Text: 2 Samuel 7:5-16
Title: A Reflection on the Davidic Promise
Introduction
Today we will be discussing about the so-called “Davidic Covenant”. It was so-called Davidic Covenant because this covenant was between God and David. A covenant to which David will gain hold of Israel, and lead them to stay in-line with God. This covenant was given by our Lord through Prophet Nathan to David after the death of Saul. Today, we will be reflecting on God’s questions to David.
Today’s message is a reflection after a due diligence in its interpretation. The original meaning of the passage here is that God spoke to David through Prophet Nathan and made a covenant with him. Three covenants were made; dynastic lineage, kingdom, and a throne. And we will discuss them one by one later. Upon knowing these things, how then this passage in the Scripture would apply to us? And this question is what we are going to answer this morning. The application of this passage to us as we reflect it in our Christian lives.
The writer of the book of “Samuel” cannot be Samuel because he died much earlier (1 Samuel 27) before the reign of David in 2 Samuel. Though Prophets Nathan and Gad was also attributed to be the writers of the book, unfortunately these prophets lived only up to the time of David in which the style of writing matches that those of the exilic period. This can give us into conclusion that the writer of the books of 1 and 2 Samuel was unknown.
Questions of God
1. Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? (v.5) I tried imagining these questions as if it was asked to me. Though it is the form of question, it is actually asking a favor, or asking something that David has to do. Upon reading this question, it touches me personally and I tried digging in my inner self. Am I doing something in order to build God a house? Now this question may stand for two things.
a. First, it may stand for the temple to which Solomon built. Solomon son of David built the temple of the Lord that until now was known for its grandeur and beauty despite the fact that the temple was already destroyed.
b. Secondly, it may mean to be the spiritual household of Yahweh to where Jesus being in the lineage of David was recognized to be the foundation of the “Ikklesia” or the church.
But whatever it means, we can see that both of these possible meanings were fulfilled. Let us however look at this question as a kind of question related to us. What if God asked this to us and it means that God wants us to work on the spiritual household? What if he means that we have to be involved in the ministry that he set for us?
Then these are the following questions that we have to answer in ourselves, are we involving or working on what God has commanded to us? Now remember that the church or the “ikklesia” in the Bible is always compared to a household or a family where God is the head. Are we doing something in order to help this household or this family of God to look better and to live peacefully with brotherly love with each other?
2. Why have you not build me a house of cedar? V.7 this question is a follow up question of God to David. The word “house” here may also mean as the two things that we have discussed. But the word “cedar” is a noun. It is a tree that is known for its durability and fragrance. Again, this was asked to king David. However, if we will be applying this question in our lives as Christians, reflecting on it as if God is asking us to build a house for him. Have we built Him a house durable enough?
Let us imagine ourselves to building a spiritual kingdom in our inner being. Remember that our body is the temple of the living God. That is why we can see all over the Bible that we need to abstain from all immorality and filthiness for it will surely make the temple of the Lord dirty. But are we working on this? Are we doing our best to present ourselves to God Holy and acceptable.
We can offer ourselves to the Lord. But the thing is, it has to be Holy and acceptable in the eyes of the Lord. Is our lives Holy and acceptable to Him?
God’s Promises
1. David to be the ruler over Israel. V.8 – he indeed became a ruler over Israel.
2. David will be a great king-known over all the earth. V9 – his leadership became well known to all known world during his time. All the surrounding nations of Israel respected him as a king.
3. David’s people will have a place to live where peace and quietness rules. V.10 – David was able to establish his kingdom well, and it became strong and has not been defeated until his death.
4. David’s people will not and cannot be oppressed anymore. V10 – during the time of David, his people has been known to be a “1st class” people. A people who belong to a respected kingdom. No one oppresses them and they lived peacefully in the land.
5. David’s reign will give peace to Israel against outsiders. V.11
6. David will have a house established by Yahweh. V.11 – It was Yahweh who established David to be the king over Israel. Now take note that there is no blood relationship between king Saul and David. When David became the king of Israel, it is not due to kinship or to the blood line system. He was established by the anointing of Yahweh.
7. David will have a generational successor. V.12 – Starting from David, kingship was followed through blood line. Meaning, the son of the king will be the heir of the throne.
8. David’s successor will be under the discipline and guidance of the Lord. v.14 – as far as we know, Solomon had been guided by Yahweh in his time though later on in his life, he turned away from Yahweh and was tempted to worship other gods. We all know however, that God gave wisdom to Solomon in which Israel has reached its zenith.
9. David’s successor will be loved by the Lord forever. V.15 – David was known to be a “man after God’s own heart”.
10. David’s kingdom will be established forever. V.16 – This could stand for the lineage of David through God’s plan of Jesus. We all know that David’s earthly kingdom did not last long. But in the NT we can cite passages there that all authority has been given to Jesus. And Jesus as we have said was in the line of David.
Conclusion
The same question is to be asked to us today: “Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?” Whether this question means a literal temple or a spiritual one, God is asking us a question that
Another sermon manuscript of Ptr. Vince Olaer.
He is the Pastor of the Lighthouse Christian Ministry of Ormoc, Leyte, Philippines.
Also visit his other websites: www.freewebs.com/wsmuniversity ; www.lighthouseresource.blogspot.com ; www.wsmuniversity.blogspot.com
He prepared a gift for his visitors in each of his websites that are downloadable and ready to be claimed. Aside from this, he is also a regular contributor to Ezine articles.
