2 Samuel 7:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’"

NIV: Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me ; your throne will be established forever.’ "

NASB: Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.'?’?'

CSB: Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’"

NLT: Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’'

KJV: And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

NKJV: And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”

The Lord's promises to David conclude with the most startling one of all. Not only will the Lord continue David's kingdom through his son, but God will establish David's line on the throne forever. David's kingdom will not be a flash of excitement followed by extinction. His will be an everlasting kingdom, passed from him to a son who will build God's temple (2 Samuel 7:14) and to his sons after him forever.

Such a thing seems impossible. It becomes increasingly improbable as Israel fades and falls farther from the Lord during the era of kings. No mere man can bear the responsibility of such a blessing. And so, the promise will be fulfilled in the Messiah, the descendant of David who will rule and reign over Israel forever and ever (Luke 1:33). What a gift of grace to David for the Lord to make this unconditional promise, this covenant, with him and his offspring.

This passage doesn't use the word "covenant," but Psalm 89 does in connection with the promises made in this chapter. That Psalm directly connects God's steadfast love (2 Samuel 7:15) with the unconditional promise of an everlasting kingdom:

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
For I said, "Steadfast love will be built up forever;
in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness."
You have said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant:
'I will establish your offspring forever,
and build your throne for all generations…'"
Psalm 89:1–4

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.

In 2 Samuel 7, David learns he can't out-give God. God has made him king and given him a mansion and a family (2 Samuel 5:3, 11–15). He's allowed David to bring the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:1–15). Now, David wants to build the ark a proper temple. Instead, God says David's son will build the temple, and God will build David a lasting dynasty. Solomon does build the temple (1 Kings 5), and Jesus will fulfill David's dynasty (Luke 1:32).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.