2 Samuel 7:9-17 – Security Through the King
Did you notice the word that occurred 3 times in the chapter and twice in v16? ‘Forever’. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne will be established forever. God is going to build David a house that death can’t destroy, sin can’t stop, and time can’t bring to an end.
It would be possible to read this chapter and say – how’s any of this relevant for us? That’s all very nice for David. The fact that he’s being promised a kingdom that death can’t destroy, that sin can’t stop and that time can’t end, it’s quite a promise! But how does that affect us? How does it help us? What difference does that make to my life this week?
To answer that question we need to see first of all that this blessing on David was never just for his sake. David wasn’t exalted for his own sake, but for the sake of God’s people. To see that, just look at verses 9 through 11. Verses 9 and 11 are promises given to David. But sandwiched in between them is a promise for the people. v10: ‘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’. The promises to David are for the sake of the people. David’s kingship is what God is going to use to ensure that his people can dwell securely in the land.
We have to remember the time these people were emerging from. In the days of the judges people were being disturbed from dwelling securely in the land, violent men had been afflicting them. It hadn’t been a peaceful time to live through. But under this new king, things are going to be different. God’s promises to David here are really an echo and a fulfilment of his promises to Abraham – but with one significant development. Abraham had been promised that kings would come from him. Now that part of the promise is being fulfilled as well. And the people needed a king! If the book of Judges tells us anything, it’s that without a stable king, all the other blessings are in jeopardy. The king is the lynchpin that secures all these other blessings. And now there is a stable, godly king on the throne.
Question
- What does God promise David?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that our King, Christ, gives us true security.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.