2 Samuel 7:1-16: a reflection

1When the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but God’s ark dwells within curtains.” 3Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.” 4That same night, the LORD’s word came to Nathan, saying, 5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘The LORD says, “Should you build me a house for me to dwell in? 6For I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought the children of Israel up out of Egypt, even to this day, but have moved around in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, did I say a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’ 8Now therefore tell my servant David this: ‘The LORD of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people, over Israel. 9I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are on the earth. 10I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be moved no more. The children of wickedness will not afflict them any more, as at the first, 11and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD tells you that the LORD will make you a house. 12When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men; 15but my loving kindness will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you. 16Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’”

Settled at last in his palace, David is troubled by a thought: he lives in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent. He wants to build God a house, a temple. It is a generous, God-honoring desire, and the prophet Nathan at first encourages him. But that night God speaks, and the whole thing is turned around. God does not need David to build him a house; instead, God announces, I will make you a house, a dynasty, a lasting line.

What follows is one of the great promises of Scripture. God recounts how he took David from following sheep and made him a ruler, and then he pledges an everlasting future: your offspring will build my house, and I will establish his kingdom forever; your throne will be established for all time. David set out to give God something, and God responded by giving David far more than he could offer. This covenant reaches its fulfillment in Christ, the son of David whose kingdom truly has no end.

There is a beautiful pattern here of grace. David wanted to build God a house, but God, in effect, said, let me build you one. Our attempts to give to God are always answered by a greater giving from him. Whatever you set out to offer God, your service, your devotion, your gifts, know that he is not in your debt; he outgives you at every turn. Come to God ready to give, and be prepared to receive far more than you offered, from the God who delights to build a house for those who would build one for him.

Lord, David wanted to build you a house, and you answered by promising to build him one, giving far more than he could offer. Thank you that you always outgive us. Whatever I set out to give you, my service, my devotion, my gifts, remind me that you are never in my debt. Receive what I bring, and let me marvel that you give me far more in return, fulfilled in Christ, the son of David whose throne endures forever. Amen.