READ: 2 Samuel 7
We all have landmarks in our
lives – specific incidents, events and people that have played major roles in
shaping who we have become. 2 Samuel 7 is one of those landmarks in the life of
David and, more importantly, in the salvation message of the Bible.
In this chapter, we learn of
David’s desire to build a house for the Lord. He sees the splendour that he
lives in and wants to honour the Lord with a beautiful dwelling place as well.
David loves and fears the Lord. He has learned to seek the Lord in times of
peace and chaos, want and prosperity, and has developed a deep and personal
relationship with God. In chapter 6, we saw his passion as he danced wildly
when the Ark of the Covenant entered Jerusalem. In chapter 7, God makes a
powerful promise to David. David desires to build a house for God; instead, God
says He will build a house for David
– an everlasting house! David is the
godly king that Israel needs. He is the “man after God’s own heart” that God
was seeking to govern His people. Scripture is sure to highlight David’s
weaknesses, but it is his heart that
singles him out as one of the great men of the Bible. He trusts in God; he
responds quickly to correction with a repentant heart; he loves to be in God’s
presence; he is a worshiper; he is a strong leader. 2 Samuel 7 is a powerful
chapter. In it, God makes an everlasting promise to David. David’s kingship
will never end! It is an incredible promise because it is unconditional. Though God says He will punish David’s descendants
when they sin, He gives a great promise: “But
My love will never be taken away from him” and an eternal blessing: “your throne will be established forever”!
(v 15 & 16)
But this chapter describes
something even greater and deeper than this! While the promise is an amazing personal blessing to David, it is also
the next step in the fulfillment of God’s covenant to Abraham; in fact it
reveals the goal that God has for the
whole earth. God chose Abraham, and through him, the Israelites, as the tool
through which He would reveal Himself to mankind. Through this covenant to
David, God zeros in on one tribe, one family line. Depth and perspective is
given to the vague promise God made to Abraham: “and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen. 12:3)
God is interested in more than this one group of people. He is a God of
salvation and redemption (made clear through the Exodus and the entrance into
the Promised Land) and He has a plan of salvation and redemption for the whole earth. (A plan that he first spoke
of after the Fall in Genesis 3:15!) Through this promise to David, God’s plan
is made a little bit clearer: David’s throne will never end; that means that someONE will always reign from it. So we
get a greater glimpse into just HOW all the people of the earth will be blessed
through Abraham: it involves a promise of a real,
eternal kingship and an actual ruler on an actual throne. From this time on, Israel looks
forward to a King – a real person – who will bring eternal rest to
Zion (Jerusalem). And so we see that this chapter points towards our great King
and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who came to make His life a sacrifice and is coming
again to set up this eternal kingdom!
Later the prophet Isaiah would
add to this mystery when prophesying about the Messiah who would stand as a
banner of salvation to the whole world. Isaiah calls him the “Root of Jesse.”
(Isaiah 11:10) Jesse was David’s father. In the gospels, Jesus would be called
the “Son of David” because he came from the tribe of Judah and the family line
of King David, as God had promised. But through Isaiah, God showed the eternal nature of the Messiah; Jesus is
both the Root of Jesse and the Son of David; the one who created David, and the
one who was born after David; the one who always was and the one who was yet to
come. In Revelation 1:8 Jesus says of Himself, “I am the Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end… I am the one who
is, who always was, and who is still to come – the Almighty One.” What a
wonderful God we serve, whose wisdom is beyond all comprehension! A God who speaks
with power and fulfills all His promises! A God who is faithful and true and
who never fails! A God who planned redemption from the very beginning! A God
who is coming to reign forever!
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. Ask
God how He wants to speak to you about Himself through this chapter and today’s
reading. Journal in response to what He tells you.
2. Are
you a worshipper? Do you desire to serve God wholeheartedly? Ask God to search
your heart on this question. Ask Him to show you where He is pleased with your
love for Him. Ask Him to show you any area of selfishness that is keeping you
from serving Him with a glad heart.
3. God’s
plan of salvation is the most wonderful gift. Yet we degrade it when we try to
save ourselves – when we feel we need to make ourselves “good enough” before we
can come before God or receive love from Him.
a. Ask
God to show you how you have been working out of your own self-effort in hopes
of making yourself presentable before Him. Tell Him that you need Him and ask
HIM to work in your heart and transform your life in this area.
b. Ask
God to show you the love that He has for you. Ask Him to show you how He sees
you.
