2 Samuel 7:1-17--The LORD's Covenant with David

2 Samuel 7:1-17
English Standard Version

The LORD's Covenant with David
7 Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”

4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 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, 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. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

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We now see another prophet emerge who will be like Samuel was to Saul.  Though Nathan the Prophet won't show up much in the story, when he does show up, there is something very important that the LORD wants to say to David, but this time, it seems that David sought out council from Nathan about his desire to build the LORD's Temple.  Nathan presumed to know the will of the LORD without consulting Him in the matter by immediately saying that it sounded like a great idea, and that David should do all his heart desired, for he was sure the LORD was with David in this matter.  I'm sure it was a little embarrassing for Nathan to have to return to David later that evening and admit that he was wrong about telling David that now was the right time and that he was the right man to build the LORD's Temple when the LORD Himself spoke to Nathan to tell him to return to David and tell the king that he would not build a Temple for the LORD because David was a man of war and his hands were hands that were covered in blood, but the LORD had an even bigger vision for David than David had for the LORD's Temple, and the LORD uses this time to make His covenant with David.

The LORD uses a play on words here where David said that he wanted to build a "house" for the LORD and the LORD turns around and says the He wants to make an everlasting covenant with the "house" of David (to turn David's kingdom into an everlasting dynasty).  This is the dream that King Saul had for himself, but Saul was not the right man.  He was from the wrong tribe and Saul's heart was wicked and that showed in the hearts of his sons and daughters.  David too will have wicked sons and daughters because the hearts of all men are deceitfully wicked, but David would at least try to instruct his children in the Law of the LORD and teach them to love it.  Just read Psalm 119 if you have any doubt about that.

The LORD then makes a connection for David of how He has been with him every step of the way in a similar to way to how He has always been with his people Israel.  Just like the LORD brought Israel out of their slavery in Egypt to deliver them to the Promised Land, the LORD took David out of his father's sheep fold to deliver him to the palace to be the King of Israel for such a time as this.

The LORD renews part of the Mosaic covenant with David that he promises a cessation of hostilities and to give rest to His people if they will obey His Law.  The LORD reminds David about His establishing judges for His people to help with this, but now it is no longer the time of the Judges, now it is the time of the Kings, and the LORD has chosen David's household to be the kings over Israel.  This is not just a covenant about a physical kingdom, but this is part of the Gospel as it is a covenant and prophecy that is ultimately fulfilled by Christ, the Son of David, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  His Kingdom is forever! (I believe the word "offspring" in verse 12 and the pronouns referring to it in verse 13 are all singular.  Many think this is speaking of Solomon, and it partially is, but it is more accurately talking about Jesus...though Jesus will never commit iniquity, yet He would take all the iniquity of us on Himself and be punished and scourged and beaten for our iniquities).

David must have been a little sad that he didn't get to build the Temple of the LORD he was dreaming of, but he must have also been overwhelmed by this covenant that the LORD just made with him--one of David's descendants would always be on the throne.  David not being able to build the Temple himself is not going to stop him from doing all he can to make preparations and collect contributions though.  By the time that Solomon is established as the next king, David will have shared his vision and stored up enough that nothing should be lacking (yet there will be even more given on top of David's most generous contributions).

We'll also see that while David is well-intentioned with his reasons for wanting there to be a Temple, and the LORD allows it, it comes with its own set of problems as now the people and the nations will start to view the LORD just like any of the other gods that live in temples.  They will imagine His power is localized and restricted to that people that land who live close to His Temple.  The pagans will imagine that if they can just get the people away from the Temple or if they can destroy the Temple, then the LORD will not be able to help His people anymore (this is how the pagans believed that gods were defeated, and why they would carry their idols with them to war so that their gods could be close to them in their foreign lands, and the pagans would assume this is what the Israelites were doing when they brought the Ark of the Covenant to battle with them--that it was nothing more than a talisman for good luck).  No, the LORD was very different than that demons that called themselves "gods" of the pagan nations.  Yes, His Temple would be marvelous and one of the wonders of the world that the people would travel to see, but no building can contain Him--the whole universe can't contain him.


Matthew 5:34-35
English Standard Version34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
The Earth is but like a footstool for the LORD to put His feet up on from His throne in heaven, yet He chooses Jerusalem to be His city--the City of the Great King (that's not just talking about David, but about Jesus, Messiah, King of Kings and Lord of Lords).