2 Sam. 7
The two preceding chapters have shown us the important changes produced in God's ways toward Israel by the establishment in Zion of David's kingdom. The king brings the ark to Zion, thus associating God's throne with his own government. This is not yet however, as we have seen, a perpetually established state of things as will be the case under Solomon's reign.
That is why we do not find the regular order of worship here. David brings the ark to Jerusalem but not the other furnishings of the tabernacle. He sets up a tent for the ark, but it is not the tent of the wilderness. "They brought in the ark of Jehovah, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had spread for it" (2 Sam. 6:17). The tabernacle itself with the altar was found elsewhere.
In the First Book of Samuel the tabernacle and the ark are found at Shiloh. The ark is taken captive by the Philistines, but when it returns in grace it does not return to its place in Shiloh, to the place where God might be approached through sacrifice.
In the Second Book of Samuel Shiloh disappears, but the tabernacle is not transported to Jerusalem. It is found at Gibeon without any indication of how it got there. One thing is certain: the tabernacle and the altar of sacrifice are at Gibeon when David brings the ark to Mount Zion: "And [David] left there before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, Asaph and his brethren, to do the service before the ark continually, as every day's duty required... and Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of Jehovah in the high place that was at Gibeon, to offer up burnt-offerings to Jehovah on the altar of burnt-offering continually" (1 Chron. 16:37-40). Later, at the time of the plague at Jerusalem when David at the Lord's command built an altar on Mount Moriah and sacrificed there, it says: "The tabernacle of Jehovah, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt-offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon. But David could not go before it to inquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of Jehovah" (1 Chron. 21:29-30). Again, at Gibeon Solomon sacrificed at the beginning of his reign: "And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt-offerings did Solomon offer up upon that altar" (1 Kings 3:4).
All this shows us a state of disorder or of great weakness with regard to the worship of the Lord during David's reign. Shiloh was virtually abandoned from the time of the ruin of the priesthood (Psa. 78:60-61); the Lord's house was not yet built at Jerusalem and worship was, so to speak, divided between the ark at Zion and the altar at Gibeon. The other vessels were still in the tabernacle. They are mentioned in 1 Kings 8:4. Gibeon was a city of the sons of Aaron (Josh. 21:17). We would suppose that, as was the case at Nob (1 Sam. 21:6), the furnishings of the sanctuary were kept guarded there by the priests.
However that may be, the worship of the Lord under David's reign was quite far from what ought to have been. But one thing was sufficient for David—the object of all his desires during his afflictions (Psa. 132:1-8): he had found a resting place for the throne of the Lord of hosts, for the ark of His strength. There where David was established he now had with him the God of Israel, for the "name" (2 Sam. 6:2) represents the person. His resource—precious above all else amid the dispersal of the holy vessels in this time of transition that would be succeeded by his successor's glory—his resource, I repeat, was the presence of God Himself with him and with His people Israel.
This also constitutes the blessing of believers in our present day. The Church is in a state of ruin and utter disorder, but one thing is enough for us: to have the Lord's personal presence in our midst. With such a privilege how can we allow ourselves to be discouraged by the state of things surrounding us? With Him, more so than in David's case, do we not have worship? This presence sufficed to fill the king's heart with joy and thanksgiving.
In 2 Sam. 7 David is dwelling in his house: God's power had given him rest from all his enemies; his kingdom had been proclaimed; the ark was with him. Now in his affection for the Lord he desires to build Him a permanent place of rest. Could the ark still dwell "under curtains" in a temporary dwelling place, when David was living in a house of cedar, solid and well founded in its beauty? He tells Nathan the prophet of his desire. It is the desire of a godly heart, for he wanted to see the glory established in Israel. Nathan approves: "Go, do all that is in thine heart; for Jehovah is with thee" (2 Sam. 7:3).
Though David was piously occupied with God's rest in Israel, neither he nor the prophet knew the time that God had decreed for this. David ought not do what was in his heart; he must depend upon God and wait upon Him. Nathan could not trust in his gift as prophet to direct David. The king, despite his godliness, is mistaken; the prophet with all his light makes an error.
David is a man who really depends upon the Lord, but how often does this dependence fail! He could not even depend upon his affection for the Lord, and he had learned this at the "breach of Uzzah." He must inquire of God, nor was Nathan exempt from this obligation any more than the king. Each of us individually must depend upon God alone; even the most godly of men cannot replace Him. Lot walks with Abraham for a time. Alas! look at his end! Abraham walked with God. Let us consider the outcome of his conduct and imitate his faith. Certainly we can listen to counsel, ask counsel of those who are more advanced than we in understanding, in wisdom, and in true godliness; this is what humble hearts which have no confidence in themselves do. But we must depend upon God alone for our decisions and for our walk.
The Lord has compassion on His servant. He sees the desire in David's heart to honor Him, and He reveals His most secret thoughts to him. "It came to pass that night that the word of Jehovah came to Nathan, saying, Go and say to My servant, to David, Thus saith Jehovah: Wilt thou build Me a house for Me to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but I went about in a tent and in a tabernacle" (2 Sam. 7:4-6). He says in effect, Never have I rested up to now; I have always wandered with My people. As long as the final order has not yet been established I have not said a word about building a place of rest for Me.
Why so? Because God still did not feel He had found His ultimate rest. He continued to work. He sacrificed His own rest in favor of His people's and His king's rest. He was still actively working on their behalf in order to establish them in the mountain of His inheritance, to plant them, as it is said in the song of Moses: "Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Thine inheritance" (Ex. 15:17). God had not yet finished this work. He wanted to finish it and took the place of a worker on behalf of this miserable people, entirely setting aside His own interests, so to speak, so that He might establish His people in their ultimate rest that nothing will trouble forever. The word "forever" characterizes all the blessings of this chapter (2 Sam. 7:13, 16, 24, 26, 29). Such is God's thought concerning His own.
We have the Lord who is working for our blessing too. Has He not said: "My Father worketh hitherto and I work" (John 5:17)? He has not yet ceased working by His Spirit and He will continue to work until the moment when "He shall see of the fruit of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied" (Isa. 53:11). Then God will be able to rest and give rest to His people and to His King whom He will establish as Head over all things; then He Himself will rest. "The king of Israel, Jehovah, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not; Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. Jehovah thy God in thy midst, a Mighty One that will save: He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love; He will exult over thee with singing!" (Zeph. 3:15-17). This is God's rest. When He will have brought all the objects of His love into rest, when He will have them round about Himself in glory without any more change to come, without the possibility of any cloud passing over them, then God's rest will be ushered in.
Us wilt Thou contemplate—
Pearl of Thy heart's deep longing,
Travail of Thy lone soul,
Fruit of Thy wondrous cross!
Yes, He will rest in His love. Creation's rest lasted for one day and was disturbed;
The First Book of Kings presents this rest in type in Solomon's glorious reign, a redemption's rest will never be disturbed and will last "forever."feeble picture of Christ's reign. Then righteousness and peace will reign over the earth after having "kissed each other" at the cross (Psa. 85:10). And that will not be the end. A new heaven and a new earth will succeed the first heaven and earth and righteousness will dwell there after its reign shall have ended (2 Peter 3:13).
Before these things take place, here in 2 Samuel we find a period of transition when God is at work to bring about the full accomplishment of His counsels.
God tells David what He had done for him: "I took thee from the pasture-grounds from following the sheep, to be prince over My people, over Israel" (2 Sam. 7:8). This was his origin. "I have been with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are on the earth" (2 Sam. 7:9). God in grace had sustained him from his first step to his last step; He had been with him throughout and had wanted to make him powerful and honored.
"And I will appoint a place for My people, for Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and be disturbed no more; neither shall the sons of wickedness afflict them any more, as formerly, and since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel" (2 Sam. 7:10-11). What grace, what tender pity for this people! With delight He calls them His people. And as for David: "I have given thee rest from all thine enemies," but I want to do yet more for you. You desire to build a house for me? I am the One who is placing Myself at your service in order to establish one for you—not a house of cedar, but: "Jehovah telleth thee that Jehovah will make thee a house. When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. It is he who shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Sam. 7:11-13). Is this only in the person of Solomon? No, God directs David's attention to Christ, the Seed of David. What thoughts must have filled the king's heart in the presence of such an honor conferred on his house! The promises of grace extend to the eternal kingdom: "I will be to Him for father, and He shall be to Me for son." The son of David will be the Son of God! (Heb. 1:5). What a prospect for David's heart! A river of grace flows to him and shall flow out from him!
After this God speaks to David of Solomon, no longer as a type of Christ, but as a fallible man to whom, as such, responsibility would be confided. He can fall under God's discipline and chastening. "If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the sons of men" (2 Sam. 7:14). But his lineage will be established forever: "My mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before thee. And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made firm forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever" (2 Sam. 7:15-16).
Did God lie? David's lineage seems to have come to an end. The feeble vestiges of his throne seem to have fallen into the dust with Zerubbabel who does not merit the title of king, yet even now Zechariah's voice is heard crying out to Zerubbabel (Zech. 4:6-10). "Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion; shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King cometh to thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass" (Zech. 9:9). There is thus no interregnum.... But the Messiah, the true King, is rejected by His people! No doubt the throne is now lost and God's promise to David has not been realized. Where is the King? Where is the Successor of David's seed? The throne exists. Before God re-establishes it on earth it will be established in heaven. The Son of David has gone "to receive for Himself a kingdom and return" (Luke 19:12). He is acknowledged as head of the heavenly part of His kingdom before the earthly part in its turn submits to Him. "The king is dead, long live the king!" men say when they acclaim the successor of a deceased sovereign. But Christ has died once—Christ, His own successor, lives eternally!
From the time of Christ's cross and His rejection by the Jews we have a parenthesis continuing from the formation of the Church to the moment when the Lord will rapture her and introduce her into glory with Himself. Only then will He claim His rights to the earthly part of His kingdom. All the "sure mercies of David" will be realized in Him whose kingdom will be established forever.
I love to give this chapter the title "Communion." God is confiding all His thoughts to David, not only about himself and his people but also about Christ. David "went in, and sat before Jehovah" (2 Sam. 7:18) and in complete freedom, complete confidence, he now speaks to the Lord of hosts who is seated between the cherubim, telling Him his thoughts, thoughts of deepest appreciation for all that God had done for him. He rejoices with God in what God is purposing to accomplish for him, for his people, and for his house.
The first thing worth noting is the king's humility. He has no thought of pride. Communion with the Lord, instead of exalting man, lowers him in his own estimation. "Who am I, Lord Jehovah, and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto?" (2 Sam. 7:18). David is well aware of his origin and glories in it because this origin exalts the God who took him from the sheepcote!
Can not we say the same thing? We have been drawn out from such depths to have part in that glorious era about to open up. "Who am I, Lord Jehovah, and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto? and this hath been a small thing in Thy sight, Lord Jehovah; but Thou hast spoken also of Thy servant's house for a great while to come" (2 Sam. 7:18-19). Thou hast shown me Thy greatness by giving me a great name though I am a poor, worthless creature. Oh, it is not I, it is Thou, whose greatness is so magnificent! "Is this the manner of man, Lord Jehovah?" (2 Sam. 7:19). "And what can David say more to Thee?" He stands before God, giving free vent to the emotions filling his heart, but knowing that his words will always be too feeble to be expressed. Then he blesses the Lord for what He has done for His people (2 Sam. 7:23-24).
In 2 Sam. 7:25 we come to the prayer that ends this chapter. Here we find the character of a true prayer of communion: Do as Thou hast desired to do and as Thou hast said. "Let the house of Thy servant David be established before Thee. For Thou... hast revealed to Thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house... Let it please Thee to bless the house of Thy servant... for Thou, Lord Jehovah, hast spoken it" (2 Sam. 7:26-29).
Let us take this attitude as a model for ourselves. Having received divine communications in our hearts, let us sincerely request of God the things that He Himself has promised us. He loves to give us the things we ask of Him, to grant them according to our thoughts and our desires, for since these are the fruit of communion with Him they are His own thoughts and desires.