NOTE.—This series of lessons is entitled, “Studies on the Gospel Message.” For Introduction and excellent suggestions as to their study, we refer the student to the Lesson Quarterly.
The whole history of the children of Israel is of special value at this time (1 Cor. 10:11), but we are necessarily limited to the consideration of some special experiences. The time during which the chosen people of God were made the depositaries of the divine law is divided into three periods (Matt. 1:17), and the limit of each one constitutes a pivot in the history. In this brief outline of the development of the original promise of the Seed (Gen. 3:15), we now pass from the promise to Abraham, and shall next consider the promise to David. This naturally leads to a study of the seventh chapter of 2 Samuel.
1 “And it came to pass, when the king dwelt in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies round 2 about, that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I 3 dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in 4 thine heart; for the Lord is with thee. And it came to pass 5 the same night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell My servant David, Thus saith the Lord, 6 Shalt thou build Me an house for Me to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a 7 tent and in a tabernacle. In all places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel, spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people Israel, 8 saying, Why have ye not built Me an house of cedar? Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto My servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldst be prince over My 9 people, over Israel; and I have been with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a great name, like unto the name 10 of the great ones that are in the earth. And I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall 11 the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first, and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will cause thee to rest from all thine enemies. Moreover the Lord telleth thee that the Lord will 12 make thee an house. When thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish 13 his kingdom. He shall build an house for My name, and I 14 will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he shall be My son: if he commit iniquity, I will 15 chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; but My mercy shall not depart from him, as I 16 took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be made sure forever before thee; 17 thy throne shall be established forever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.”
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
Under what circumstances did David’s thought turn toward the Lord’s house?
What did he say to the prophet Nathan?
What reply did Nathan make to him?
What experience did Nathan have the following night?
What question was he instructed to ask of David?
What was the period of time during which the Lord had not dwelt in a house? What had He done during this time?
Had the Lord during all this time demanded that a house should be built for Him?
What was David’s occupation when the Lord called him? To what work did He appoint him?
To what extent had the Lord prospered him in this work? What had He done for him?
In what promises did the Lord indicate His purpose to provide a permanent home for His people?
What past experiences were not to be repeated?
What did the Lord promise to do for David?
How would David’s house be built?
How would the kingdom be made secure to David’s son?
What would this son do for the Lord?
What would the Lord do for him?
What relationship would be established between them?
What would be the result of disobedience?
What experience of a former king would not occur in this case?
In what threefold promise and prophecy was the Lord’s promise now expressed? How long a time was contemplated in these statements?
How fully did Nathan communicate this vision to David?
NOTE.
The primary object in this and the next lesson should be to become familiar with exactly what is said in this chapter. When this has been done, we shall be better prepared to understand what is meant by what is said. The main theme of the vision is evidently the king and his house. It is simply “the king” who is first introduced. David is mentioned by name only twice in the vision, and in each case it is “My servant David.” As long as His people were journeying from place to place, and lived in tents, the Lord walked with them and made a tent His dwelling-place. Now that the people have a more permanent home, He will permit them to build Him a more permanent temple as His dwelling-place, where His worship shall be conducted. But He first emphasizes the fact that He will make David a house. And the vision closes with the emphatic declaration that David’s house, and David’s kingdom, and David’s throne “shall be established forever.”
