1 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;
2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,
5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
6 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.
7 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.
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,
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.
12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
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:
15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.
21 For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.
25 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.
26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.
27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
The seventh chapter of the book of 2 Samuel is a pivotal chapter in the history of Israel. It is a chapter that marks a turning point in the reign of King David and sets the foundation for the establishment of the Davidic dynasty. This chapter is filled with important themes such as God's covenant with David, the promise of a permanent house for God, and the establishment of the everlasting kingdom of God. It also reveals the character of David as a humble and obedient servant of God. Through this chapter, we see the fulfillment of God's promises to David and the foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic covenant.
Before delving into the details of the chapter, it is important to understand the context in which it takes place. 2 Samuel chapter 7 takes place after David has been anointed as king over all of Israel. He has successfully defeated the Philistines and has brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The kingdom of Israel is at its peak, and David's reign is marked by prosperity and success. David is living in a palace made of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant is still housed in a tent. It is in this setting that David decides to build a permanent house for God.
As David is living in his palace, he becomes troubled by the fact that the Ark of the Covenant is still housed in a tent. He expresses his desire to build a permanent house for God to Nathan the prophet. Nathan initially encourages David to go ahead with his plans, but that same night, God speaks to Nathan and tells him to relay a message to David.
"Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 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. 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?" (2 Samuel 7:5-7)
God reminds David that He has been with the Israelites since the time of their exodus from Egypt, and He has never asked for a permanent house to be built for Him. Instead, He has been content with dwelling in a tent and moving along with His people. This message from God reveals His humility and His desire to dwell among His people, rather than in a grand and elaborate temple.
After reminding David of His faithfulness and contentment with dwelling in a tent, God makes a covenant with David. He promises to establish a permanent house for David and his descendants, and to establish his kingdom forever.
"Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 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. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son." (2 Samuel 7:11-14a)
This promise of an everlasting kingdom and a permanent house for God is a powerful and significant moment in the history of Israel. It shows God's faithfulness to His people and His desire to establish a lasting relationship with them. It also reveals His plan for the coming of Jesus Christ, who will be a descendant of David and will establish an everlasting kingdom.
Upon hearing God's covenant, David is overwhelmed and humbled. He responds with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise, acknowledging God's greatness and faithfulness.
"Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, 'Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears." (2 Samuel 7:18-22)
David's prayer is a testament to his humility and his recognition of God's sovereignty. He understands that it is God's faithfulness and grace that has brought him to where he is, and he responds with gratitude and praise.
God's covenant with David not only promises a permanent house for God and an everlasting kingdom, but it also establishes the Davidic dynasty. This means that David's descendants will continue to rule over Israel, and one of his descendants will be the promised Messiah.
"And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever." (2 Samuel 7:16)
This promise of an everlasting kingdom is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is a descendant of David and will establish His kingdom forever.
2 Samuel chapter 7 is a significant chapter in the history of Israel and in the overall narrative of the Bible. It reveals God's faithfulness and His desire to dwell among His people. It also foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ, who will fulfill the promises made to David and establish an everlasting kingdom.
This chapter also reveals the character of David as a humble and obedient servant of God. He responds to God's covenant with humility and gratitude, acknowledging that it is God's grace and faithfulness that has brought him to where he is.
Furthermore, this chapter highlights the importance of God's sovereignty and His plans for His people. Despite David's initial desire to build a house for God, God had a greater plan in mind, one that would ultimately bring about salvation for all of humanity through Jesus Christ.
The meaning of 2 Samuel chapter 7 can be summed up in three key points:
Through this chapter, we see the fulfillment of God's promises and His ultimate plan for salvation. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His desire to establish a lasting relationship with His people. It also challenges us to respond to God's faithfulness with humility and obedience, just as David did.
2 Samuel chapter 7 is a pivotal chapter in the history of Israel and in the overall narrative of the Bible. It reveals God's faithfulness and His desire to dwell among His people. It also foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ and highlights the importance of humility and obedience in serving God. This chapter serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His ultimate plan for salvation, and it challenges us to respond to His faithfulness with gratitude and obedience.
Share this page