Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”
But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:
“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’
“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”
Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:
“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!
“What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord. For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.
“How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.
“And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.
“Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

• 2 Samuel 7:1-29

In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.
David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.
Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his monument at the Euphrates River. David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tebah and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.
When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze.
King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.

• 2 Samuel 8:1-18

David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
“At your service,” he replied.
The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”
Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”
“Where is he?” the king asked.
Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”
So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.
David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“At your service,” he replied.
“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.
Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.

• 2 Samuel 9:1-13

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

2 Samuel 7:1 ‘Dwelling in his house’: “See 5:11. David’s palace was built with help from Hiram of Tyre. Since Hiram did not become king of Tyre until around 980 B.C., the events narrated in this chapter occurred in the last decade of David’s reign. rest from all his enemies. David had conquered all the nations that were around Israel. See 8:1–14 for the details which occur prior to 2 Sam. 7.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Samuel 7:2 ‘Nathan’: ”Mentioned here for the first time, Nathan played a significant role in chap. 12 (confronting David’s sin with Bathsheba) and 1 Kin. 1 (upsetting Adonijah’s plot to usurp the throne from Solomon). …”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Samuel 7:8-16 ‘Davidic Covenant’: “In 2 Samuel 7:8-16 and I Chronicles 17:7- 14 (which are parallel passages) we find the establishment of the Davidic Covenant, the unconditional set of promises that God made to David of a perpetual dynasty, an unshakable kingdom, and an eternal throne. God established an indissoluble covenant in which David was promised that one of his descendants would forever rule over Israel (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Psalm 89:3-4; 132:11). Although these promises are not actually labeled as a covenant per se within the text of these two passages, they were later recognized as a covenant (2 Samuel 23:5; r Kings 8:23; 2 Chronicles 13:5; Psalm 89:3,28,34,39; Isaiah 55:3).
“The importance of these two parallel passages cannot be overstated, although it is not for want of trying on the part of commentators. For example, Brueggemann (First and Second Samuel p. 259) most effusively pronounces his judgment that ‘this oracle with its unconditional promise to David [is] the most crucial theological statement in the Old Testament.’ Pentecost (Thy Kingdom Come, p. 148) adds that ‘the covenant God made with David became the foundation of Israel’s hope. The basis for Israel’s expectation that a king would arise from the house of David who would bring them into the blessings of the covenants.’ Bergin (1, 2 Samuel, pp. 336-37) concurs, pointing out that ‘the Lord’s words recorded here constitute the longest recorded monologue attributed to him since the days of Moses. … The covenant that the Lord established with the House of David became the nucleus around which messages of hope proclaimed by Hebrew prophets of later generations were built.’
“The Davidic Covenant consists of seven related components.”

• Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, Exploring Bible Prophecy

2 Samuel 7:11 ‘First Component’: “First, while the immediate introductory context of 2 Samuel 7 concerns David’s desire to build a temple for the Lord, the Lord makes a clever reversal. Rather than David building the Lord a house (in the sense of a temple), God Himself pronounced that He will build a house (in the sense of a royal dynasty) for David (2 Samuel 7:11).”

• Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, Exploring Bible Prophecy

2 Samuel 7:12-16 ‘Second Component’: “Second, upon David’s death, the son, who at this time has yet-to be born, will serve as his successor and heir and reign securely (2 Samuel 7:12-16). As Scripture unfolds, it is revealed that this is fulfilled through the rule of David’s son Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:8-10).”

• Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, Exploring Bible Prophecy

2 Samuel 7:13 ‘Third Component’: “Third, this immediate heir of David would be the one permitted to build a temple for the Lord (2 Samuel 7:13). Indeed, Solomon did build the temple, fulfilling this prophecy (1 Kings 6; 2 Chronicles 3-5) and fulfilling Moses’ expressed prophetic expectation of a central, permanent location of Israelite worship (Deuteronomy 12:11-12,21; 14:23-24; 16:2,6,11; 26:2).”

• Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, Exploring Bible Prophecy

2 Samuel 7:13, 16 ‘Fourth Component’: “Fourth, the throne of this son’s kingdom will be established forever. Only the Davidic dynasty would possess the exclusive, divinely authorized authority to rule over the nation of Israel. This theme of the eternality of the Davidic throne, mentioned in 2 Samuel 7:13,16 is further developed within the parallel 1 Chronicles passage.”

• Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, Exploring Bible Prophecy

2 Samuel 7:9 ‘Fifth Component’: “Fifth, as God had long ago promised to make His servant Abraham’s name great (Genesis 12:2). He likewise promised that He would make His servant David’s name great (2 Samuel 7:9). This was already being accomplished within David’s lifetime, and even now, some three millennia afterward, he is still both beloved and revered by the Jewish people.”

• Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, Exploring Bible Prophecy

2 Samuel 7:10 ‘Sixth Component’: “Sixth, God pronounced that at some unspecified future time, Israel, planted securely within her land, would experience an unprecedented era of permanent tranquility, peace, security, and justice (Amos 9:11-15) that had, as its basis, the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:10). This coming millennial kingdom is the oft-mentioned, fervently anticipated hope of the Hebrew prophets who wrote in the wake of this covenant.”

• Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, Exploring Bible Prophecy

2 Samuel 7:15 ‘Seventh Component’: “Seventh, there is an unconditional divine commitment to this covenant, expressed in the promise never to remove the Lord’s covenant love/mercy (Hebrew, chesed) from the dynasty as it had been removed from Saul, whose dynasty was subsequently cut off. Although divine discipline would be meted out for individual kings’ sins, David’s dynasty would never be abolished and would continue in perpetuity (2 Samuel 7:15). Certainly Solomon, who did indeed sin according to the biblical record, required and received the Lord’s discipline (1 Kings 11:14,24-26). Yet the Davidic dynasty continued, although Solomon’s kingdom split almost immediately subsequent to his death (1 Kings 11:31-38).
“Interestingly, the 1 Chronicles passage, which so closely parallels much of the 2 Samuel passage, omits any mention of the possibility of the future Davidic heir sinning. That is because l Chronicles looks beyond David’s immediate and imperfect successor, Solomon, and looks ahead to a future, perfect, ultimate Son of David.”

• Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, Exploring Bible Prophecy

2 Samuel 7:11-16 ‘The Messiah, the Son of God’: “From the moment of its initial publication in 2 Samuel and its reiteration and amplification in 1 Chronicles, the Davidic Covenant has been perhaps the main fount of biblical messianic expectation. Indeed, ‘this enduring promise to David has placed messianism at the heart of both Judaism and Christianity’ (Brueggemann, First and Second Samuel, p. 258). Baldwin (1 and 2 Samuel, p. 213) is in agreement, writing that ‘this chapter was to become the source of the messianic hope as it developed in the message of prophets and psalmists.’ ”

• Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, Exploring Bible Prophecy

2 Samuel 7:11 ‘The Lord … will make you a house’: “Although David desired to build the Lord a ‘house,’ i.e., a temple, instead it would be the Lord who would build David a ‘house,’ i.e., a dynasty.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Samuel 7:18 ‘Who am I?’: “It’s important that every once in a while we sit down, take a long look at our short lives, and just count our blessings. Who are we to have been protected from the rains that fell, leaving hundreds homeless? Who are we that He has blessed our house and kept it safe? Warm in the winter … cool in the summer. Who am I Lord, that You should give me health and strength to be able to hold a job or pursue this career or get this degree? Who am I?”

• Charles R. Swindoll, Bedside Blessing

2 Samuel 7:21 ‘David asks Why me?’: “When God’s revelation was given to David, he seems to have been oppressed with the weight of mercy God had put on him. Two questions arose in his mind. The first was, Why should God speak such ‘great and precious promises’ (2Pt 1:4) concerning such weighty matters, such ever­ lasting blessings? And the other question was, Why should these great promises be spoken to him? ‘Who am I, Lord God?’ (7:18). He then proceeded to give an answer to his two questions in this verse: ‘Because of your word and according to your will [literally, ‘your heart’]. you have revealed all these great things to [or ‘you have done all this great thing for’] your servant.’ The one reason for the great blessings and promises God gave David was found in the heart of God. This thought entered David’s mind: ‘He is a great God, greatly gracious and full of loving-kindness. This is the reason he has promised all these things to me.’ This general principle runs through all the gifts of God to us. But God gave us one such costly gift that he could never give us another equal to it-the great gift of the Lord Jesus Christ. God had but one only begotten and well-beloved Son, yet he gave him to us. Now, if all heaven and earth were put together, and all that God has anywhere in the universe were added thereto, it could not equal in value that first majestic and unspeakable gift. How came the great God ever to think of making such a wondrous present as this to poor worms such as we are? No one could have suggested the thought to him. I can well believe that when the holy angels heard that the Son of God was to be incarnate, and when it was revealed that in human flesh he was to die, even they could scarcely believe such a thing was possible. The thought of Calvary’s sacrifice could never by any possibility have originated in their mind. O God, you did give your Son to us and for us because your heart was your heart, and there is nothing like it even in your heaven of glory! His infinite heart, in inconceivable compassion, suggested to itself the giving up of its greatest treasure, and it gave up for us, poor sinners, the heart of Christ to bleed and die on our behalf. It must be because of the love of the heart of God that this unique gift was given-there could be no other reason for its bestowal. “

• Charles H. Spurgeon, from sermon notes

2 Samuel 8:1 ‘Philistines … subdued’: “David’s first priority was to deal with the Philistines to the W, whom he quickly defeated and subjugated (see 5:25). Metheg Ammah. See the translators’ note. Probably a reference to the ‘chief city’ of the Philistines, Gath (cf. 1 Chr. 18:1). He defeated his enemies to the W.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Samuel 8:2 ‘Moab’: “David also defeated the Moabites who dwelt in Transjordan, E of the Dead Sea. This represented a change from the good relationship David once enjoyed with the Moabite royalty (cf. 1 Sam. 22:3, 4). He defeated his enemies to the E. he measured off. This could mean that David spared the young Moabites (whose height was approximately one cord) and executed the adults (whose height was two cords) or that one out of 3 rows of soldiers was arbitrarily chosen to be spared from execution. Such was a common practice of eastern kings in dealing with deadly enemies.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Samuel 8:9 ‘Toi king of Hamath’: “Hamath was another Aramaean territory located about 100 mi. N of Damascus. The king, Toi, was thankful to see his enemy Zobah crushed and desired to establish good relations with David. So he gave David gifts to indicate that he voluntarily submitted to him as his vassal.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Samuel 8:17 ‘Zadok the son of Ahitub’: “Zadok, meaning ‘righteous,’ was a Levitical priest descended from Aaron through Eleazar (1 Chr. 6:3–8, 50–53), who, along with his house, was the fulfillment of the oracle by the man of God in 1 Sam. 2:35. Future sons of Zadok will be priests in the millennial kingdom of Messiah (Ezek. 44:15). Later, he became the only High-Priest in Solomon’s reign, fulfilling God’s promise to Phinehas (cf. Num. 25:10–13). Ahimelech the son of Abiathar. Abiathar was actually the son of Ahimelech (1 Sam. 22:20). This apparent error (cf. 1 Chr. 18:16; 24:3, 6, 31) can be explained by two possibilities: 1) a scribal error reversed the relationship or, more likely, 2) Abiathar named a son Ahimelech and shared the priesthood with him. Abiathar was David’s priest along with Zadok (15:24, 35; 19:11). Abiathar traced his lineage through Eli (1 Kin. 2:27) to Ithamar (1 Chr. 24:3). With Abiathar’s removal (1 Kin. 2:26, 27), God’s curse on Eli was completed (1 Sam. 2:33), and God’s promise to Phinehas of Eleazar’s line was fulfilled (cf. Num. 25:10–13; 1 Sam. 2:35). Seraiah was the scribe. His name means ‘The LORD prevails,’ and he served as the official secretary of David.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Samuel 9:1 ‘show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake’: ”David continued to display loving loyalty toward Jonathan (1 Sam. 20:42) by ministering to the physical needs of his crippled son, Mephibosheth (cf. 4:4).”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Samuel 9:7 ‘restore … the land of Saul your grandfather’: “The estate belonging to Saul was probably quite substantial. eat bread at my table. David desired to honor Mephibosheth by bringing him into the royal palace and providing for his daily needs (see 2 Kin. 25:29).”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

2 Samuel 9:8 ‘dead dog’: “A ‘dead dog’ was considered contemptible and useless. Mephibosheth saw himself as such in that he knew that he had not merited David’s kindness and that there was no way for him to repay it. David’s offer was an extraordinary expression of grace and beauty to his covenant with Jonathan (cf. 1 Sam. 18:3; 20:15, 42).”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

My Thoughts

Second Samuel 7 starts by introducing the prophet Nathan.  Nathan only makes three appearances: here, in the rebuke of King David over the Bathsheba affair, and then when Solomon is anointed king of Israel, during the time that Adonijah set himself up as king in defiance of his father David.  Yet, the one thought to be the youngest of the children of Bathsheba is named Nathan.  This is the son who is in the maternal lineage to Jesus.  Could David and Bathsheba have given him that name in honor of the prophet who was still alive at that time?

Nathan came to David to proclaim a message from God.  It was the Davidic Covenant.

When we look at the Tim LaHaye breakdown, David would be followed by one of his sons and the line of David would continue.  David would build a palace, and a royal dynasty but it would be his son, later determined to be Solomon who was yet to be born, who would build the temple.

While the parallel Chronicles text speaks of the king not sinning, which Solomon certainly did sin, there is an unconditional element to this covenant.  This unconditional part leads to the line of David’s descendants that lead to Jesus.  And the unprecedented long period of peace would correspond with the millennial reign when Jesus returns.

When David hears this proclamation, he breaks out in song, praising God and asking, “Why me?”

We must understand the scenario here.  I can only understand in part, a tiny part.  David was a farm boy.  He was a shepherd.  He feels the power of the Holy Spirit and volunteers to kill Goliath, but he was still a small boy, too small to wear Saul’s armor.  And in his mind, he was probably thinking that he’d kill the giant and go back to the flocks.  Then he must return with a lot of Philistine foreskins as a bride price to marry Michal, Saul’s daughter.  Then he runs from Saul who has become jealous.  From the moment that he volunteered to kill Goliath until he was named king of all Israel, he was reacting to what was necessary at the time.  His mind kept saying that he was really a shepherd, and he had been away from his flock far too long.

Thus, David’s humility here is genuine.  Did he ask for the job?

I said that I could understand only in part, a tiny part.  My goal in going to college was to become a chemical engineer.  I wanted to design a portable water purification system or a compact wastewater treatment system that could be used to help tribes in rural areas of developing countries.  Being a military officer was not part of that plan at all.  I was a farm boy from the backwoods of Mississippi.  I felt that I had no business being an army officer.  As God’s hand was upon the course of history, I served after the Vietnam War was over, never having seen combat.  I got out because I was poor at the military stuff; my administration skills were exemplary, at least receiving an Army Commendation for only about eighteen months on the job that the commendation covered.  But for the rest of my life, even though God had spared me from serving during combat, I was haunted with the question of whether I could have measured up inside that type of crucible.  After all, I still think of myself as a simple farm boy from the backwoods of Mississippi who somehow ended up in the backwoods of Pennsylvania.

And I think that mindset comes out in David’s song.  Maybe this was the first time David had a chance to sit back and see how he got to where he was.

But there was no rest for the king.  David defeated the Philistines, the Moabites, and King Hadadezer.  Another Aramean king, Tou (or Toi according to the Rev. MacArthur spelling) gave David gifts in honor of the Hadadezer conquest.

Note that throughout the books of history, the Israel and Judah kings fought with or allied with kings of the Arameans.  This king that David defeated was called Hadadezer, but others are called Hadad or Ben Hadad (son of Hadad).  This must be a name given to the king.  It makes it difficult to blend the books of secular history during this time to the biblical narrative.  Which Hadad or Ben Hadad are we talking about?  But it is thought that Hadadezer was one of the major victories of David, thus, having the neighboring tribes giving David a tribute.

As for the hamstringing of the horses, the animal protection folks would have a cow over this one, but he made it so that the horse could live a long life.  They might pull a wagon for a farmer, but they would be unable to swiftly bring a chariot into battle.  The option would be to kill the horses in order to prevent the next Aramean king from challenging the people of Israel.  With the trouble in the Middle East now, Israel needs a means of hamstringing the modern equivalent of the chariot horses.

Second Samuel 8 continues with a military conquest of the Edomites, placing military garrisons in Edomite territory.

The chapter ends with a listing of David’s staff.  It states in the parallel Chronicles text that the leader of the army became Joab due to a promise of who took Jerusalem.  Joab, being the most bloodthirsty, gained that honor.  So, the murderer of Abner now ran the army, for better and worse.  Joab, a nephew of David, had good political savvy, but his blood thirsty attitude would eventually lead to him being killed for the good of the army, at the beginning of the reign of Solomon.

But also note Zadok is listed as one of the priests.  He would soon become the chief priest which would complete the curse of the line of priests descending from Eli.  Zadok was of the priestly line descending from Aaron, but by a different path than Eli.

In 2 Samuel 9, we see David in a moment of compassion, mercy, and love.  Other than Michal, who had no children, the only remaining member of Saul’s family is Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan whom David loved as a brother.

David restored Saul’s sizeable lands to Mephibosheth.  And he invited Mephibosheth to the king’s table.  He would continue to dine at the king’s table.  Mephibosheth had two lame feet.

Some Serendipitous Reflections

2 Samuel 7:1-17 God’s Promise to David 1. When have you felt like doing God a favor? Do you tend to favor God by working for him? Or savor God by worshipping him? Why is that?
“2. How many longlasting promises keep you going at work? Home? What limited contracts get you worried about the future?
“3. (For those in mid-life crisis): What life’s dream, career goals, or family plans are you beginning to see will not be accomplished by you? Who, then, will see those plans to completion? How can you pray now to­ ward that end?
2 Samuel 7:18-29 David’s Prayer 1. How do you respond to the promises of a trust­ worthy God? How, primarily, have you addressed God: With introductions? Requests? Confession? Thanksgiving? What does this say about your rapport with him?
“2. What would you like to adopt from David’s example in this regard? What ‘good things’ do you desire, which conform to God’s will?
2 Samuel 8 1. Over what ‘enemies’ has God given you victory? Where have you yet to experience his victory?
“2. What God-given possessions, abilities or resources would you like to ‘dedicate’ anew to God, as does David in this story?
2 Samuel 9 1. In what ways are you like Mephibosheth as you ‘stand’ before God’s throne? As you break bread at the Lord’s Table? As you are an heir to your heavenly Father’s spiritual kingdom?
“2. When have you shown or received God’s kindness as a ‘friend of a friend’, as epitomized in this story? To whom can you be that kind of friend this week?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

There is one set of questions each for 2 Samuel 8 and 2 Samuel 9.  There are two sets of questions for 2 Samuel 7 as noted above.

Substitute whatever group for any reference to a small group or ask who could come to your aid.

If you like these Thursday morning Bible studies, but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Thursday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.