Sunday School Lesson
Oct 03, 2004
CREATING A NEW DYNASTY
Bible Background—2 SAMUEL 7
Focal Verses—2 SAMUEL 7:18-29
Devotional Reading—2 SAMUEL 7:10-17
1. We will recall the importance of prayer and thanksgiving to GOD
2. We will recognize that our prayers and relationship with GOD can affect future generations.
“And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16).
In this Scripture passage, David humbly accepts GOD’S wonderful covenant promises to him and praises GOD for HIS PROMISE. GOD promised that through David’s descendants, HE would establish a royal dynasty that would last forever. This promise was fulfilled in JESUS.
By way of background, when the Bible uses the word temple it usually refers to the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem in one of its three phases: Solomon’s temple, Zerubabbel’s temple, or Israel’s third temple.
Solomon’s temple was started in 957 BC (1 Kings 6:1-7) and finished seven years later (1 Kings 6:38). This temple was also called the “house of the LORD” (1 Kings 6:1). Zerubabbel’s temple was Israel’s second temple. It did not have the splendor of Solomon’s temple. Zerubabbel had been appointed governor when the Jews were allowed to return to Canaan from Babylon. The temple he built was completed in 505 BC.
Although Saul possessed military genius, his administration was marred by his spiritual shortsightedness. David understood the significance of Israel’s worship and obedience to GOD. He established a centralized capitol in Jerusalem to replace the old sanctuary at Shiloh. He implemented a judicial system (2 Samuel 14:4-17; 15:1-6) and allowed his administrators to carry out the daily duties of the king. By bringing the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of the abiding presence of YAHWEH (2 Samuel 7:2), to Jerusalem, he made Jerusalem the religious center of his kingdom. Even though he did not build Israel’s temple, he purchased the site for it (2 Samuel 24:18-25).
In contrast to Saul’s administration, which was marked by tension with Samuel, David had the apparent support of Nathan, the prophet (2 Samuel 7:1-3). While David “sat in his house, the LORD [having] given him rest round about from all his enemies” (2 Samuel 7:1), he confided in Nathan regarding his ambitions. Initially, Nathan responded to this by saying, “Go, do all that is in thine heart, for the LORD is with thee” (2 Samuel 7:3b). Later, under divine instructions, Nathan told David of the covenant relationship that the king and his seed were to enjoy with GOD. These instructions are called the Davidic Covenant. This covenant gave the Jews hope after the fall of Jerusalem (ca.587 BC). This hope centered on the coming of David’s great “son” to reign in future glory over Israel (Isaiah 9:6ff; 11:1ff). Today, our Christian faith traces JESUS CHRIST’S kingship back to David (Matthew 2:1; Luke 1:32).
1. DAVID THANKED GOD (2 Samuel 7:18-21)
David had received divine instructions that he would not build a permanent dwelling place for the LORD. Upon hearing the LORD’S WORDS through Nathan, David went into the tent where the Ark of the Covenant was housed and prepared to pray. Verses 18 says, “The went King David in, and sat before the LORD.” Since there are no detailed descriptions of this position for prayer, it probably meant a kneeling position in which the worshipper sat back on his heels with his head erect.
One of the many contributions to Israel that David made was his frequent prayer. The Psalms contain some of David’s most memorable prayers. David’s prayers in 2 Samuel 7 began with thanksgiving. He humbly thanked GOD for the great things GOD had done and had promised to do.
David confessed his unworthiness of all the great things that the LORD had done for him, which HE had increased further by a glorious promise. David had come such a long way since the days when he was a shepherd boy. The word “house” here (Heb. Bayith, bah-yith) used here means family or dynasty (see Genesis 32:10)
GOD had shown sovereign graciousness to David. He had made HIS PLAN known to David. GOD had spoken of the eternal establishment of David’s house and throne. GOD had shown love and deference in the way HE treated HIS servant David. David expressed praise for the grace of the LORD. HE elevated David and treated him as a man of higher rank.
David appealed to the omniscience of GOD, before whom his thankful heart lies open (see Psalm 27:3). He says to GOD that he can add nothing more than HE does not already have. GOD knows HIS servant David better than anyone else.
David ascribed to GOD all the blessings he received. GOD acted according to HIS OWN WORD (cf. 1 Samuel 16:12; 1 Chronicles 17:19). The promises that had just come to David were a sign of GOD’S prearrangement and HIS faithfulness to keep HIS promises.
The LORD acted according to HIS OWN HEART. “According to thine own heart” refers to the love and grace of YAHWEH. HE is gracious, merciful, and full of great kindness and truth (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 103:8).
Our prayers should always begin with thanksgiving and praise. It is good to express our gratitude for GOD’S gracious promises and their fulfillment. In the New Testament, Paul tells us to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Gratitude shows our confident knowledge that GOD is the source of our blessings.
2. DAVID MARVELED AT GOD’S CHOICE (vv.22-24)
David continues his prayer by marveling that GOD has chosen Israel and made a place for it by driving out other nations and their gods. He was also amazed that GOD had redeemed a nation of former slaves and had given them HIS NAME. The word “redeem” is translated from the Hebrew root, padah, which means to sever, ransom, or release. David remembered that GOD had ransomed Israel from Egyptian bondage to make them a special people form HIMSELF (vv.23-24). He understood the significance of the divine intervention into and through human history to redeem Israel. He was amazed that GOD had chosen Israel as HIS PEOPLE, GOD’S choice of Israel was a result of HIS grace and love, not their human accomplishments.
Whereas Israel looked back to all the important redemptive events of the Exodus from Egypt, Christians today can look back to the redemptive event on Calvary. Like David, we discover that our salvation is amazing in its nature. We are saved from the penalty and power of sin purely by GOD’S grace (Romans 6:23; 7:6). I addition, our salvation is amazing in its scope and length. Anyone and everyone can be saved for eternity (John 3:16). Finally, we understand that our salvation is amazing in its results. Because of the salvation provided by CHRIST’S sacrifice for us, by faith in HIM even the most unproductive sinner can choose to live a productive life (John 15:16).
3. DAVID ASKED GOD TO CONFIRM HIS PROMISE (vv.25-28)
In this third part of David’s prayer, he asked GOD to confirm HIS promise of perpetuating the house of David forever. When the LORD told David, “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16), David was faced with the process of actualizing that promise. First, David’s wife was childless (2 Samuel 6:23), showing that the process of perpetuating a family was halted initially. Second, the process continued to be a problem even after David fathered children through other wives. David’s eldest son Amnon fell victim to his own immortality, and his son Absalom fell victim to his own ambition. Even Solomon was on the verge of losing the throne to his stepbrother, Adonijah.
What are we to do when our real-life situations seem to contradict GOD’S promises? Like David, we pray and ask GOD to confirm HIS promises, and we rest our case with HIM.
4. DAVID ASKED GOD TO BLESS HIS HOUSE (v.29)
At the conclusion of this prayer, David asked GOD to bless his house forever. This is a noteworthy request. But what did he actually want? Was he referring to a house made of bricks, stucco, and lumber? No, here the Hebrew word translated as “house” is the word bavith, meaning a palace, temple, family, or dynasty.
It appears that David was exercising a fatherly concern fro his children. Maybe he was aware of the vulnerability of Tamar, the ambitious nature of Absalom, and the licentious tendencies of Amnon; he obviously prayed for their welfare. This example is reminiscent of Job. Job would rise early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all his sons and daughters (Job 1:4-5). It is commendable to invite the pastor to a new house for the purpose of blessing it. But it is more commendable to pray consistently for our own children and other family members.
When we pray for wealth, success, money, cars, prestige, and power, we often are praying selfish prayers. Good parents pray for security, health, and safety for their children. They seek the stability of their family, rather than the acquisition of property, prestige, power, and prosperity. Parents that pray consistently and lead their families in prayer help their children to grow in Christian character, spiritual security, and genuine joyful living.
There is an old adage: “A family that prays together, stays together.” Is there any validity to that adage in an era of disintegrating families?
THINK ABOUT IT!!!!
Spiritually Yours,
Rev. Chris Lowe, Sr. DD