Day 146 – David & the Temple

• You might have noticed that there are two stories going on today. The simple story, touched on in the first few verses of 2 Samuel 7 and discussed further in the final two passages, is one of David wanting to build a temple for God. After being told not to do it by God, 1 Chronicles 22 details how David made the necessary preparations for his (still yet to be born) son Solomon to build it instead.
• God’s message to David about the temple is brought to David through a prophet called Nathan. A prophet, in a general sense, is a person who speaks God’s truth to others, and often tells of something that hasn’t yet happened. We’ll meet Nathan again in a few days when he once again brings a difficult message to David in a different situation.
• Why does God say that David shouldn’t build the temple?
• How did David prepare for Solomon to build the temple? Today’s two passages in 1 Chronicles gives more detail about David’s groundwork. The final passage today shows that David put his money where his mouth was, showing a deep desire for the temple to be built to glorify God’s name above David’s own.
• All this story about the temple, however, is really a side story to the main event in 2 Samuel 7. This chapter is referred to as the “Davidic covenant”. Can you remember what a covenant is? Who else has God made a covenant with in the past?
• David wants to make a temple for God, but God has a very different building plan. God is going to make a “house” for David (see verse 11) instead. In this context, “house” means a kingdom, or a dynasty. In other words, something great that will continue after David has died.
• How is this “house” described, in 2 Samuel 7:13-16?
• Over the next few months, we’ll see how the physical kingdom and the nation of Israel will be tossed and turned, attacked and split up. This doesn’t sound like a “kingdom that shall be made sure forever” (verse 16) does it? What do you think the people made of God’s promise for a kingdom like this when everything around them was falling away?
• What then, does God mean when He refers to an everlasting kingdom? Whose kingdom is it?
• As the chapter closes, David realises the magnitude of God’s promise and can only respond in worship. Take a look again at 2 Samuel 7:18-29, and consider what he’s saying.

The true “Son of David” isn’t really Solomon (one of David’s earthly sons), however wise a king he was. It’s Jesus! The promise to Abraham back in Genesis, and this promise to David, isn’t talking about any earthly nation or reign, is it? It’s a heavenly nation, found in Jesus. And what a promise it is!

When things don’t go right for us, we can sometimes lose sight of the bigger picture. This must have been especially true of those who lived before Jesus, wondering what to make of God’s promises in today’s readings. We, however, knowing all about Jesus, can see the upper story picture in this passage.

In Jesus we are promised life eternal, but not escape from earthly difficulties. In times of trouble, we sometimes struggle because we can’t see the bigger picture of eternal life with our own eyes. In these times, we can be encouraged by the words of David in today’s passage: “And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true” (2 Samuel 7:28).

Do make sure you remember 2 Samuel 7. It’s an important milestone in the Old Testament narrative and you’d do well to get today’s events firmly established in your mind.