2Sa 7:11-17 | KingComments | STEP | The LORD sends Nathan to David, whom He calls “My servant”. He also gives Nathan the words in his mouth that he must speak. Nathan must go and say words to David on behalf of “the LORD of hosts”. This impressive name of God shows Him as God over everything. In that majesty He addresses the word to David. First the LORD speaks of David personally. He speaks of all the benefits He has given him, and how He has been with him, and what He will do with him and for him. He reminds David of what He did with him. He has raised him from the humble position of a shepherd of cattle to leader over His people. He has always been with David in his way to the throne. He has also eradicated all his enemies from before him. He also made him a great name, comparable to other great names. The LORD speaks in about a situation for His people that is yet to come. Yet it does not say that God will do it, but that He did it. It stands in the perfect tense, because it is already so for God, even if it is not yet so far in current affairs. There is rest during the reign of David and also in the first years of the reign of Solomon. The LORD promises David that He will build a house for him. He officially announces this to him here. The house which the LORD will build for David is his descendancy, his family. He is the head of his house here (cf. ). In David we have a picture of the Lord Jesus and in David’s house a picture of the church of the living God. Here we do not find the argument that David may not build because he has blood on his hands ( ), but that the LORD only wants rest when His people have it. David has to learn that that time is not yet there. David may not build a house for the LORD because the LORD will build a house for him. God reveals Himself here as the Giver.

‏ 2 Samuel 7:11-17

The Work of the LORD for David

The LORD sends Nathan to David, whom He calls “My servant”. He also gives Nathan the words in his mouth that he must speak. Nathan must go and say words to David on behalf of “the LORD of hosts”. This impressive name of God shows Him as God over everything. In that majesty He addresses the word to David.

First the LORD speaks of David personally. He speaks of all the benefits He has given him, and how He has been with him, and what He will do with him and for him. He reminds David of what He did with him. He has raised him from the humble position of a shepherd of cattle to leader over His people. He has always been with David in his way to the throne. He has also eradicated all his enemies from before him. He also made him a great name, comparable to other great names.

The LORD speaks in 2Sam 7:10-11 about a situation for His people that is yet to come. Yet it does not say that God will do it, but that He did it. It stands in the perfect tense, because it is already so for God, even if it is not yet so far in current affairs. There is rest during the reign of David and also in the first years of the reign of Solomon.

The LORD promises David that He will build a house for him. He officially announces this to him here. The house which the LORD will build for David is his descendancy, his family. He is the head of his house here (cf. Zec 12:8). In David we have a picture of the Lord Jesus and in David’s house a picture of the church of the living God.

Here we do not find the argument that David may not build because he has blood on his hands (1Chr 28:3), but that the LORD only wants rest when His people have it. David has to learn that that time is not yet there. David may not build a house for the LORD because the LORD will build a house for him. God reveals Himself here as the Giver.

The Son of David

After His words to and about David personally the LORD speaks about his successor. When David is asleep with his fathers, the LORD will take care of a successor. This shall be one who comes forth out of his body, his son. The LORD will confirm the kingship of that son.

Except that the son shall take the place of David on the throne, the son also shall build the house desired by David for the LORD. To the building of His house by this son the LORD immediately connects a new confirmation of the kingship of the son of David. The LORD even says here that He will “establish” this kingdom “forever”.

The word ‘forever’ appears seven times in this chapter. It is not about temporary things. What is unfolded in this chapter is in connection with the eternal thoughts of God. The favor David receives is greater than what God has done for Moses, or for Joshua, or for any of the judges He called to pasture His people. David’s government is the first to be hereditary. It is a government that will be fully fulfilled when Christ exercises His kingship ‘forever’. In the first place, forever looks at the millennial kingdom of peace, but then also at the eternal state thereafter.

The LORD connects a third remarkable thing – after the building of His house and the establishment of an eternal kingdom – to the son of David. He adopts David’s son as His own son and says that He will be a Father to him. As soon as Solomon is born David gives him a name, but immediately the LORD speaks about who Solomon is for him (2Sam 12:24-25). Solomon is a picture of the true Son of David, Who is also the Son of God, in Whom God has found His pleasure.

At the same time it becomes clear that under Solomon the full counsel of God in relation to Christ is not fulfilled. Solomon is a picture of Christ, and his government points to the government of Christ, but Solomon himself is a weak and fallible human being. This is evident from his life. He has finally failed in his responsibility as king. In view of this responsibility, the LORD speaks here of “commits iniquity” and “correct him”, something that cannot possibly be said of the Lord Jesus.

But the LORD promises his constant mercy. He points to Saul and reminds David how He “removed” Saul “from before you”. The remembrance of Saul and how the LORD had to deal with him, is a serious warning. The LORD’s addition that the house and kingship of David “shall endure before Me forever”, must fill David with the greatest gratitude because of the enormous contrast with the LORD’s dealings with Saul.

Nathan has passed on the message of the LORD and what he has seen word for word to David. How must David, during the speaking of Nathan, have been increasingly impressed by the great grace that is being shown to him. The climax is the comparison with Saul. Surely he is not better in himself than Saul, is he? As far as he is concerned, it can only be God’s electing grace. Grateful and overwhelmed by that grace, David utters the impressive prayer of thanks that now follows.