God corrects David and Nathan's presumption that David should build a temple. God reminds them that he has dwelt with Israel in a portable tabernacle since delivering them from Egypt, not a permanent house. God promises David that he will make David's house and kingdom lasting, establishing an eternal throne. After David's death, God will raise up one of David's offspring to build a temple for God's name and establish a kingdom forever under God's oversight as father. This promises looks ultimately to Jesus, who fulfills the Davidic covenant by establishing an eternal kingdom through his gospel.

1. 2 Samuel 7:4–16
An Eternal Kingdom

2. Context
Today’s text marks a high point in Old Testament history.
After generations of living in the promised land under
the leadership of judges, Israel had begged God to give
them a king, so they could be like the mighty nations
around them (1 Samuel 8:5–7).

3. Context
God reluctantly pointed Israel to Saul, a man who
appeared quite kingly because of his impressive stature
and accomplishments on the battlefield (11:14, 15), but
Saul willfully disobeyed God.
Rejecting Saul as king, God sent the prophet Samuel to
the household of Jesse, where Samuel anointed David,
the youngest of Jesse’s sons, as king (16:1, 11–13).

4. Context
David rose to prominence soon after he defeated Goliath
and won other triumphs on the battlefield. Saul, still on
Israel’s throne, thought that he had a dangerous rival in
David (1 Samuel 18:7–9), so Saul spent the latter years of
his life pursuing David off and on to kill him.

5. Context
David hid himself successfully and never attempted to
harm Saul directly in retaliation (24:1–7; 26:7–12). Saul
was mortally wounded in battle and took his own life
(31:4).
With Saul dead, the tribe of Judah acclaimed David as
king (2 Samuel 2:4). He led Judah’s armies in battle
against the Jebusites (5:6, 7), conquered their city Jebus,
renamed it Jerusalem, and made it his capital.

6. Context
Soon all Israel affirmed David as king. In the early years
of his reign, David enjoyed economic and military
success. He built himself a palace in Jerusalem (5:11). To
that city he brought the tabernacle, Israel’s portable
center of worship (6:17).

7. Context
As 2 Samuel 7 begins, David had surveyed the situation
in Jerusalem and announced that it was unfitting for him
to live in a palace while God was worshipped in a tent.
At first, the prophet Nathan approved David’s plan—
presumably to build a temple to replace the tabernacle.
At this point our text begins and the date is about 1002
BC (1 Chronicles 17:3–14).

8. Context
While David sought to build a temple for God, God
instead promised to build a dynasty for him that would
be ruled over by His Son, the eternal King.
The advent of Christ was fulfillment of that promise and
just recognition of the Messianic prophecy.

9. Context
As we study the promise and fulfillment of that
covenant, we too should take courage that God still
remains in control of history and will fulfill all that has
been promised.

10. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
But that same night the word of the Lord came
to Nathan: 5Go and tell my servant David: Thus
says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a
house to live in? 6I 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 and a tabernacle.

11. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
7Wherever
I have moved about among all the
people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with
any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I
commanded to shepherd my people Israel,
saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of
cedar?’

12. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
King David felt that it was unsuitable for him to be
dwelling in his fine home while the ark of God was kept
inside tent curtains. So he notified Nathan the prophet of
his intention to build a house for the ark.
Nathan at first approved, apparently because he acted
without consulting the Lord.

13. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
God is about to speak against David’s plans. God does
not communicate directly to David, but sends the
message through the prophet Nathan.
This prophet also needed correction since he has
embraced David’s wrong thinking (2 Samuel 7:3).

14. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
God’s address of David as my servant brings to mind the
fact that David, unlike Saul, has sought to obey God even
when doing so seemed to go against David’s own
interests.
David, God’s servant, presumes that he will do God a
favor.

15. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
God recounts a bit of history for David. The time frame
for bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to
this day exceeds 400 years.
It was God himself who chose the tabernacle as His
symbolic dwelling place after that exodus.

16. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
Although a house of sorts came to be in Shiloh (1 Samuel
1), God has never authorized a fixed place such as David
wants to construct to replace the tabernacle.
The tabernacle or tent, with its design specified in
Exodus, was to accommodate Israel’s journey to the
Promised Land by being portable.

17. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
While the design included many lavish elements, a tent
structure by nature is modest compared with a fixed
building.
The tabernacle’s relatively modest, portable design
expressed something of God’s larger purpose: God’s rule
even unto David’s day is to be manifested not in material
grandeur but in the lives of the lowly who come to Him
in their need.

18. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
There is no indication in the text that David prayed about
his decision to build a temple before announcing it to
Nathan (2 Samuel 7:1). Neither is there any indication
that that prophet prayed about it before responding to
David with his own agreement (7:2).
God corrects their presumption.

19. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
Verses 5–7 are framed by two questions asked by the
Lord, both of which pertain to building a temple for Him.
The first question, asking if David was the one who
should build the temple, expected a negative answer (1
Chr. 17:4).
According to 1 Chr. 22:8; 28:3, David was not chosen by
God to build the temple because he was a warrior who
had shed much blood.

20. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
The second question, asking if the Lord had ever
commanded any leader to build a temple for His ark, also
expected a negative answer.
So, contrary to Nathan’s and David’s intentions and
assumptions, God did not want a house at that time and
did not want David to build one.

21. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
Using repetitive expressions, God emphasizes that He
has never even hinted that Israel replace the tabernacle
with a grand house, as construction with cedar suggests
(2 Samuel 5:11).
God’s faithfulness to His people has far exceeded their
obedience to Him, yet God has not called on anyone to
respond by building a temple.

22. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
The word shepherd is a metaphor of leadership and was
used throughout the ancient Middle East to refer to
national leaders (Ezek. 34:2) or those charged by God to
ensure the well-being of the people as shepherds do for
sheep.

23. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
David has famously risen to be king above those leaders,
but even David is not an exception in this regard.
The Great Shepherd is, of course, God (Ps. 23).

24. 2 Samuel 7:4-7
God’s corrective instruction to first Nathan and then to
David should give us pause when we think we hear God
giving us a mission.

25. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
8Now
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 to be prince over my people
Israel; 9and 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.

26. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
10And
I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will
plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and
be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no
more, as formerly, 11from 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.

27. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
12When
your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your
ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who
shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his
kingdom. 13He shall build a house for my name, and I will
establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

28. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
14I
will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.
When he commits iniquity, I will punish him with a rod
such as mortals use, with blows inflicted by human
beings. 15But I will not take* my steadfast love from him,
as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.

29. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
16Your
house and your kingdom shall be made sure for
ever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

30. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
These verses state the promises the Lord gave to David.
Verses 8–11a give the promises to be realized during
David’s lifetime.
Verses 11b–16 state the promises that would be fulfilled
after David’s death.

31. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
During David’s lifetime, the Lord gave David “a great
name” (Gen. 12:2), appointed a place for Israel; and gave
David “rest” from all his enemies.
After David’s death, the Lord gave David a son to sit on
his national throne, whom the Lord would oversee as a
father with necessary chastening, discipline, and mercy
(Solomon) and a Son who would rule a kingdom that will
be established forever (Messiah).

32. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
Now God’s message takes a positive turn as He reminds
David of that man’s own history.
That history involves God’s taking him from lowliness and
insignificance to his present power.

33. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
The story of David’s anointing underlines his
insignificance (1 Samuel 16:1–13).
God had sent the prophet Samuel to an obscure family in
the small village of Bethlehem. There he reviewed each
of the sons of Jesse who were present. When none was
the one God had chosen, Samuel asked if there was
another. Jesse had not bothered to bring his youngest
son to Samuel, leaving him to care for the sheep by
himself. Apparently, no one thought that David mattered.

34. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
But God had chosen David, just as God often chooses the
seemingly insignificant throughout biblical history.
We think of the aged Abraham, the reluctant Moses, or
the timid Gideon—all “heroes of the Bible” who were
distinguished by their weaknesses, not their capabilities.

35. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
The nation Israel itself was just so: a small, insignificant
nation among its neighbors, but chosen by God to bring
blessing to the nations (Genesis 12:1–3).

36. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
Now that David has attained the throne, he still is not in
a position to do a favor for God, even as a gesture of
thanks.
God remains in control of His gifts and His plans. God will
show again that His “strength is made perfect in
weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

37. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
Whatever greatness David has, God has given. It is in this
light that God announces that David will not give to God,
but God will continue to give to David.
David will not have the chance to think of himself as a
great builder (Daniel 4:28–30).

38. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
We should note well that God’s promise is given not
because David proves worthy where others do not.
Moving beyond 2 Samuel 7, we see David’s deep failures:
favoritism within his family, sexual immorality, even
murder.

39. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
The promise is to David by God’s grace. It is an unmerited
gift, given to David despite that man’s unworthiness.
It is given to Israel despite Israel’s unworthiness.
Ultimately it is given to all humanity, despite all our
unworthiness.

40. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
David eventually ends up suffering as a result of his
failure to remain faithful (2 Samuel 24). A generation
later, Solomon will be told that his own idolatry will
mean the loss of Israel’s unity (1 Kings 11:9–11).
Finally, Israel will be taken captive—first the northern
tribes in 722 BC, then the southern tribes in 586 BC—
because of generations of unfaithfulness (2 Kings 15:29;
25:8–11).

41. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
But subsequent reminders of God’s promise will show
that Israel’s unfaithfulness does not cancel the promise.
God promises to restore the captive people, granting
them the peace that He has long promised, even though
they prove to be unfaithful generation after generation
(Deuteronomy 30:1–5).

42. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
Ultimately this promise is fulfilled not in any political
event but through the gospel of Jesus.
By this means God gives lasting peace, unshakable
security, and genuine prosperity to His people, wherever
they are in God’s world.

43. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
The words of verse 14 are directly related to Jesus the
Messiah in Heb. 1:5.
In Semitic thought, since the son had the full character of
the father, the future seed of David would have the same
essence of God.
That Jesus Christ was God incarnate is the central theme
of John’s gospel.

44. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
As a human father disciplines his sons, so the Lord would
discipline the seed, if he committed iniquity. This has
reference to the intermediary seed until Messiah’s arrival
(any king of David’s line from Solomon on)

45. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
However, the ultimate Seed of David will not be a sinner
like David and his descendants were, as recorded in
Samuel and Kings (2 Cor. 5:21).
Significantly, Chronicles, focusing more directly on the
Messiah, does not include this statement in its record of
Nathan’s words (1 Chr. 17:13).

46. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
Luke 1:32b, 33 indicates that these 3 terms in verse 16
(house, kingdom, throne) are fulfilled in Jesus,
“… and the Lord God will give Him 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.”
forever.

47. 2 Samuel 7:8-16
This word conveys the idea of an indeterminately long
time or into eternity future. It does not mean that there
cannot be interruptions, but rather that the outcome is
guaranteed.
Christ’s Davidic reign will conclude human history.

48. Conclusions
The covenant with David is the fourth of the theocratic
covenants (pertaining to the rule of God).
In this covenant David is promised three things: (1) a
land forever (v. 10); (2) an unending dynasty (vv. 11, 16);
and (3) an everlasting kingdom (vv. 13, 16).

49. Conclusions
The birth of Solomon, David’s son who is to succeed him,
is predicted (v. 12). His particular role is to establish the
throne of the Davidic kingdom forever (v. 13).

50. Conclusions
His throne continues, though his seed is cursed in the
person of Jeconiah (Coniah), who was the king under
whom the nation was carried captive to Babylon.
Jeremiah prophesies that no one whose genealogical
descent could be traced back to David through Jeconiah
and Solomon would ever sit on David’s throne (Jer.
22:24–30).

51. Conclusions
Joseph, the legal, but not physical, father of Jesus traces
his lineage to David through Jeconiah (Matt. 1:1–17).
David, however, had another son, Nathan.
His line was not cursed. Mary, the physical mother of
Jesus, traces her lineage back to David through Nathan
(Luke 3:23–38).

52. Conclusions
Notice the care and the extent to which God goes to
keep His word and to preserve its truthfulness.
The virgin birth was absolutely essential not only to
assure the sinless character of Jesus but also to fulfill the
Davidic covenant.

53. Conclusions
Jesus receives His “blood right” to David’s throne
through His earthly mother, Mary, and His “legal right” to
David’s throne through His adoptive earthly father,
Joseph.
The virgin birth guarantees that one of David’s line will sit
on David’s throne and rule forever, while at the same
time preserving intact the curse and restriction on the
line of descent through Jeconiah.

54. Conclusions
David wanted to build a temple for God, but Solomon
was given the privilege. Undoubtedly the character of
David’s life work for God was fighting, not building.
But even by this fighting he was clearing the way for
another to lay the foundation of that house of worship
which his heart had so fondly desired to build.

55. Conclusions
After the warring was over, Solomon erected the temple
from materials which David had prepared.
David represents Christ in His suffering and victory over
the great enemy. Solomon represents Christ in His glory
after the suffering and the conflicts are finished.
The church, which is the true temple of God, having
Christ for its chief cornerstone, will be manifested in the
last day.

56. Conclusions
Now in the church’s days of suffering and conflict the
materials are being prepared for this glorious building for
God.