2 Samuel 7:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God.

NIV: You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

NASB: For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, Lord, have become their God.

CSB: You established your people Israel to be your own people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

NLT: You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God.

KJV: For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God.

NKJV: For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, Lord, have become their God.

The Davidic Covenant is God's promise to David that he will have a descendant on the throne forever (2 Samuel 7:11–16). But within that covenant is God's promise to Israel. David has expressed His great gratitude for God's blessings for him. Now, he thanks God for His blessings to Israel. He starts by acknowledging that Israel is unique in the world because God chooses to reveal His character and His greatness through His interactions with Israel. He redeemed them from slavery in Egypt and drove out the Canaanites to give them a home (2 Samuel 7:23).

But He promises much more. God told David:

"And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel…"
2 Samuel 7:9–10

Peace and rest are unfamiliar concepts to Israel. In the Old Testament story, God often used nations to discipline Israel when they worshiped other gods. After the religious leader rejected Jesus and refused to lead the nation in worshiping their Messiah, God allowed the Romans to send the Jews into exile in AD 70.

But God will show the world His grace, love, and faithfulness. Because God chose Israel to be His people forever, the nation will have rest from its enemies forever when their Messiah returns.

We look forward to the day God fulfills His promises, and Israel knows their God again.

Second Samuel 7:23–24 is David's thanks to God for blessing Israel. Included in God's personal covenant with David is a guarantee that Israel His people will be settled in a safe place, free from war and violence (2 Samuel 7:10–11). As a good king, David is grateful that God chooses to show His gracious character through Israel, from their rescue from Egypt to their future rest. David asks God to confirm His promise and make sure it happens (2 Samuel 7:25–29). David's prayer about Israel is also in Chronicles 17:21–22.

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.