2 Samuel #08: an exposition of 2 Samuel 7:1-17. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 24, 2013.
Intro:
It made sense. It was very logical. You could say it was a “no brainer.” In fact it was so obvious he didn’t even need to pray about it! God had been gracious in establishing a new united Israel. David is at peace in his new palace. His enemies have been subdued and all is well. One afternoon David was having a conversation with his pastor, the prophet Nathan, and he said, “You know it’s just not right. Me living in this fine house while the ark of God is out there in a tent. I think I’ll build God a house.” Nathan thought that was an outstanding idea. You have to admit it made sense. Later the people of God get scolded because they were busy building their own houses while God’s house lay in ruins. It seemed like a good idea to everyone…everyone that is except for God himself. Our text this evening is found in the 7th chapter of 2 Samuel.
Text: 2 Samuel 7:1-17
Meaning well and doing well are two very different things.
It’s natural to want to “do” something for God.
But you really ought to pray about it.
Seek His will on the matter.
Consult His word.
It’s not like you’re going to “ruin the surprise” if you tell Him what you want to do.
He knows everything!
2 Samuel chapter 7 is one of the most important chapters in the Old Testament. Walter Brueggeman names this chapter, “the dramatic and theological center of the entire Samuel corpus.” He goes on to say, “this is one of the most critical texts in the Old Testament for evangelical faith.” Dale Ralph Davis says this chapter is “drowning in ink.” Volumes have been written exploring every angle of this chapter because here we find God’s covenant with David. Here was find God establishing the Davidic Dynasty. God makes profound promises to David and those who will follow in his lineage.
Here again it is important for us to remember that David is not the main character in this story. Israel, as a nation, is not the focus. The most important player in this drama, as in all the Scripture, is God himself. Eugene Peterson points out that God is the subject of 23 verbs contained in God’s message to David. Those verbs carry all the action. This is about God and His doing. This passage is about what God has done, is doing and will do. So I want to keep that focus for our study together this evening.
We cannot take this passage and say this is about us. These are promises made to David. This is a message for David. But we can look at these promises and see what they tell us about God. That in turn does relate directly to us.
From that perspective, as we work our way through the first half of this chapter we are reminded that…
Thesis: God’s Kingdom is wholly of grace.
There is nothing new or earthshaking in that statement. We know that – don’t we? After all we love to sing, “amazing grace how sweet the sound that saves a wretch like me.” We understand that we are saved by grace and not of works lest any of us think we have reason to boast. But how often do we stop and consider grace? When was the last time you meditated on the significance of God’s grace or considered the implications of God’s grace?
I want to point out 3 things quickly this evening.
- God’s condescending grace. (7:1-7)
- God’s abiding grace. (7:8-11)
- God’s unwavering grace. (7:12-17)
Conclusion:
God’s promise is that David’s dynasty is unstoppable. He will overwhelm death, sin and time if need be to bring it about. That is exactly what God has done. The years wore on; everything from foolish failures to blatant wickedness marked the reigns of the Davidic kings; Israel is swept into exile and remains in subjugation to foreign powers. But a child was born, a son was given. In him was no sin. He trampled all over death and has begun his endless reign at the place of supreme power and authority (the right hand of God). The kingdom of God is unstoppable and it is all of grace.
The kingdom of God is wholly of grace.
And we are heirs of…
God’s condescending, abiding, unwavering grace.
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