The Davidic Covenant
2 Samuel 7:1-17
2
Samuel 7:1-17 is has come to be called the Davidic covenant, and what begins as
David’s desire to build a house for God results in God promising to build a
house for David which will endure forever. David’s son Solomon is chosen to
build God’s Temple and David is promised an everlasting dynasty reigning from
Jerusalem through his son Solomon. Even though David is not chosen to build a
house for God, nonetheless David receives great blessing and honour from God.
David proposes to build a house for
God
After
the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest
from all his enemies around him he
said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the
ark of God remains in a tent.” 2 Samuel 7:1-2
In the preceding chapter
David had brought the ark into Jerusalem with great joy and had housed it in
the tent which David had built for it, which was most likely constructed like
the Mosaic Tabernacle according to the pattern given to Moses in the Wilderness.
A general summery of all David’s wars is given in chapters eight, however it is
most likely that the present rest spoken of in this passage is rest from David’s
wars with the House of Saul, the Philistines, Moabites and the hostile
Canaanite tribes which were mixed with the Israelites[1].
At
a time when most Israelites still lived in tents, cedar was the a rare and
expensive timber and was used to create sealed houses. David’s concern for the
Ark of God continues to reveal to us David’s devout heart and David serves as
an example for God’s people to not only be concerned with their own pleasures
but to also have a desire to please God and to serve Him. This example is
picked up by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah when the people had returned
from captivity and had built their own homes but neglected the House of the
Lord.[2]
Nathan replied to the king,
“Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with
you. 2 Samuel 7:3
This
is the first mention of Nathan the prophet in scripture and later he rebukes
David for his sin with Bathsheba and also anoints Solomon, David’s son, as Kind
of Israel. Nathan, recognizing that God is with David, approves of the noble
task that David desires to accomplish for the Lord. He does not claim to speak
on behalf of the Lord and his words should be distinguished from the words of
the Lord. Nathan sanctioned David’s plan from his own feelings and not by
divine inspiration[3].
God promises to build a house for
David
But that night the word of
the Lord came to Nathan, saying: “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This
is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell
in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up
out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as
my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say
to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have
you not built me a house of cedar?” 2 Samuel 7:4-7
Because
David’s intentions were pious God did not allow him to continue in his error
for too long and spoke to Nathan that very night. God addresses David
affectionately as His servant but God’s question to David implies that he is
not the one to build a house for God to dwell in. The parallel account in 1
Chronicles 17:4 states it plainly, that David was not the one to build a house
for the LORD.[4]
God
proceeds to inform David that He has not dwelt in a house from the day Israel
left Egypt to the present. God further adds that He has never commanded any of
the rulers of Israel to build Him a house. It seems as though God had been
content to dwell among His people in a tent and move from place to place[5].
“Now then, tell my servant David,
‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture,
from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I
have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies
from before you. Now
I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 2
Samuel 7:8-9
Even
though God had not chosen David to build God’s House, nevertheless God refers
to David as His servant, an honorific title, and reminds David of the favour
which He has bestowed upon him. God’s blessings had followed David from the
humble beginnings of tending his father’s flock to becoming King of all Israel
and shepherd of the flock and people of God. God had been with David through
all his trials, trained his hands for war and given him victory over all his
adversaries. God proceeds to tell David that despite the fact that he has not
been chosen to build God’s house, nevertheless it is not because he was of low
stature because God was going to give him a great name, like the greatest men
on the earth.[6]
David’s Eternal Kingdom
And I will provide a place for my
people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and
no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they
did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed
leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your
enemies. 2 Samuel 7:10-11a
Here
God speaks of a future time when God’s people Israel would be established in
the land of Canaan and God will give them rest and they will no longer be
disturbed or oppressed by wicked people. This time of rest is going to be
distinctly different to the times of the judges where there was a repeating
cycle of God’s people Israel being oppressed because of their sinfulness and
then God delivering them when they called upon Him. The rest God is promising
here is a permanent rest and a permanent end to oppression, it follows then
that there is a permanent end to sin as well. David’s prayer also confirms this
truth when he states “You have established your people Israel as your very own
forever, and you, Lord, have become their God”. Even though today the
Mosaic Covenant is no longer in effect the Davidic Covenant remains and was
understood by David and the prophets to refer to the people of Israel.[7]
In
Solomon’s letter to the King of Tyre, found in 1 Kings 5:1-6, Solomon says that
in the past David could not construct the temple because of his enemies
roundabout, but now God had given him rest and so he desired to build the
temple. However this could not be the rest of God’s promise to David because
Israel continued to face enemies throughout its history. Solomon’s reign serves
only as a fore shadow of the final fulfilment of God’s promise.[8]
“ ‘The Lord declares to
you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When
your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your
offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his
kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will
establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:11b-13
God
tells David that He will create a dynasty from David’s own body which will
continue after David’s death and into eternity. His own son will build a house
for God’s name and God will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Jesus
cannot be the son spoken of in this passage because verse 14 implies that
David’s son will sin and be disciplined for it. Solomon was the son who assumed
David’s throne and it was Solomon who built a house for God and it is Solomon’s
throne that will continue forever.
Because
of God’s promise to David the Israelites believed the Temple would stand
forever and the Kingdom of David would never be destroyed, however the temple
was destroyed and Judah was taken into captivity. No king has since assumed the
throne of David in Jerusalem. However Jeremiah prophesied of a future
descendant of David, whom he called the branch, who would reign in the land,
save Judah and give Israel rest. This final King is none other than Jesus
Christ himself.
The second coming of Jesus Christ, which will be
preceded by national repentance in Israel and mourning for the one whom they
have pierced, is the ultimate fulfilment of this promise and it is Jesus who
will bring the ultimate and final rest for Israel. Luke 3:23-38 traces the
genealogy of Jesus Christ through Mary to David but Matthew 1:2-16 traces the
genealogy of Jesus through Joseph to Solomon, and this is the legal basis for
Jesus claim to the throne of David. God’s promise that Solomon’s kingdom will
be established forever will only find fulfilment during the events described by
the prophet Zechariah.[9]
I will be his father, and he will
be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men,
with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away
from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before
you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne
will be established forever.’ ” 2 Samuel 7:14-16
The
relationship between God and David’s son Solomon will be a relationship of a
father and son. God will chastise his son when he sins but he will never take
his love away from him. In Psalms 89 Ethan
the Ezrahite composes a song based upon the Davidic Covenant of 2 Samuel
7:1-17. There the psalmist applies the promise of God’s discipline to Solomon’s
sons but explicitly states God will not take His love away from Solomon and
will not violate the covenant He made with his lips. God will fulfil His
promise to David even though the temple was destroyed and the people of God were
carried away into exile.
Conclusion
While
there are many parallels between the Davidic covenant of grace and the New
Covenant, this prophecy is still yet to be completely fulfilled. Solomon was
the son who built a house for God and Jesus is the descendant of Solomon who
reigns as King when there is national repentance in Israel.
[1]Expositors
Bible Commentary, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/expositors/2_samuel/7.htm;
Pulpit Commentary Series, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/2_samuel/7.htm; Keil and Delitzsch OT Commentary, comments on
2 Samuel 7:1, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/kad/2_samuel/7.htm; 2
Samuel 3:1 NIV
[2] MacLaren Expositions Of Holy Scripture, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/maclaren/2_samuel/7.htm; Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Bible Commentary, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jfb/2_samuel/7.htm; Expositors Bible Commentary, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/expositors/2_samuel/7.htm
[3] Keil and Delitzsch OT Commentary, comments on
2 Samuel 7:1, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/kad/2_samuel/7.htm
[4]Benson Commentary, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/2_samuel/7.htm;
Gill's
Exposition, comments on 2 Samuel 7:5, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/2_samuel/7.htm
[6] Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible,
comments on 2 Samuel 7:4-17, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhcw/2_samuel/7.htm; Benson Commentary, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/2_samuel/7.htm; Psalms 144:1 NIV;
[7]
Every Prophecy of the Bible, by John F. Walvoord, Kindle Edition, Pg. 52-58; Darby's Bible Synopsis, comments on 2
Samuel 7, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/darby/2_samuel/7.htm;
The Davidic Covenant, by Michael A. Grisanti,
Associate Professor of Old Testament, TMSJ 10/2 (Fall 1999), Pg. 249
https://www.tms.edu/m/tmsj10p.pdf; 2 Samuel 6-7 lesson, by Dr. Bob Utley, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK9EWr3nHbM&feature=youtu.be;
2 Samuel 7:24
[8] 1
Kings 5:1-6 NIV,
[9] Every
Prophecy of the Bible, by John F. Walvoord, Kindle Edition, Pg. 52-58, Pg. 319-
322; Zechariah 12:10-14, 14:9-21
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