Weekly Meditations: Samuel

2 Samuel 7

Main Themes 

This chapter lies at the heart of the Samuel scroll and much of the Old Testament. The Davidic covenant is established in this chapter and David’s response is captured along with it. The main theme of this chapter is covenant because of the covenant God makes with David in this chapter. The covenant is quite simple but looms large over the biblical narrative. David wants to build a house for God because he is living in such a luxurious palace that he believes God should at least have the same dwelling place if not better. But a better dwelling place is not what God had in mind. Instead, God wants to build a name and kingdom for David. The covenant promise is that a descendant from David will always reign on the throne. This covenant is also Messianic because Jesus would eventually come from the bloodline of David but he would not overtake a throne in Jerusalem, rather he would take up the throne in heaven. 

This was the hope for all Israel at the time Jesus was born. Now, they thought, God would fulfill his promise to David and the dynasty would continue and Jesus would reign from Jerusalem and drive out Rome. That was not God’s plan at that time either. Jesus would not be a conquering war king as David was but a humble servant who would die and rise from the dead to take up his throne in heaven where all authority was given to him. 

Application

The application from this chapter may seem hidden but there is significance for us even here. David wanted to build a dwelling place for God, his intentions were pure and honest, and maybe partly out of guilt. But it was not in God’s plan for David to build the temple. God wanted to bless David by establishing his house (lineage). Sometimes we can get so caught up in doing good for God’s kingdom that we don’t stop to think about what God wants from us or how he wants to bless us. We become too focused on doing things for God that we don’t consult with God about what to do or ask for His will. David provides a powerful lesson, ask for God’s will and watch how He works.