2 Samuel 7-8
2 Samuel 7
This is a big chapter in the Bible because of
the Davidic Covenant. Basically, in this covenant God promises that someone
from David's lineage will rule over Israel forever. This will be fulfilled in
Jesus. Something interesting to note is that when Paul talked about the gospel
he preached, it went like this: Remember
Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my
gospel. (2
Tim. 2:8) This covenant is suddenly a very clear revelation of the next step
forward in God’s plan of redemption.
Vs.
1-2 David had a house built for him by Hiram. His days of living in tents and
in caves were over. In thanking God for this, it must have made David think
about the ark being in a tent. The tent represented God’s presence and I doubt
the tabernacle looked as good as the one Moses made in the wilderness.
V. 3 I
find it kind of funny that Nathan thought that God would approve everything
David did since He was blessing David in everything else. It was a good time,
and I guess they were beginning to take God for granted.
Vs. 4-17
These are the words of the covenant God was making with David. Nathan was the
prophet. Note in vs. 1-7 that God acknowledged David’s heartfelt concern for
God and His glory.
Vs. 8-12
This is what God had done with David and will still do with David. It is
interesting that God took David from following
the sheep to making him the shepherd of Israel. God said that He was
responsible for protecting David and bringing blessing though him.
Vs. 13-17
In what God is saying to David here, there would be a near literal fulfillment.
There would be a temple built by Solomon, and there would be a lineage of
David. But there is also a future fulfillment that will be when Jesus sits on
the throne in the Millennial Kingdom. The Davidic line would not rule unbroken,
as obviously it hasn't. But that rule, when reestablished, will be resumed by a
descendant of David, Jesus; and He will build God a house. (1 Peter 2:5)
Vs. 18-29 So what is faith? David talked to a
man named Nathan. He said, "You know, I think I'll build a temple to the
glory of God, to house the ark of the covenant." The guy, Nathan, said,
"Go for it." A few hours later, Nathan came back and said, "By
the way, God said not to do it, but instead He is going to establish your lineage
into an eternal dynasty." So David, having heard this from this guy, went
into the forecourt of the tabernacle, before the Lord, and prayed this. The
faith really blows me away. Nathan could have made that up. David heard from a
human, but understood the words were from God and poured out his heart in
gratitude. Jesus said to Thomas in John
20:29, "Have you believed because
you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have
believed."
This
is a very impressive prayer and act of faith.
V. 29
What David understood and what awed him was forever.
This is what awed Paul, and this is why everyone in the Gospels who cried out
to the Son of David usually had saving faith.
2 Samuel 8
Vs. 1-8
All of this was the blessing of the Lord and fulfilling what God had said He
would do for Israel and David. David would be established and have peace. What
God was doing here not only involved victories, but He was giving David and his
men the wisdom to organize and keep the nations in submission to him. At the
same time, God was blessing the nation of Israel.
Vs. 9-12
God not only took care of David’s enemies, but He gave David allies. We’ll see
in Chronicles that although David couldn’t build the temple, he had all the
materials stockpiled and he gave a set of blueprints to Solomon before he died.
Vs. 13-14
This might be mentioned because the Edomites lived in the rock and may have
been thought to be invincible. David defeated them.
Vs. 15-18
So David and Israel got organized. David’s sons were officials. We’ll see later
that this was a way kings began to train their sons. One son in particular will
take his role as an official very seriously. That would be Absalom.
We’ll be
reading a lot more about David in Kings and Chronicles, and it is amazing how
much David organized. It seems that as God expands His work and blesses what we
do for Him, He also organizes us. I think some of the organizing David did came
out of passions that God gave him. We can trust God to do this for us too in
the harvest. If He blesses, He will help us get organized.
John 14:15-31
Remember
from John 14:1 that being troubled of heart and afraid is the context here.
This worry is because Jesus will be leaving them, now and in the future. This
is mentioned several times.
Vs. 15-17
The Holy Spirit then will take Jesus' place both leading and comforting them in
the mission. The Holy Spirit is not given primarily to comfort us when the car
breaks or we're lonely. There is a purpose for us being left here on earth as
witnesses of Christ, and the Holy Spirit comforts and enables us for that.
Vs. 18-24
Jesus speaks lots of comfort and encouragement here. Notice that the way for
them, and us, to commune and connect with the Lord will be through His Word.
The Holy Spirit enables this, but we respond in love to knowing and obeying the
Word. Not only do the Father and Son dwell with us, but the Father confirms His
love to us. And all of this is when we are following in the harvest.
This is all enabled by the Spirit’s working in Jesus’ own.
This is all enabled by the Spirit’s working in Jesus’ own.
Also,
notice how often love is mentioned in these verses. Circle the word love. Loving Christ and obeying Him,
following Him in the harvest, will result in the Son and the Father manifesting
themselves to us and making their abode with us, all this via the Holy Spirit.
So what is it that we are obedient to? This obeying is not general moral living
or going to church or singing in worship and living harmless lives. This
obedience is following Christ in the mission. We'll see this emphasis of
mission in the next chapter, and it is important to grasp this to understand
how the Holy Spirit will help us. If you think about what Jesus commanded His
disciples, you’ll see that much of it had to do with being fearless,
anxiety-free followers in the harvest who were not ashamed to testify to His
name. His commandments are summed up in the Great Commission.
Vs. 25-31
As Jesus introduced the ministry of the Spirit, He applied the Spirit’s coming
to their immediate need for comfort. They would also need the Spirit’s comfort
in their future ministry, as they stood for Jesus. There is the element of joy
that Jesus was going to the Father. But they didn’t understand what that would
mean for the plan of redemption or the incredible message they would be taking
into the world. They also didn’t understand the power of the spiritual
authorities that would be directed to them this night or in the future. In that
too, the Spirit of God would be their Helper.
As
disciples we need to see that the power and ministry of the Spirit is to aid
and comfort and empower us as we are laboring in the harvest, reaching the lost
and making disciples, who make disciples. Jesus told His disciples, If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and
where I am, there will my servant be also. Jesus is still seeking to save
the lost and we need to be with Him in the harvest. Then we will know the power
and wonder of the Spirit.
Psalm 119:33-48
Notice how
many ways God's Word is referred to. Notice the pleas, petitions and cries for
help. Isn't this amazing stuff with which to fill your heart? This is how we
are to cry out and what we are to do, when we are being pressed by the stuff of
this life. Our hope is only in God and His Word.
Vs. 33-40
This is David crying out to hold true to the Word. Notice the mention of selfish gain, worthless things and the reproach of others. Those are things that
take us from the Word. David, here and elsewhere, expresses his delight and
longing for the Word. When he had those, David was safe and thriving. That’s
the same with us.
Vs. 41-48
Here, the steadfast love of the Lord
and remembrance of God saving David secured his heart in the Word, even when he
was taunted. Notice the importance of meditation to David. Again, when David
did this, he was a mighty man for God.
Proverbs 15:33
Amen. I
wish I had really, really, really learned this in my 20's.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year
Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't
work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/
and click on “Every
Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are
following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple,
following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship
culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging
each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make
disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our
growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here
or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some
explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My
comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on
Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups
will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with
and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the
harvest.
If you would like a complete description of this model
of being and making disciples you can find it in my book: Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is
still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's
keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you
what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in
fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is
encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the
comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding,
that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but
only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like documents containing an entire month
of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download
these to use on your computer or to print.
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