II Samuel 7:1-16: A House Built for Who?

Lectionary Cycle Year B: Fourth Sunday in Advent
II Samuel 7:1-16 (Read it on Bible Gateway)
A House Built for Who?
Find More Resources at The Text This Week
For our Hebrew Testament reading, we turn back to this passage, which was referenced in the Psalm reading we just completed (see Devotions: Psalm 89:1-29). Here we explore the fuller extent of the passage that includes God's covenant with David. There are a number of interesting dynamics here so let's take a few moments to look at each.

First, let's once more establish the context. David has ruled as King for some time and been successful in establishing Israel as a kingdom. He has managed to bring safety and security to her borders and established his central government, embodied in the building of a palace that served as the base of his rule. As the passage opens David has the freedom to spend time in rest and reflection, something probably rare in his early reign.

One interesting point is that the revelation of God's covenant with David is sparked by David's reflection on building a Temple. In essence, as David reflects on the fact that he has a palace in which to live, God is still required to dwell in the tent fashioned during the exile in the wilderness. David sees this as wrong and thus seeks to build a proper Temple. God then speaks through the Prophet Nathan to tell David that instead of David building God a 'house,' God will instead establish David's house, referring to the kingship of his line, forever.

God's message to David in this also has several points to reflect on.

First, part of the reason for the delay seems to be that it is not part of David's chosen role. David was a warrior king, the one who brought safety to the kingdom. In that was his calling and it would fall to his son, Solomon, a king of peace and wisdom, to finally build God's Temple.

However, it is also clear that God is advising against such building as it is simply too soon. God prefers such investment happen after all is further secured, until the people can rest in safety and know they are secure. God speaks to David telling him that God's higher priority has always been God's people and that their safety and care is far more important than a mere building. Theologically this was a radical break from most religions of the time where the gods placed a temple dedicated to their worship often above the needs of the people. The people were servants to their gods and their own needs should be less a priority. However, God reverses that perspective and foregoes any personal 'perks', if you will, in lieu of God's people getting what they need.

This is something we should remember today. Churches and groups who pour tremendous funding into huge buildings and rich displays of 'temples' yet cannot find the opportunity and funds to be in critical ministry and outreach are building the temple when God's people are still at risk. This is clearly not part of God's desire as expressed in Scripture. God would rather be worshipped in a tent then see any of God's children at risk. As communities of faith, we should ensure any plan on building focuses on useful and practical facilities and always done in balance with a strong outreach ministry that continues through the 'building' years.

It is also interesting that the wording of God's Covenant has two very obvious ways they were fulfilled. God promises David his line will continue. It did in his son Solomon, and would be continued again with Christ. God promises that a son will come from David, who God will also call Son, which could also apply both to Solomon and to Christ. God also promises this son will build the Temple and be established on his throne forever. Solomon built the Temple that would serve as the first Temple of the Jewish faith, and Christ would later, however indirectly, establish the Church, a new 'Temple' of faith.


For the complete listing of our Devotions, see our Devotions Archive