2 Samuel 7:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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,

NIV: I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.

NASB: I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and with strokes of sons of mankind,

CSB: I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals.

NLT: I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.

KJV: I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

NKJV: I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.

The Lord has already promised David all the good news a father could hope for his own son. Not only will David's son, whom we know to be Solomon, successfully inherit the throne of Israel from David, but he will also build God's "house," the permanent temple that will replace the temporary tent of the tabernacle (1 Kings 5—6; 2 Chronicles 2—7). In addition, God promises He will establish the kingdom of David's son forever (2 Samuel 7:13).

Now, though, God's promise about David's son moves beyond that of achievement and political success. God says He will have a father-and-son relationship with Solomon that will include both discipline and lifelong steadfast love (2 Samuel 7:15). This would be a worthy prayer for any father to ask of the Lord for his own son. David is promised that it will come to pass without his even asking it.

This may be the first hint that God's covenant promise to David is about more than just the successful ruling of Israel and the continuation of David's line. The words of part of this verse are applied to David's eventual offspring, Jesus the Messiah, in Hebrews 1:5: "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son."

God will discipline Solomon. When Solomon worships foreign idols, God will send enemies (1 Kings 11). But there's no record that Solomon suffered rods and stripes—lashes with a whip. Jesus did (Matthew 26:67; 27:30; John 19:1). But how did God "discipline" Jesus?

The book of Hebrews goes a long way in explaining the Davidic Covenant. Hebrews 5:7–8 talks about what Jesus suffered on the night of His arrest:

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
Hebrews 5:7–8

"Discipline" doesn't just mean "punishment for sinning." It also refers to training. Jesus wasn't the perfect sacrifice just because He didn't sin (Hebrews 7:28). Jesus was perfectly or completely sinless. He faced every temptation we did and did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). Part of Jesus' training to be perfected in obedience was enduring physical torture.

And yet, God's steadfast love didn't depart from Him (2 Samuel 7:15). Jesus was killed, but God raised Him again (Acts 2:24–28). And although God is giving David this covenant, it is Jesus who will reign forever.

Second Samuel 7:8–17 records God's counteroffer. David wants to build God a house: a temple for the ark of the covenant to dwell permanently. God doesn't want him to (2 Samuel 7:1–7). Instead, God will build David a "house." Not a palace, but an everlasting dynasty. It will start with Solomon and continue through David's descendants who will rule the southern kingdom of Judah. But it will be fulfilled when Jesus returns and rules from Jerusalem (Luke 1:32). The Davidic Covenant is also recorded in 1 Chronicles 17:7–15.

In 2 Samuel 7, David wants to build a temple for the ark of the covenant. He's convicted that he has a big house, so the ark doesn't belong in a tent (2 Samuel 5:11–12; 6:17). God declines David's request. Rather, God will build David a "house": a dynasty. David's son will be king—and that sone will build the temple. David's throne will be established forever. David responds with a humble prayer of gratitude and praise, asking God to do all He has promised for David and for Israel. God will, through Jesus (Revelation 22:16). First Chronicles 17 records the same events.