GOD’S PROMISE TO KING DAVID
chapter 7
1. After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him,
2. he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."
3. Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you."
4. But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:
5. "Go and tell my servant David, ’This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?
6. I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.
7. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"’
8. "Now then, tell my servant David, ’This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel.
9. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.
10. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning
11. and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. "’The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you:
12. When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.
13. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.
15. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’"
17. Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
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2 Samuel 7:1-172 Samuel Lesson 7 (2022)
GOD’S PROMISE TO KING DAVID
2 Samuel 7:1-17
Key Verse: 7:13b
Open it:
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How do you think church buildings should reflect our humility and our esteem for God? In what sense can prosperity be both comfortable and uncomfortable?
Explore it:
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Read verses 1-3. What contrast bothered David after he was well established in Jerusalem? (1-2) What was Nathan’s initial reaction to David’s instinct to build a house for the ark of God? (3) Initially, did David’s concern for the house of God sound pious or presumptuous?
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Read verses 4-7. Why is it significant that Nathan heard from God immediately after he had spoken with David? According to the word Nathan received from the Lord, how did God feel that no permanent house of worship had been built? (5-7)
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Read verses 8-11. What did God remind David about how he had achieved his current prosperity? (8-9a) What was God’s intention in making David powerful and prosperous? What promise did God make concerning his people, Israel? (10-11)
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Read verses 12-17. What was God’s covenant with the house of David? (12-13) What relationship did God promise to have with David’s son and his descendants? (14) What does it ultimately mean that God wanted to establish his kingdom through David’s offspring? (Mt. 1:1; Lk. 1:32-33) How did God promise to treat David differently than he had treated Saul? (15-16)
Apply it:
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What is the most important “temple” you can offer to God, and what is one thing you can do to offer it?