By Joseph Harvey Waggoner
BRO. SMITH: I have examined the question to you by Bro. S., concerning my use of 1 Chron. xvii, 11, 12, as follows: “What right has Bro. Waggoner in his piece on, Who are Israel? to quote 1 Chron. xvii, 11, 12, and apply it to Christ? I think it is a mistake, and ought to be corrected. It reads, ‘And it shall come to pass when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build me an house, and I will establish his throne forever.’ Also verse 13. Now read the same promise in 2 Sam. vii, 12–17, and you will see it cannot refer to Christ, but to Solomon. I am far from agreeing with Bro. S., that a correction is needed; and if, as he says, the enemies of the truth will use it as an argument against us, I shall feel no concern, but only hope that they will find nothing more objectionable in the whole work of which that is a part. I see no difficulty in referring it to Christ, but I do in referring it to Solomon. 1. Christ is David's son as well as Solomon. 2. Christ's throne will be established forever: Solomon's was not. 3. Christ as the branch is said to build the house of the Lord. See Zech. vi, 12, 13. The apparent difficulty in 2 Sam. 7, is no difficulty in fact; and to refer it to Christ though there may be some things in it which refer only to Solomon is according to usage, which the scriptures themselves establish. See the following cases in point, which will not be denied in their application. Isa. vii, 14, is a prophecy of Christ; but the birth of this Son is given to Ahaz as a sign concerning the overthrow of his enemies, the kings of Israel and Assyria. Psa. xl, 6–10, is quoted by the apostle Paul and applied to Christ. “Then said I, Lo I come,” &c. But in the same connection, [verse 12,] it says, “Mine iniquities have taken hold on me, so that I am not able to look up.” Will this psalm apply to Christ? Psa. lxix, 9, is applied to Christ in John ii, 17, and Romans xv; but verse 5, apparently the same speaker, says, “O God, thou knowest my foolishness, and my sins are hid from thee.” Many other passages might be given to the same effect, but it is unnecessary. By reading these scriptures in their connection it will be seen that they are as difficult in their application as the promise in 2 Sam. vii. With this usage before me I feel no hesitation in retaining the quotation as given in my work on the promises to Israel.