2 Samuel 7:7-16 – God Will Make Him a House
David thinks it’s high time to build God a permanent structure. The LORD responds in v7 by saying that he had never asked any of the leaders of the people to build him a temple. What we do in the worship of God must be done at his initiative. It’s not that God is against the idea of a temple. In fact in v13 he tells David that his son will build him a house, which is partially fulfilled in the temple that God allows Solomon to build for him. But for David, what will define him isn’t what he does for God, but what God does for him. And that’s always the way. That’s the priority of the gospel. It’s not about what we do for God – but about what God does for us. So at the heart of this chapter is the LORD’s promise to David in v11 that he will make him a house.
The word covenant isn’t used in this chapter. But it’s used in other places in the Bible which refer back to this chapter, and at the heart of that covenant is God’s promise to David that he will build him a house. God doesn’t mean a house in the sense that David is using the word. But a house in the way we would use the word when speaking of a royal family. This is the promise of a dynasty. Saul’s dynasty – his house – only lasted a few years longer than Saul himself. Ish-bosheth, his son, wasn’t able to hold on to power for long, as we saw in chapter 4. But with David, it will be different.
This a kingdom that can’t be destroyed by death. When David dies he can do so in the confidence that his kingdom will last long after he’s gone. This is a kingdom that death can’t end. Neither can sin stop it. Look at the middle of v14: ‘When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him as I took it from Saul whom I put away from before you’. So though God will punish any individual king for their sin – the kingdom won’t be taken away from the house of David, the way it was taken away from the house of Saul. To use the house illustration: sin can bring disaster on any current resident of the house – but it can’t demolish the house. Sin can’t stop it.
Question
- What is at the heart of this covenant?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that the Gospel is about what God does for us.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.