Forever Promise

[Sermon Notes]

5 May 2024

Forever Promise | 2 Samuel 7:1-17

Introduction

What is the power of a promise? Allow me to read you an excerpt from a wedding sermon delivered to a couple standing at the altar:

“Getting married is making a promise. What is a promise? It is a forward-facing commitment. And that means today is not so much about the past. The past has led you to this moment. In the past, you met. In the past, you discovered your compatibility and charisma together. In the past, you fell in love. The past brought you here, but today is not about the past. Today is not really about the present either. Certainly, the present is important. Presently, you love one another. Presently, you are excited to be married, and we would be concerned if those feelings were absent. But today is not about the present. Today is about the future. Today you make a promise about the future. Thornton Wilder, the playwright, put these words in the mouth of one of his characters, and they provide wonderful insight: “I didn’t marry you because you were perfect. I didn’t even marry you because I loved you. I married you because you gave me a promise. That promise made up for your faults. And the promise I gave you made up for mine. Two imperfect people got married and it was the promise that made the marriage. And when our children were growing up, it wasn’t a house that protected them; and it wasn’t our love that protected them–it was that promise.” Do you see? Many people have experienced love. Many people have been loved. Many people have fallen in love, but what distinguishes the love of marriage is the promise. The difference between the day you first professed your love for each other and today is that today you are making a promise.”

Do you see? Marriage is more than feelings of love. It is a promise, and it is a promise made for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live.

Do you know what the Bible calls this kind of promise? A covenant. A covenant is a kind of binding, forever promise.

And today we come to what is known as the Davidic Covenant. And what’s amazing is that God binds himself to David and his lineage and his kingdom, unconditionally, by making him a forever promise, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until forever. And in fact, the blessings we enjoy today, as Christians, are because we stand in that promise and because God has kept that promise, that covenant.

That is a kind of grace that we cannot fathom. But today we must try. May the Lord help us.

Turn with me to 2 Samuel 7.

Review and Setup

David Review: Pretty good so far. If you’re just joining us, we’ve been in a series on the life of David these last several weeks. David was the first true king of Israel, and he is described as a man after God’s own heart. And so far, things have been pretty good. So far, there have been trials and temptations, but the hero wins. David is confirmed as good-hearted. David overcomes sadness. David defeats a big, bad giant. David trusts the Lord. David resists paying back evil for evil. David establishes the capital city of Jerusalem. David brings the ark of the Lord home to Jerusalem. The nation of Israel is being strengthened and helped through David’s leadership. Things are pretty good so far.

But, there is trouble on the horizon. Up ahead is a big, deep, dark tunnel, with no light to be seen. All you have to do is flip ahead in your bible a page or two to see the tracks of this story disappear into the dark tunnel.

• David is about to sin bigtime. His sin will lead to yet more sin: cover up and murder. It will lead to family fallout and collateral damage. And all of this will hit the papers in a big way; it will take place publicly.
• The nation of Israel is about to enter dark tunnel as well. They don’t know it yet, but the hand off of the kingship, from David to his son Solomon, that moment is the zenith of Israel’s good times. After that, there will civil war and a divided nation. There will be ups and downs with good and not so good kings. And because of Israel’s wickedness, all of this will culminate in utter defeat and exile. Right now, we’re around 1000 B.C. But by 722 B.C., Assyria will capture the northern kingdom. By 586 B.C., Babylon will capture the southern kingdom.

So, as we come to 2 Samuel 7, there’s this huge, deep, dark tunnel the story is about to enter with no light to be seen.

And that deep, dark tunnel just ahead helps us appreciate what we’re about to read in 2 Samuel 7. In the face of such trouble, what does God do? He makes a promise. And that promise would be like a guideline leading them through the dark tunnel. Do you recall the story of the Thai youth soccer team that was trapped in a cave? They had gone spelunking for fun, but a sudden storm and flash flooding left them trapped in the dark recesses of a cave. Divers had to swim through 2.5 miles of tunnels in water so dark and murky nothing could be seen. And what got them there and back again? A guideline. A rope running the length of that 2.5 miles, in and out of twists and turns and corners. That guideline was their lifeline if they ever hoped to reemerge on the other side. And the forever promise God gives to David, the covenant he makes, would be like a guideline that would get the people of God safely home when the lights go out. And today, if we can get a hold of that line, it will get us safely home, too.

So let’s jump in. We begin with the opening scene: a conversation between David and Nathan.

David’s Idea | 2 Samuel 7:1–3

“[1] Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, [2] the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” [3] And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.””

• David is enjoying a time of relative peace. His house is getting set up, and he is getting settled. And it strikes him as unfitting that the Lord’s ark should still be in a tent. Remember the ark has been set up in the Tabernacle, which was a tent.
• We then meet Nathan, a prophet. He says the Lord is with you so do what is on your heart. This statement seems to be less prophecy and more just a general affirmation of David’s intentions.

But as we will see, the Lord has other thoughts…

Lord’s Initial Response | 2 Samuel 7:4–7

“[4] But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, [5] “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in? [6] I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. [7] In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’”

• The Lord says he has never dwelled in a house (via the ark). And he says he has never asked to have a house or temple built for him.
• As Nathan confirmed earlier, David’s heart is good here, but I can’t help but detect a slight correction from the Lord given to David regarding his thinking. First, the Lord says he does not need a house. The Lord has no needs. If David feels bad for the Lord, or if he thinks he going to “do a little something nice” for the Lord like a handout, he’s not thinking about the Lord rightly. The Lord has all that he needs. [Sidenote: This a common misunderstanding of the OT, that somehow the OT God is petty and needs all  these sacrifices and rituals and things. But repeatedly, the Lord says he doesn’t delight in all this per se. It’s all about their hearts. For example, Psalm 50:13–15: “[13] Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? [14] Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, [15] and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” He doesn’t need dead bulls. He doesn’t get hungry. He has no needs. He doesn’t need a temple. Later on, when Solomon dedicates the temple, he will say there is no way the temple can contain the Lord, but it is a special place of his focus. So, all of this is for them, the people and not about feeding or housing the Lord] And second, the Lord reminds David that he never asked for a house, so if David is interested in obedience, there is no deficit here. The Lord gave clear instructions on the tabernacle, but he never mentioned a temple. So again, I think David means well, but the Lord gently tweaks and rachets up his theology a bit.

And then, with that, there is a dramatic turning of tables… Let’s read what the Lord says next.

Promises to David | 2 Samuel 7:8–17

“[8] Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. [9] And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. [10] And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, [11] from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. [12] When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. [14] I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, [15] but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. [16] And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” [17] In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.”

Summary. So the Lord first says I don’t need a house and have never asked for one. But instead, this has been his story all along. He says I called you from the sheepfold and made you king, and now again, I am going to bless you and build you a house. And the Lord graciously piles on promise upon sweet promise.

Now, let’s consider these promises.

As with most Biblical prophecy, the promises have near and far fulfillments. And that makes perfect sense when we consider the promises being made here have everlasting implications, so of course, their fulfillment would be spread out over time because the content of the promises extend over time. I was thinking as a point of comparison, we might say promising David will have a dynasty would be like promising an NBA basketball team that they will become a dynasty. The fulfillment of that promise would take time and come in many layers. For example, you might win the championship the first year, but several of the series went to seven games. Maybe the second year, you cruise to the championship. Maybe the third year, you barely even make the playoffs, having to win the play-in game. And then in the finals, it goes to game seven and the team has mount the greatest second half comeback in the history of the NBA but you win. The fulfillment of that promise to be an NBA dynasty would necessarily have multiple facets of fulfillment and multiple layers of fulfillment. The first championship was a partial fulfillment of the promise. The second championship was the fuller fulfillment of the promise. And the third championship was the fullest fulfillment of the promise. And then between all of that, even the littlest plays were part of its fulfillment. So, we’ll see something very similar here as we consider the promises made to David.

So let’s go… Now, I’m painting with very broad brush strokes here, so my Biblical Theology scholars out there might differ on my summaries, but that’s okay. This is just the big picture.

The Lord promises…

1. A Great Name (v. 9)

• “…And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.”
• Near: David’s name is great in the history of Israel. 
• Far: Jesus is called the “Son of David.”
  

2. Place of Rest (v. 10)

• “And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more”
• Near: The promised land is secure (for a while).
• Far: Heaven.
  

3. Defeated Enemies (v. 11a)

• “And I will give you rest from all your enemies.”
• Near: Geopolitical peace, especially in Solomon’s reign.
• Far: Death, sin, and satan defeated on the cross.
  

4. A Household (vv. 11b-12)

• “Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. [12] When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.”
• Near: Solomon and the ongoing lineage of David.
• Far: Jesus is a descendent of David according to the flesh (Rom 1:3).
  

5. A Temple (v. 13a)

• “[13] He shall build a house for my name”
• Near: The Temple of Solomon.
• Far: Jesus builds a new temple, the church (1 Peter 2:5).

6. Perpetual Rule (v. 13a)

• “and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever”
• Near: Continuation of the line.
• Far: Jesus is the King of kings (1 Tim 6:15).
  

7. Special Relationship (v. 14)

• “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.”
• Near: Solomon.
• Far: Jesus is the Son of God (Hebrews 1:5).
  

8. Sovereign Love (vv. 14b-15)

• “When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, [15] but my steadfast love will not depart from him”
• Near: God’s love for Solomon won’t be thwarted by sin.
• Far: God’s love through Jesus secures salvation while we were still sinners (Rom 5:8), and he loses none (John 6:39).
  

9. A Forever Kingdom (v. 16)

• “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.”
• Near: Enduring care for the Davidic line. (Judah stands the longest.)
• Far: Jesus and his forever kingdom (Luke 1:33).

So, those are the promises God makes. What do we make of these promises? A couple thoughts.

We should realize all of these promises are sheer grace. These are promises for good, for peace, for help, for enduring love. And it’s all based in God’s sovereign grace. He has decided to do this. He is not paying David back. He does not need David. He is doing this because of himself and his love expressed in redemption. People sometimes comment they like to think God needs us, and it seems cold to say he does not need us. But if he needed us, then his love would have mixed motives. You’d have to wonder if he was just being nice so that we’ll build him a temple. But the greatest love is a pure love, a free love, from a place of no need. And that’s what we have here. God says I will do it because I will. I love you because I love you. And that is the most unshakeable kind of promise there is. It’s all grace, nothing but grace.

We should realize these promises belong to us.

• Because we’re still standing in them. We are here today, forgiven and worshiping God, walking in the Spirit, because God has kept, is keeping these promise. This passage is not ancient history; it is as relevant as ever. It’s like reading the declaration of independence or the constitution. It’s a document that still shapes our lives today.
• Because they have yet a fuller fulfillment. I said earlier God gave these promises as a guideline through a dark tunnel and that we could get a hold of them, too. Well, here we see how. These promises still have future implications, and we should hold onto these promising today, waiting in hope for their final, eternal fulfillment.

Let’s end with considering their eternal fulfillment… One more lap around the track…

Eternal fulfillment…

1. A Great Name: Jesus has received the name above every name, and one day at that name, every knee will bow (Phil 2:9-10).
   
2. Place of Rest: New earth (Rev 21). With no more pain or suffering.
   
3. Defeated Enemies: New, incorruptible bodies that are not subject to sin, satan, or death (1 Cor 15).
   
4. A Household: All the saints in glory together at last (Rev 7:9).
   
5. A Temple: All the earth will be God’s dwelling place (Rev 21:22). “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.”
   
6. Perpetual Rule: Revelation 22:3 “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.”
   
7. Special Relationship: Eternal bliss of the trinity (Phil 2:11). “…Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…to the glory of God the Father.” Sonship enjoyed by all believers (Rev 21:7): “The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”
   
8. Sovereign Love: Endless love (1 Cor 13:8, 13). Plan secured.
   
9. A Forever Kingdom: Eternity Future (Rev 22:5). “And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”

Conclusion

So, we stand here today because three thousand years ago God made a promise. And two thousand years ago he fulfilled that promise right up to the brim in the work of Jesus. And until Jesus returns, we will look forward to the overflowing fulfillment of those promises in eternity future. 

But we’ve got to hold on to them like those divers holding the guide line through the cave. If you’ve taken hold of these promises, don’t let go. See them, wonder at them, and grip them a little tighter today. And if you have not yet grabbed hold, grab hold of these promises today. This world is dark and windy. You will not find your way out. You need Jesus and his promises. Grab hold of that Guideline today. Amen.

Bonus: Chart