Sunday School Lesson: God’s Promise, 2 Samuel 7:4-17, December 8, 2024.
Key Text: Thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee. Thy throne shall be established for ever. (2 Samuel 7:16).
The life and times of David are important because he is the ancestor of Jesus. Even though a long civil war weakened Judah, King Daivd gradually gained in strength through God’s favor. After much bloodletting, David finally is made king over all Israel and moves his capital to Jerusalem after he defeats the Jebusites. David tried to bring the ark to Jerusalem on a cart, although God had given implicit directions for moving it: The Kohathites of the tribe of Levi were to carry the ark on their shoulder (Numbers 3 – 7). After the rebuke by Michal, David decided to bring up the ark in the right way. David wished to build God a permanent house. At first , the prophet Nathan, bade him to “do all that was in his heart,” but subsequently, God gave him an answer to the contrary. So, Nathan finally commanded: “Thou shall not build God a house” because David was a bloody man. But Jehovah will build you a house; a throne, a dynasty, and a kingdom, which will culminate in the Messiah, which will be permanent and perpetual v 13. The Lord’s covenant/promise was that He would raise up one of David’s descendants to rule in his place after his death. God would establish the offspring of David on the throne of Israel. The faithful love of God would continue with David’s descendants in spite of their sinfulness and disobedience. David had to take God at His word by faith.
Overwhelmed by the revelation God gave, David responded with his own that was marked by his humility and courageous faith. With a sense of profound amazement, he observed how far the Lord had brought him from his upbringing to a kingship that would last forever v 18. God’s declaration to establish David and his descendants on an eternal throne was a revelation for mankind. Because David saw himself as a servant v 19, he was able to see beyond his own life and understood that God sought to use him for the good of later generations. David’s attitude about the gracious activity of God on his behalf was impactful to his ability to express thankfulness to God and the people of God, even in light of their shortcomings and propensity for sin. This realization came to David through the word of God and as an outworking of the purpose of God. Even today, the great things God wants to do for us are revealed in Scripture as an expression of His will. Old Testament prophets based the kingdom on this promise (Jer. 23:5). Matthew 1:1 opens with this promise. This promise was the angel Gabriel’s message to Mary (Luke 1:32-33). Peter begins with this promise on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:25-31). Paul begins with this promise to the Church (Romans 1:3). The New Testament closes with this promise (Rev. 22:16). AMEN!
Leave a Reply