2 Samuel 7:1-17 Bethesda Serangoon Church 25 June 2017 I Will Build You a House 2 Samuel 7:1-17 Bethesda Serangoon Church 25 June 2017

East Asia School of Theology

EAST Extension Centre

2 Samuel 7:1-3 1 When King David was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, 2 the king summoned Nathan the prophet. "Look," David said, "I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!" 3 Nathan replied to the king, "Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you."

David: “I will build God a house” v. 1—right timing v. 2—right thing to do (reasonable) v. 3—confirmed by godly person

v. 4—But in the same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying… Application: Do we seek God in our decision making?

God’s Response: 1. Are you the one to build? (v. 5) "Go and say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD, "Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in?

God’s Response: 2. Did I ask for a house? (v. 6-7) 2 Samuel 7:6-7 6 "For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle. 7 "Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'"'

Gods, Kings, and Temples In the ancient Near East: It was thought that the stability of a king’s dynasty was guaranteed through temple building Internationally understood symbol of regnal legitimacy The resident deity is worshipped in exchange for protection and provision (ritual manipulation)

The White Temple of Uruk (3200—300 BC)

What it may have looked like: Temple Ziggurat

Egyptian Temple

Piety or Pride? Two Hebrew words for “to dwell” yashab & shakan Occasionally interchangeable Basic idea of yashab is location related Basic idea of shakan is nearness/closeness (vs loftiness)

Localized Dwelling (yashab) King David was settled in his palace (v. 1) David: “I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains” (v. 2) God: “Are you (David) the one who should build Me a house to dwell in?” (v. 5) Literally: Are you building for me a house to “yashab” me?—i.e. to tie God down to a fixed location God: “I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt” (v. 6)

The Nearness of God God: “I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle” (v. 6) mishkan from the verb shakan God: “I have been moving around with my people” (v.7) God: “Wherever you have gone I have been with you” (v. 9)

God choses to be near us but we cannot box Him in Solomon learnt from his father’s lesson 1 Kings 8:27 But will God indeed dwell (yashab) on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! Application: Do we mix piety with pride? Do we put God in a place we can manipulate?

God: “I will build My house” David: I will build God a house (temple) God: You can’t build a house to “house” me God: David, I will build you a house (Dynasty)—v. 11 God: I will build my family out of David (v. 14) 2 Samuel 7:14 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me ANE adoption language

We are God’s House 2 Corinthians 6:16 For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We are God’s House 1 Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light You are… So that… You may…