| Church School Lesson: A Very Fine House |
"A Very Fine House"
December 8, 2024
Background: 2 Samuel 7:1-17; Print: 2 Samuel 7:4-17;
Key Verse: 2 Samuel 7:16; Devotional: Isaiah 9:1-7
2 Samuel 7:4-17 (ESV)
4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,
5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in?
6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.
7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’
8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.
9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
10 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,
11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,
15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.
16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”
17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
2 Samuel Chapter 7 (Commentary)
7:4-10 That night, God gave Nathan a word for David. With regard to building a temple, God’s response was essentially, “Thanks, but no thanks.” From the time of the exodus to David’s day, God had never demanded a house from the Israelites. So, there was no need for David to feel sorry for God (7:4-7). Instead, God reminded David that he had taken this shepherd boy from humble beginnings and made him king, even as he took Israel from being a nation of slaves and had planted them in their land (7:8-10). Far from needing provision, God had always been the Provider.
7:11-16 Don’t miss the shock value of this statement: The Lord himself will make a house for you (7:11). God was engaging in word play. Instead of David building God a house (that is, constructing a temple for him), God would build David a house (that is, he would raise up a kingly dynasty for him). God promised that he would establish the kingdom of David’s descendant (7:12). It was this king who would build a house (a temple) for the name of the Lord (7:13). God would be his father, and the king would be his son (7:14). If he rebelled, God would discipline him, but his faithful love would never depart from him (7:14-15). Thus, the house and kingdom and throne of David would be established forever (7:16).
Clearly, the near-term fulfillment of these promises would be David’s son Solomon. God would indeed establish his kingdom, paving the way for Israel’s golden age. Solomon would be the one to build the temple. And, when Solomon (and subsequent kings) sinned, God’s discipline would fall.
But, ultimately, it would take more than a mere man to fulfill the promises of this Davidic covenant. To have a kingdom and throne established forever, the God-man, Jesus Christ, was needed. The divine Son of God fulfills the Father-Son relationship in the truest sense. As Matthew and Luke show, Jesus in his humanity is a descendent of David and heir to the throne (see Matt 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38). As the angel proclaimed to Mary, he is “the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David” (Luke 1:32). “He will reign forever and ever” (Rev 11:15). Jesus will take up his right and rule from David’s throne in Jerusalem when he returns in glory to reign in his millennial kingdom. Then, he will rule for all eternity as King of kings and Lord of lords.
7:17-29 When Nathan reported all of this to David, the king was overwhelmed. He responded with a prayer of praise and humble worship, recognizing his unworthiness. He asked God, Who am I . . . that you have brought me this far?