2Sa 7:13-29 | TNotes

7:14 ^a I will be his father, and he will be my son: Kings in David’s line would enjoy a special covenant relationship with God, as the whole nation of Israel did (cp. Exod 6:7 ^b; Lev 26:12 ^c). Jesus later became the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy (see Heb 1:5 ^d). Paul quotes this phrase in 2 Cor 6:18 ^e and applies it to all believers.

• If he sins, I will correct and discipline him: God would steer David’s offspring, the future kings of Israel, back onto the right track whenever they sinned. Cp. the experience of Jesus, who never sinned, yet endured God’s discipline (see Heb 4:15 ^f; 5:8 ^g; 12:1-11 ^h).
7:16 ⁱ for all time ... forever: God’s promises do not negate human responsibility and accountability (7:14 ^j). Wrongdoing requires a just response from God. However, no wayward son of David could move God to withdraw his promise to preserve David’s dynasty. Although the dynasty disappeared for hundreds of years, David’s house and kingdom were renewed in Jesus Christ, the sinless descendant of David who reigns forever.
Summary for 2Sam 7:18-29: 7:18-29 ^k David responded prayerfully to God’s promise of a dynasty, repeatedly acknowledging God’s true kingship as Sovereign Lord. 7:18 ^l David’s question, “Who am I?” was an expression of genuine humility (cp. Exod 4:11 ^m).
7:19 ⁿ God’s plan to give David a lasting dynasty stretched well beyond his lifetime. The promise is fulfilled forever in the eternal reign of Christ (Rev 11:15 ^o).
7:20 ^p You know what your servant is really like: God made his promises to David with full knowledge that David had both strengths and weaknesses.
7:21 ^q God’s will, rather than David’s personal ambition, enabled David to accomplish great things.

• you have done: David spoke of what God promised to do for his heirs over the generations as an already-accomplished fact, showing his unshakable belief in God’s faithfulness.
7:22 ^r There is no one like you: David affirms God’s uniqueness (see also 22:32 ^s; Deut 4:39 ^t; 1 Sam 2:2 ^u).
7:23 ^v Israel was set apart from every other nation by the uniqueness of its God and by the relationship the people had with him.
7:24 ^w David praised God for his goodness in redeeming and establishing the nation of Israel (7:23-24 ^x), not just David and his royal line (7:18-21 ^y). His prayer is corporate rather than just personal.
7:25 ^z Confirm it: David was not asking God for a sign (as Gideon had done, Judg 6:17 ^aa). Rather, David was saying, “God, may it be so.”
7:26 ^ab Although God had promised to make David’s name great (7:9 ^ac), David was concerned that God’s name be honored. David knew that if God were not the focus of the people’s praise, then David’s dynasty would count for nothing.