“The LORD Will Make You a House”

Tuesday, July 05, 2022

BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel 7

“Hiram king of Tyre… built David a house. And David knew that the LORD had established him king over Israel…” (2 Samuel 5.11-12)

This gift established David’s prominence and reputation in the region. Gaining respect beyond Israel’s borders was profound, but the writer notes that David regarded this as the LORD’s doing, “for the sake of his people Israel” (2 Samuel 5.12). This awareness of the LORD’s concern for his people kept David from exaggerating his own importance (Deuteronomy 17.20) and prompted further consideration of God’s honor.

“…when [David] lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said… “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” (2 Samuel 7.1-2)

Having considered himself fully established by the LORD, David desired to reciprocate the gift. While the intention was good, it was unnecessary. The LORD did not desire or need to have a house to live in (2 Samuel 7.5-7). As the scriptures say, “The Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands” (Acts 7.48; 17.24). Furthermore, the house David lived in was not the pinnacle of God’s blessings towards him. Instead, the LORD declared, “[I] will make you a house” (2 Samuel 7.11). It quickly becomes evident the promise was greater than a physical location. The LORD would establish David’s lineage and kingdom eternally (7.16), and from that lineage would come someone who would build a house for the name of the LORD (7.13). Some of this would be accomplished through Solomon’s temple project (1 Kings 5.5), but would find ultimate fulfillment in the work of Jesus (Hebrews 1.5, 3.3-6; [John 14.23])

While established in some ways, David’s prominence plugged into the overarching fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham. “I will make your name great” (2 Samuel 7.9; Genesis 12.2); the LORD would give him offspring from his own body (2 Samuel 7.12; Genesis 15.4) and would establish an eternal/everlasting kingdom through this offspring (2 Samuel 7.12-13, 16; Genesis 17.6-7). This consistency pulls the thread of God's promises forward and established a clear trajectory for God’s relationship with his people.

Few chapters are more profound in the bible story than 2 Samuel 7. The house of God would be established through David, but on the LORD's terms (7.9-10), for his name (7.13), according to his chesed (covenant faithfulness & love) (7.15), and in a way that is both sure and eternal (7.16). Moving forward, these promises become the subject of praise and hopeful expectation throughout Jewish history (see Psalm 89 & 132). In fact, this thread is the only means of hope for Israel in the dark days of the prophets (for ex. Jeremiah 23.5-6; Ezekiel 34.23-24; Hosea 3.5).

This matters to us because ultimately, the faithfulness of God is proven by this promise (Psalm 89.2) and is the basis of the gospel of Jesus (Acts 2.30). Our confidence and hope is rooted in the house the LORD made, from the descendent of David, who will reign forever.

"[Jesus] will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1.32-33)

Share