν μου Ισραηλ καὶ ἀναπαύσω σε ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου καὶ ἀπαγγελεῖ σοι κύριος ὅτι οἶκον οἰκοδομήσεις αὐτῷ LXE 2 Samuel 7:11 from the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel: and I will give thee rest from all thine enemies, and the Lord will tell thee that thou shalt build a house to him. KJV 2 Samuel 7:11 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. NET 2 Samuel 7:11 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief from all your enemies. The LORD declares to you that he himself will build a dynastic house for you. CSB 2 Samuel 7:11 ever since the day I ordered judges to be over My people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. " 'The LORD declares to you: The LORD Himself will make a house for you. ESV 2 Samuel 7:11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. NIV 2 Samuel 7:11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. " 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: NLT 2 Samuel 7:11 starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. " 'Furthermore, the LORD declares that he will make a house for you-- a dynasty of kings! even: Jdg 2:14-16 1Sa 12:9-11 Ps 106:42 I will give you rest : 2Sa 7:1 Job 5:18,19 34:29 Ps 46:9 the LORD will make a house : 2Sa 7:27 Ex 1:21 1Ki 2:24 11:38 1Ch 17:10 1Ch 22:10 Ps 89:3-4 127:1 Pr 14:1 Related Passages: 1 Chronicles 17:10+ even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you. Psalms 110:1+ A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my (DAVID'S) Lord (MESSIAH): “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” GOD'S GIFT OF REST AND A HOUSE FOR DAVID even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies - 1Ch 17:10+ explains how Israel will finally experience rest for God says "I will subdue (literally "will humble", "make low") all (not some but ALL) your enemies (those hostile to you, who hate you; Lxx = echthros)." Israel's enemies hated them in the past and continue to hate them in the present and until the Son of David, their Deliverer returns to save them when He comes from Zion (Ro 11:26+). The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you - This is a prophetic promise to David that will be fulfilled in the future. So instead of David making a house for Yahweh, Yahweh the Great Architect of the universe, promises to make a "house" for David, not a literal house, but a figurative house, referring to his lineage, his offspring. Psalm 89 alludes to this "house," Yahweh declaring "I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant, I will establish your seed (LINE OF MESSIAH) forever and build up your throne to all generations (A PROPHECY FULFILLED IN AND TO David's Son and his Lord, the Great Progenitor, the Second Adam, the Everlasting Father).” Selah. (Ps 89:3-4+) See also Hebrews 3:6+ " Christ was faithful as a Son over His house–whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end." Yahweh's promise motivates David to pray - "For You, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You." (2Sa 7:27) Sidlow Baxter (Explore the Book) has an excursus on the Davidic Covenant - We must now turn to chapter 7, the chapter in which the Davidic covenant is made known. On no account should we fail to weigh duly the fact and the terms of this covenant; for, besides largely affecting all that follows in the Scriptures, it determinatively affects the whole history of mankind, especially that part which is yet future. It is one of the supremely great passages of the Bible, and one of the principal keys to the Divine plan of history. From the time when this covenant was announced, the Jews have always believed that the Messiah must come of David's line. They believed it in the time of our Lord, and they believe it now. That the Messiah should indeed be of David's line was later affirmed by the prophets, in such passages as Isa 11:1; Jer 23:5; Ezek 37:25; and in accord with such prophecies the angel Gabriel announced to Mary, concerning Jesus: "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father, David; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there shall be no end." The Davidic covenant is uttered in the following words (2 Sam 7:11-16). The first important significance of these words is that here we have the Divine confirmation of the throne in Israel. Hitherto, as we have seen, the throne of Israel was a man-appointed throne (see 1 Sam 8). It had been conceded at the clamouring of the people. Saul, the first king, was the man of the people's choice; for although he was Divinely selected and anointed and presented to the people, the choice was finally left with the people. Hitherto, also, the throne of David had rested upon the choice of the people - first of the men of Judah, and then of the other tribes. But now the throne of David is confirmed by Divine appointment. It now becomes statedly incorporated into God's plan for Israel, and, through Israel, for the race, from that time forth to the end of the ages. The second important fact here is the predicted perpetuity of the Davidic dynasty. Three things are made sure to David - (1) a "house," or posterity; (2) a "throne," or royal authority; (3) a "kingdom," or sphere of rule; and then in 2Sa 7:16 all three are secured to him "forever." "Thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee; thy throne shall be established forever." This is emphatic language. That thrice-occurring expression, "forever," is not just to be taken in a popular sense as meaning that Solomon's descendants should hold undisputed possession of the kingdom for many centuries. To take the expression in this popular-way is ruled out by other Scriptures where we find references or allusions to this passage, notably Ps 89, which is both a confirmation and an exposition of the Davidic covenant. See Ps 89:29: "His seed also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven." And see Ps 89:36-37: "His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established forever as the moon." There is no mistaking words like these. To crown the solemn emphasis, the covenant is sealed with an oath. See Ps 89:35: "Once have I sworn in my holiness that I will not lie unto David." See also Acts 2:30+. This covenant, let it be most definitely understood, has to do with a literal posterity, and a literal throne, and a literal kingdom. To start "spiritualising" it into meaning a heavenly posterity and a spiritual kingdom synonymous with the Christian Church is to violate the very first principle of Scripture interpretation, namely, the principle that plainly spoken words should at least be accepted as meaning what they say. The third great fact to grasp concerning this Davidic covenant is its Messianic implication. The emphatic threefold repetition of the promise to establish the kingdom of David forever could only be fulfilled in the coming Messiah; and it has always been understood, therefore, as finding its final fulfilment in Him. In the words spoken to David, no doubt, Solomon is first in view; but the promise looks on through the long succession of human kings, and on through the present long dispersion, to find its culmination in Him who having already been to earth as prophet, and having now ministered in the heavenly sanctuary as priest, shall yet return in glory as David's greater Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords, of whose kingdom "there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever" (Isa 9:7). It is because this Davidic Covenant finally envisages Christ that it is unconditional. Certainly, inside the covenant there is a provision made against possible sin and failure by David's reigning sons, in the words of 2Sa 7:14: "If he commit iniquity I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men"; but this is not a condition on which the fulfilment of the covenant depends, for the next verse immediately goes on to say: "But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul who I put away before thee." That clause is put into the covenant to cover Solomon and his erring human descendants until the true and perfect King should come. As in the Abrahamic covenant the promised "seed" was Isaac, in the immediate sense, and Christ in the ultimate sense (Gal 3:16), so, in the Davidic covenant the promised "son" is Solomon, in the immediate sense, and Christ in the ultimate sense. Now it is noticeable that both the Abrahamic and the Davidic covenants are unconditional; and their being so is due to this fact that they both find their final fulfilment in Christ, for there can be no failure on Christ's part. And again, this Davidic covenant marks a fourth major development in Messianic prophecy. The first great prophecy was made to Adam, in Gen 3:15, where we are told that the seed of the woman should bruise the head of the serpent. The second was made to Abraham, in Gen 22:18, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." The third was made through Jacob, in Gen 49:10 - "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah ... until Shiloh come." The fourth is now made to David in 2 Sam 7. See the development then. First, in the case of Adam, the promise is to the race in general. Then, in the case of Abraham, it is to one nation in the race - the nation Israel. Then, in the case of Jacob, it is to one tribe in that nation - the tribe of Judah. Then, in the case of David, it is to one family in that tribe - the family of David. Thus are we prepared for that completing word which Isaiah adds still later, namely, that the coming Seed of the woman, Son of Abraham, Lion of Judah, and Heir of David, should be born of a virgin. Notice that in the covenant God says of David's son: "He shall build an house for my Name." David, being a man of war, could not really typify Christ as Melchisedek, who is King of peace: this glory was reserved for Solomon. David established the kingdom over which Solomon reigned. But Christ will be both David and Solomon. As David, He will conquer all foes and set up the kingdom on earth; and, as Solomon, He will reign in everlasting peace. Even so, may He soon come! (Maranatha Lord Jesus!) 2 Samuel 7:12 "When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. When: 1Ki 2:1 8:20 you lie down: De 31:16 1Ki 1:21 Da 12:2 Ac 13:36 1Co 15:51 1Th 4:14 I will raise up your descendant after you: Ge 15:4 1Ki 8:20 1Ch 17:11 Ps 89:29 132:11,12 Isa 9:7 Isa 11:1-3,10 Mt 22:42-44 Ac 2:30 Related Passage: 1 Chronicles 17:11-12 “When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. Galatians 3:16+ Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed (DESCENDANT). He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. GOD'S PROMISE TO ESTABLISH KINGDOM OF DAVID'S SUCCESSOR When your days are complete - God has ordained the number of days each of us will live. THOUGHT - Given this truth, a great prayer to frequently pray is Psalm 90:12+ "So teach us to number our days (NOT OUR YEARS!), That (PURPOSE) we may present to You a heart of wisdom." As Spurgeon so eloquently says "Instruct us to set store by time, mourning for that time past wherein we have wrought the will of the flesh, using diligently the time present, which is the accepted hour and the day of salvation, and reckoning the time which lieth in the future to be too uncertain to allow us safely to delay any gracious work or prayer. Numeration is a child's exercise in arithmetic, but in order to number their days aright the best of men need the Lord's teaching. We are more anxious to count the stars than our days, and yet the latter is by far more practical." Another great prayer is Ps 39:4+ "LORD, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days. Let me know how transient I am (cf Jas 4:14+, 1Ch 29:15, Eccl 6:12, Job 7:6, 7 Job 9:25, 26 Job 14:1, 2, Ps 37:2 Ps 39:5, 6, Ps 90:4-6, 9, 10 Ps 102:3, 11, Ps 103:15,16 Ps 144:3-4 Isa 38:12,13 Isa 40:6,7 Jas 1:10, 11 1Pe 1:24 2Ki 19:26)." Adoniram Judson once wrote "A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity… If it has been a useless life, it can never be improved. Such will stand forever and ever. The same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever… Each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will affect our everlasting destiny (Note: Not in loss of salvation but of rewards - cp 1Co 3:11-15+, Jn 15:5, 2Co 5:10+, cp 1Ti 4:7, 8+). No day will lose its share of influence in determining where shall be our seat in heaven. How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness! It will then be too late to mend its appearance. It is too late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us, then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked." (See page 33-34 of A memoir of the life and labors of the Rev. Adoniram Judson) (See also Redeem the Time and video talk I gave to a group of men) And you lie down with your fathers - Lie down is a euphemistic way to speak of David's death and is paralleled in the NT by the picture of saints falling asleep (koimao - same verb used in Septuagint to describe David's lying down) in Jesus (1Th 4:14+), absent from the body present with the Lord (2Co 5:8+) (not true with David who went to Sheol, the cool side - see Abraham's bosom in Lk 16:19-31+) KJV Study Bible - Like the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 17) and the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31–37), the Davidic covenant constitutes an unconditional promise of God (cf. 1 Chr. 17:11–15). I will raise up (Lxx = anistemi - see note below) your descendant (SEED) after you, Who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom - I will (repeated) is God's promise assuring that this will come to pass! David had multiplied wives (contra Dt 17:17+) and thus had many descendants, but here descendant is singular (cf Gal 3:16+), speaking in context (cf 2Sa 7:13) not even of Solomon (who would have a kingdom and thus would represent near and partial fulfillment of the prophecy), but of David's greatest Son, the Messiah, for only His kingdom would be established forever as stated in 2Sa 7:13. Note that there is surely a play on words in the phrase "I will raise up your descendant" because it is translated in the Septuagint with the verb anistemi which is the same verb used to describe Jesus as (1) being born ("The Lord God shall raise up for ou a prophet like me" - Acts 3:22+) and then (2) as being resurrected from the dead (Acts 2:24+ = God raised Him up [anistemi] again." Acts 13:34+ = "He raised Him up [anistemi] from the dead, no more to return to decay."). Isaiah 9:6-7+ For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. Luke 1:31-33+ “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Henry