NL 307: God’s Promise to David

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Initial Thoughts

  • Big jump from last week’s birth and dedication of Samuel to David and Nathan.

  • Only appearance of David in the narrative lectionary this year. Next week we move on to Elijah and the widow.

  • David has just finished dancing (somewhat naked) before the Ark as it was brought to Jerusalem. Ends with the statement that Michal, Saul’s daughter will not bear any children thus ending the line of Saul.

Bible Study

  • First mention of Nathan the prophet, the seeming successor of Samuel

  • David creates a problem that doesn’t exist - “we should build God a temple”, why? Temples quickly become their own idols. Think of how many of our church building have become idols

    • Knowing the shifting nature of life and ministry - perhaps this is why God is content living in a tent.

    • David’s initiative does not appear to be faith driven or ministry driven - what is his motivation? “Temple building is undoubtedly a mixed act of genuine piety and self-serving legitimation.” Brueggemann, Interpretation: First and Second Samuel

  • Building

    • Cedar house- stone building with Cedar paneling (very expensive, imported from Lebanon, like the Redwood paneling in the Newport Mansions).

      • Contrasted with the “curtains” which denote that God is still in a tent

    • “...the King was settled in his house:”- Does God ever settle?- perhaps the rest of the story pinges on this first verse. Humans settle, but God doesn’t settle.

    • David’s reflection on the homelessness of God comes from a good place, but he comes to the wrong conclusion.

    • Confines God who cannot be confined (not by a building or a name)

    • Limits God to one place

    • Patricia Tull “It will not be David who establishes God, but God who establishes David”

      • “The royal apparatus is not able to make Yahweh its patron.” Brueggemann

      • God is the one who will legitimate David’s kingdom, not the other way around. God is not to be used by Kings. Instead of what David “will do for God”, God is the one who will protect Israel, make David’s name great, appoint a place, and give David rest (v. 9-11)

  • The House - Double meaning

    • The House = David’s lineage and monarchy

    • The House = The Temple in which God will indwell

    • “Here, the argument God makes is that it is an act of presumption for a mere mortal to build a temple for the unhoused God of Israelite history. But this line of reasoning actually enhances the theological importance of Solomon’s temple, for it suggests that God Himself will build a house when good and ready, using the human agency he chooses.Thus the Temple that is to be raised up by David’s seed will have a more than human importance, being at once a token of God’s indwelling among his people and a divine underwriting of the David dynasty.” (Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible: The Prophets, p. 334)

  • Movement

    • God is constantly moving in this text (vv.6, 7, 8, 9)

    • Life with God is a journey- not a settling in

    • Jesus is also homeless and constantly on the move and moving others with him

    • God moves with us through life- through the valleys and the mountaintops

  • But there is still a temple vv.10-14

    • God provides for God’s people. God provides a house. God provides safety. God provides security. Any house for God is given out of thanksgiving, not to define who God is.

    • Israel will be “planted” it is a living, growing and thriving community- not a set building

    • God is going to establish a “house” for David, God’s promise is much more lavish than a cedar panelled palace.

  • Everlasting Kingship (v. 13)

    • Clearly not true - this does not happen- so what does it mean?

    • Perhaps it is about God dwelling with God’s people- when a King is no longer needed (or wanted)

    • Much is made of Jesus being of the lineage of David and Jesus teaches more about the Kingdom of God than anything else. Perhaps this is God

    • Unlike the promises to Saul, God covenant/promise to David is unconditional - God’s hesed/steadfast love will not be taken away, even though Solomon and David’s descendants (and David himself) will be unfaithful

Thoughts and Questions

  • What does it mean that God is homeless and chooses to remain homeless? How does that change how we see our buildings and how we view our homeless brothers and sisters?

    • see Luke 9:58

  • Explore what homes mean to people: security, safety, financial stability - what does it mean

  •  that God rejects having a home/building?

  • If Jesus is Emmanuel, “God with us”, and we are the body of Christ, then God dwells within us (Ezekiel 27:37). How do highlight and celebrate that?

  • God did not demand a temple, not does God ask us to build churches, denominations or institutions. Do these religious settings help share the Good News of God in Christ or are they ways for us to control and confine God’s transcendence?

Year 3Eric Fistler2 SamuelComment