A COVENANT. 2nd Samuel 7 God’s Promise, vs.1-17 Nathan, the prophet who wrote the accounts of David and Solomon and the years of their reigns, was young when the Lord made this covenant with David. His writing often linked topics together instead of chronologically. The events in the next chapter likely took place before those in this chapter. But the ark being brought to Jerusalem and placed in a tent linked topically with David’s concern for a house for the Lord.
David was conscious of being the Lord’s servant, living in a beautiful house made of cedar and his Master in a temporary place like a tent. When he told Nathan of his desire to build a house for the Lord, Nathan’s reaction was, “Yes, go for it.” He didn’t ask God what the divine will was but gave his own opinion. The role of a prophet was to make sure the people knew what God said and to urge them to follow the Lord.
We have the word of God in the Bible, so we do not need prophets to pass on the messages of God to us when we need spiritual guidance. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be mature, ready for every good work.” Unless we read the Bible and take time to ensure how it applies to us and our situation, we will be ignorant of God’s will for us. It is wrong for us to blame others for not telling us what we think we need to hear if we do not read and meditate on the word of God ourselves. The things we learn from those who have a greater understanding of scripture because of experience and insight will become real when we are enlightened by what they explain to us, which we overlook.
The Lord didn’t leave Nathan without correcting him “that night” and giving him the true message from God to tell David. There was a clear and unmistakable word from God as to why David was not to build a house for God. His life experiences did not qualify him to do what Solomon would do. God is not confined to a building because He does not dwell in temples made with human hands. He dwells “In the high and holy place with him who has a contrite and humble spirit.” More important than David making a house for the Lord was the Lord was making a house for David that the Lord Jesus Christ would fill in a time to come.
God designated prophets to speak for Him in the reign of the Israeli kings. Samuel was the prophet who spoke to Saul for God. Some kings listened to the prophets. Other prophets were ignored and despised - and some were killed. David and Nathan must have been in a friendly relationship when David spoke to Nathan about building a "house" for the Lord. Nathan agreed at first until the Lord spoke to him in the night. During the "night watch," Nathan received a message from the Lord to give to David in which he was reminded of God's grace down through the past generations since the children of Israel left Egypt. God dwelt in tents all through those years, and He was still with His people.
Our first reaction to a suggestion often comes from what we consider reasonable and worthy work. However, we are limited to what we have experienced and "see through a glass darkly" as we look ahead. The Sovereign Lord has a plan that involves much more than we can perceive with our limited minds. In other words, God is not limited by time or space, but in grace is with His people wherever they are. "The Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us" is true today. "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them."
The Lord also instructed Nathan to tell David of His sovereign purposes for him in the future. The "house" He referred to was in the sense of an ongoing family that would continue after David died. David's son would build a house for the Lord because David had been a man of war. A man of peace would build the temple. The books of 1st Kings and 1st Chronicles give the whole narrative. These covenant terms were vital because they were God's purpose in sending our Lord Jesus Christ into the world. He would ultimately fulfill the covenant terms with David and sit on David's throne as the Supreme Ruler over kings and lords.
Making a covenant between two persons is a solemn and important commitment with lasting implications and effects. Covenants are never to be entered into in a light-hearted manner because they affect those in the covenant and others who come after. God had made covenants with others before David. Noah, Abraham, and the nation of Israel had entered into covenant relationships with God. Today, the church has entered into a New Testament (covenant) relationship with our Lord, and the blood of Christ has been ratified. "This cup is the new testament in My blood." it is a holy exercise we participate in when we take part in the Lord's Supper.
Prayer of Acceptance, vs. 18-29 Likely, David was disappointed that he wouldn't see the temple, a house for God to dwell in with His chosen earthly people, but he accepted the will of God without resentment. He knew God had made him the king of Israel and that more extraordinary things were coming in the future. This chapter tells us of God’s covenant with David that goes far beyond a glorious temple to a glorious future temple from which the Sovereign Lord of the seed of David would reign.
When Nathan delivered the Lord's covenant message to David, he left his beautiful house and sat before the Lord in the tent where the ark was. There, he prayed with joy and appreciation humbly and sincerely. He knew God had made him king, and now he had a look into the future of more significant and more meaningful days. He did not ask again to build a house for the Lord or complain because he was not permitted to do this work. He thanked God for knowing what the Lord would do and worshipped the Sovereign Lord there. He was glad to know what God revealed to him and gave God all the glory.
Someone said, “Our disappointments are God’s appointments,” and that we have proved personally. When God says “No” to what we want, like David in this case, there is a “Yes” yet to come that will be far better. God may close one door that we thought was open from our point of view, but He had a better and more important plan according to His perfect will and plans. We need to accept what God, in grace, has allowed us to do and, with joy, go forward in faith to do what has been delegated to us. If possible, we must assist those whom God chooses to do what we had hoped to do.
We may not know much about the future, but what we know is undoubtedly thank-worthy: "No condemnation;" "all things in Christ." "We shall be with Him and like Him;" "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ." What blessings are ours because of the new covenant in His blood?! Like David, who believed in God's promises, we too have "exceeding great and precious promises." God always keeps His promises.
As David sat humbly in the tent before the symbol of God’s presence, he did not ask God to reconsider his desire to build the temple. He opened his heart to the Lord and acknowledged his unworthiness of the promises God made to him. Through his seed, not only Israel but the whole world would be blessed. His dynasty would lead to the rule of Christ over all the earth in the way God intends, and there will finally come “Peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
When we realize that the One who is “Our Father, which art in heaven,” is the Sovereign Lord of the universe, we are humbled and awestruck knowing that we are one of God’s people whom He had redeemed for Himself. We have been established as His people, a kingdom of priests who are able to communicate directly with Him and, in His name and under His authority, “beseech” other people to be reconciled to God.
We may hope for something, and our Lord says, "No." That does not mean we are rejected, but our Lord planned something different. We can be sure that everything God does is right, and we can rest in faith that whatever the Lord determines is our role in His work is the best. He knows what we are best suited for and capable of doing. When the Lord has spoken to us through His word and used whatever He chooses to bring about His purposes, it is a blessing. That blessing is to us and all in this covenant with the Sovereign Lord.
Over two thousand five hundred years have passed, and no one from “the house of David” has ruled over Israel, let alone the world. But that does not mean God has and will not keep His promise to David. David’s “Greater Son” will come and reign as the Sovereign Lord, for it is through the Lord Jesus Christ of the “seed of David” that God’s promise will be fulfilled.
The house God dwells in is not a temple built by human hands but a “house” in the sense of a dynasty, a chosen people who love Him and share eternal life with Him. Nothing merits such blessings, but by God’s grace and through our faith in Him, we have come to enjoy the benefits of being in the kingdom of God. “I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
God gave David foresight of the future when they made the covenant. Their communication was based on trust, integrity, and truth and was personal to both of them. Those same principles hold true for us as we communicate with our Lord in complete confidence that He hears us when we pray and speaks to us through the written words of the Bible. These “good things” are vital to us as we live daily by faith in Him. He has blessed us and will bless us forever. We praise and thank Him with full hearts!
Through thoughts that are unexpressed in my mind and heart and sights that unfold daily that make me conscious of the presence of the Lord, I can come to the place where I learn grace, truth, and how faith works in the big and small things of life. Through words that start sentences that I cannot finish because of the sense of awe of being in the presence of the Lord, much of what I want to say to the Lord about my appreciation and joy lies in unfinished words. Through ears that hear musical sounds and wonder what those sounds really mean to God and what makes worship spontaneous as I listen to the sounds of creation around, I know they help me learn to know God better, whom I have never seen.
Watching old saints who have known the Lord for many years and learning from their reverence and respect creates impressions within me. These impressions remind me that I must never neglect those things God says are eternal, for they are the ones that will last. Often, they are supernatural, and their impact never passes away. Learning from God and learning about God goes on in my daily life. Some things will be understood once and never forgotten; others must be learned again.
Some things have been imposed and impressed on me privately, and others in a gathering of men. I learn some of what God is like through my children's actions, and I learn much from my wife's words. Some lessons come to me unbidden, and others are repeated every day of my life. I long to know God much better, although I expect I will often be surprised by what He does for those who love Him. I read His Word like a letter; from it, I am made aware that He chose the weak, poor, and despised to show His glory and grace. Though unseen, every lesson I learn is prized; I learn to know God deeply by faith.