2 Samuel 7:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

NIV: "How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

NASB: For this reason You are great, Lord God; for there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

CSB: This is why you are great, Lord God. There is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, as all we have heard confirms.

NLT: 'How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!

KJV: Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

NKJV: Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

David wanted to build a "house"—a temple—in Jerusalem so the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:10), the symbol of God's presence, wouldn't have to sit in a tent. God told him, No. God has never asked for anything other than a tent: portable enough to stay near His people. Instead, God will build David a "house"—an everlasting legacy, starting when David's "days are fulfilled," and his son takes the throne (2 Samuel 7:1–16).

David is so overwhelmed, he goes to that tent and worships God. He knows he came from nothing. All of God's promises are because God wants to do this, not because David somehow earned them. Even the fact that God has told him what will happen is an honor David doesn't deserve (2 Samuel 7:18–22).

This is what separates the God of Israel from all other false gods. Never have the Israelites even heard of a similar god. Pagan gods are capricious; no matter what or how often the people sacrifice, the gods can't be trusted to come through.

Not only that, but God also chose Israel: one nation, descended from one man, to be His people and display His gracious, generous character (2 Samuel 7:23–24). God has promised to show that character by giving Israel rest from the violence of its enemies (2 Samuel 7:11).

At the time of writing this commentary, Israel is not at rest. It's hard to even imagine an Israel that lives in peace with its neighbors. David believed God's promise that his son and his son's generations would reign in Jerusalem. First & 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles prove that God came through. We know that David's descendant Jesus has come. Because God has proven Himself to be faithful to His people, we can trust the promises of the future. Jesus will come and reign in Jerusalem. Israel will experience God's rest. Like David (2 Samuel 7:25–29) and John (Revelation 22:20), we can pray that it happens, and it happens soon.

Second Samuel 7:18–22 relates David's thanks for God's promises. God chose David to be king when he was just a shepherd boy. God gave him the crown, a family, and peace. But God will bless him even more: with a great legacy and an eternal kingdom that will find its fulfillment in Jesus (2 Samuel 7:8–17). David pours out his gratefulness for God's grace. He also thanks God for choosing Israel to be His people, and asks that God will, indeed, fulfill His promises (2 Samuel 7:23–29). First Chronicles 17:16–20 mirrors this part of David's prayer.

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).