For an audio version of this blog, click here: http://coopersedgebaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Soulfood-55.mp3
As the old cliche goes, “home is where the heart is”. When you hear the word “home”, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s a group of people – your family or closest friends, for instance. Perhaps it’s a particular house – where you’ve lived for years. A similar cliche tells us that “there’s no place like home” and surely we can testify to that. However wonderful a holiday may be, there’s nothing quite like being in your own home again. Last December we moved into our own place and it was a wonderful moment. Now we felt that we could really start to put down roots and become more settled, and make the place a home.
Why do I say all this? It’s because the chapter we’re considering today repeats a certain word 15 times: the word house. This is a chapter that’s all about house and home. Over the past few months I’ve been writing on the various characters listed in Hebrews 11. Then when we got to David we’ve branched off into a whole other mini-series in itself, because David gets so much attention in the Bible. Last week we considered the sobering incident in 2 Samuel 6 when David seeks to move the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, and Uzzah is killed for touching the hallowed chest. Today we’ll think about the very next chapter – 2 Samuel 7.
The chapter begins with a note as to the security of David’s reign as king: “Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies…” (2 Samuel 7:1). God has been faithful to David, granting him victory in battle and a stable reign over the people. But up to this point in Israel’s history we need to note something – there have been no dynastic rulers. That is, none of the rulers of Israel have passed that rule through generations of their own family. Israel has been led by Moses, Joshua, several very distinctive judges, Samuel, Saul and now David. Whilst only the latter two were crowned as king, the others all exercised ruling functions. But now all of that is about to change.
David thinks of his reign, and the wealth God has given him, and the beautiful palace he has built for himself. Then he thinks of the Ark of the Covenant inside a tent of animal skins, and he realises that something’s wrong: “See now“, he tells Nathan the prophet, “I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent” (2 Samuel 7:2). David’s attitude is a noble one – that he ought to build a magnificent house (i.e. a temple) for the LORD. This is the opposite mindset to the people in the days of Haggai the prophet who were quite ready to live in panelled houses, whilst the house of the LORD lay in ruins (see Haggai 1:2-6). The notion of “we’ll serve the LORD once we’ve sorted ourselves out first” is apparently a very old one. David recognised the danger and sought to make amends, and Nathan commended his desire.
But then God joins the conversation and everything changes. No, David will not build a house for the LORD. We later find out why – David was a man of war (1 Kings 5:3). Consequently it will be David’s son, Solomon (whose name comes from the same root as the Hebrew word shalom = peace) who will build it. David won’t build a house for the LORD. Rather, the LORD will build a house for David. Instead of the reign passing from person to person, God promises “I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom… your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:12, 16) God will establish David’s house by setting up a perpetual kingdom through his descendants. This chapter contains solemn promises that God makes to David. It’s therefore common for people to refer to this as the “Davidic Covenant”. Although the word “covenant” itself doesn’t appear, the promises certainly have echoes of the sort God made with the patriarchs in Genesis.
When the Bible makes predictions about the future, it often provides both a “short-term” and “long-term” fulfilment. There are aspects of these promises to David that are fulfilled in the life of Solomon. He is indeed the one who “shall build a house for my name” because Solomon builds the temple. And yet, it’s also clear that Solomon doesn’t fulfil all that God promises. Solomon eventually turns away from the LORD and he doesn’t reign on the throne forever. But as you read through the rest of the Old Testament, it becomes clear that the people expect a coming ruler from David’s line who will certainly reign forever. Isaiah writes of the child to be born who is “mighty God” and who rules “on the throne of David and over his kingdom” forever (Isaiah 9:6-7). Then when the angel Gabriel visits Mary he tells her that the child to be born to her will be given “the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:32)
David wants to build God a house. Instead, God will build David a house – a dynasty that will reign forever, because through it comes the Lord Jesus Christ.What might we take away from this episode? Here are three things to consider:
Firstly, you cannot out-give God. Whatever great acts of service that David had planned for the LORD, it was nothing by contrast to what God promised David. Our Father in heaven is the very epitome of generosity. His grace is lavished upon us in Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 1:7-8). Whatever we seek to do in service of our Father, it must always be done in reference to the extraordinary grace that He has given us. A thorough knowledge of His generosity frees us up to be more generous ourselves (in all areas of life).
Secondly, even legitimate desires may not always be fulfilled. It was good and right for David to seek to build the temple. God wasn’t angry with him for seeking to do so, nor did He provide a comprehensive explanation for why David wouldn’t be the one to do it (we only find out much later on). God is far more patient than us. We live in a culture of “instant everything” where so much of life drives impatience. But God’s purposes are determined by Him for His own timing. If you’ve recently received a “no” answer to a passionate and persistent prayer, go back to point one – God’s generosity is boundless. But He knows what is best to give and when.
Thirdly, true to His Word, God fulfilled these promises in the person of Jesus Christ. That means that Jesus is the King. Hence the Bible calls Him “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16). When you think of your Saviour, don’t forget His reign. We rightly bow before Him.
Jesus once said “In my Father’s house are many rooms” (John 14:2) – take comfort, my friends, from the reality that He has gone there to prepare a place for you. Our true home is in the Father’s house.
Reverent Joy 