The Living Word for week up to Sunday, December 24, 2017: Part 1 of 5
The story of God’s faithfulness in maintaining covenant, from King David’s successors to the Good News of King Jesus.
Monday, December 18: 2 Samuel 7:1-11 and 16
Tuesday, December 19: Psalm 89:1-4 and 19-26
Wednesday, December 20: Luke 1:26-38
Thursday, December 21: Romans 16:25-27
Friday: The emerging message and discussion starters
Monday, Dec 18: 2 Samuel 7:1-11 and 16
Nathan the prophet’s word to King David about the house, or dynasty, of David which would follow him.
- Although not called a covenant here, in other places it is i.e Psalm 89:3,28,34,39; Psalm 132:11; and 2 Samuel 23:5 “If my house were not right with God, surely He would not have made with me an everlasting covenant…(NIV)”. This promise to make David’s family the representative of His people for ever is a key passage in the history of salvation.
1-2 When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!”
- David wanted to build the Lord a ‘house’ or suitable, permanent place for the Ark to remain – but contrast this with v.11 below, The Lord… will make a house for you…”
- The Ark of God is covered by (literally) ‘curtains’.
3 Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But that same night the Lord said to Nathan…
- An example of a project that has started to form without the Lord being consulted, except in the sense of his prophet being part of a prayerful conversation. Nathan was hasty in his “Go ahead…” response because he hadn’t heard at that point. When we start with our plan and seek the Lord’s approval, He may substitute His own plan!
5-7 “…Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared:
- “The Lord is with you” v.3 but “This is what the Lord says…”
Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling. Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?”’
- See 1 Chron. 22:8 for the reason why David was not permitted to build the temple. He had waged too many wars and shed too much blood.
- Israel’s leaders, or judges. The word as it stands can mean ‘sceptres’, a figure of speech for rulers.
8-11 “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel.
- “My people…” is an important emphasis. It is the Lord who called David from shepherding to kingship, prevailed over enemies and who had made the original promise of enduring renown, Genesis 12:2.
I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes.
- The events in the following chapter probably preceded this chapter – but the material has not been arranged chronologically, as we assume, but in topics.
Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.
- It is the Lord acting on His promise, rather than David’s acts of military achievement, who will establish His people in a land of their own.
“‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that He will make a house for you – a dynasty of kings!
16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”
- “The house” now takes on the meaning of dynasty.
- This is a double prophecy with covenantal implications: the first outworking of this is in Solomon, who (unlike David) is permitted to build the Temple (v.13); the second “eternal throne… established forever” is fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah.
Application
Our faith has deep roots and this event, 1000 years before Christ’s appearance, has big implications.
It describes God, speaking through the mouthpiece of an attested and righteous prophet, about a one-way promise, or covenant, He is making with David which will extend beyond his lifetime or present influence, indefinitely. This is number six of seven major covenants recorded in Scripture and its form is essentially unconditional – it is a description of what God undertakes to do for David, not of what David has to do for God. There is, however, a presumption of continuing loyalty to God on the part of David’s descendants which is in the nature of any covenant agreement: that the parties actually enter into it.
It promises David:
- Enduring renown
- Israel to have their own land to remain in
- Security and rest from enemies
- A dynasty and influence that endures
David knew God as the Faithful One, Psalm 145:13,17 “ The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.”
In the ups and downs of life, in a world where agreements are seen as situational and easily broken, God is there for us upholding the commitment of His covenant.
We have a better covenant than Abraham, Moses or David in Jesus Christ, with better provisions, and based on God’s grace – we turn to Him and He turns to us. God who has made and maintained promises for those who were after His heart in the past, makes and maintains promises to those who belong to Him in Christ Jesus. That’s something to have ready for when the enemy comes knocking on the door of your mind with his doubts and fears.
Discussion starter
- What (verses 8-16) does David or his descendants have to do or to be, in order to comply with this promise? If it is not explicit, what might be implicit?