Page 17 - Florida Sentinel 10-20-17

King David stood in regard to God’s covenant with his people.
Five hundred years has passed since the events in our lesson last week. In the time between the giving of the Law, Israel settled in Canaan, suf- fered through the era of the judges, and saw their re- quested first king of Israel, Saul, go belly up. The promise of God (Genesis 12:1-3) was all but totally compromised through Saul’s disobedience (1 Samuel 13 and 15).
God would need a king after his own heart (13:14) with whom the covenant promise could continue so that the world might be saved. 2 Samel’s purpose was to record the history of David’s reign.
David’s Desires
2 Samuel 7:1-6
After the death of King Saul (1 Samuel 31:6) it took some time before David’s role as Is- rael’s second king was fully recognized. The covenant God made with David, was promis- ing to carry on David’s line (heritage) forever. This covenant was fully realized with the birth of Jesus Christ. Our lesson picks up David’s story when his reign was firmly established in Jerusalem, the Ark of the Covenant had been brought to the home of Obed-Edom, and the marriage between David and Michal (Saul’s daughter). The text says that, in this city of stone, David’s palace was made of cedar. David had not yet reached his zenith (that would come in 2 Samuel 10),
King David 2 Samuel 7:1-16
but God had given him rest from all his enemies around him. “Rest” here means peace. Later in our text it will mean death (Chapter 12).
Enter Nathan the prophet. God made certain that a prophet was living during the reign of each of the kings of Is- rael. The prophet’s main pur- pose was to urge the the people to follow God and to communicate God’s laws and plans to the king. Most kings rejected the prophets God sent. In earlier years, judges and priests had the role of prophets. Samuel served as a judge, priest and prophet, bridging the gap between the period of the judges and the monarchy. Nathan gave David the green light to build God a house in which to dwell.
But in a nighttime vision God revealed to Nathan that David was not the one to build his house, but his job was to unify and lead Israel and to de- stroy its enemies. This huge task would require David to shed a great deal of blood. In 1
Chronicles 28:3, we learn that God did not want his Temple built by a warrior. Therefore, David made the plans and collected the mate- rials so that his son, Solomon could begin work on the Tem- ple as soon as he became king. (1 Kings 5-7).
God seemed no more ex- cited to have a permanent place in which to dwell as he did for Israel to have a king other than himself (1 Samuel 8:6, 7). God seemed to enjoy mobility (2 Samuel 7:7). But if there was to be a permanent house for God. So, David ac- cepted his part in God’s plan and did not try to go beyond it.
Sometimes God says ‘NO’ to our plans. When he does, we should instead utilize the other opportunities or the set- up for us and our future gener- ations.
David’s Legacy: His Own 2 Samuel 7:8-10
The Lord Almighty (Lord of Hosts) reminded David through Nathan that David was once a shepherd. God was
responsible for David’s legacy. God promised to make David’s name great (see Genesis 12:1-3). That testimony be- came true, as only his son, Solomon surpassed David in power. But David’s legacy would also include his people. God, the real shepherd of Is- rael, would provide the people a place, a home, and peace.
A key verse not in our printed text is verse 11. This verse sets the stage for the final section. It was from the line of David that God would make for himself a house.
David’s Legacy: Beyond His Own
2 Samuel 7:12-16
Solomon would build the house for God’s name. But the true Son of David, Jesus, would build David’s kingdom forever (the word appears three times in the text).
God’s house, his kingdom, and his reign would go beyond the legacy of the covenant God made with David (Luke 1:32, 33). This would remain for the King of kings.
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