*2 Samuel 7-8
Psalm 54
Romans 14
-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)
Today’s reading in 2 Sam 7 is one of the most critical prophecies in scripture to understand, if you want to understand about the nature of Jesus, and also get a glimpse into the character of God. This is one of the clearest passages of scripture that is written about the requirements of The Messiah (מָשִׁיחַ or “Ha Meshiach” in Hebrew, which is where we get the term). When the ancient Jews were told about The Messiah, this is one of the “go to” scriptures that lists and explains what the expectations should be. Always go to the “original sources” when you are trying to understand something, and this is one of the best original sources about the Messiah that there are in scripture. Victor Gluckin has an amazing series on Restitutio.org in the form of podcasts on this that’s better than anything that I could ever do, search for “Victor Gluckin, Restitutio, Son of David” and listen.
As we start to read in 2 Sam 7:1-11, a lot of the character of David and then God is revealed. David says to Nathan (a prophet), “Hey I live in a nice house here, but God’s in a tent. I should build Him a nice house too”. Nathan replies, “Sure, do it.”, but then God talks to Nathan and tells him to go back to David and tell him “Oh, you think you’re going to build ME a house? Nah man, I’m going to build YOU a house.” (this is all obviously and painfully paraphrased, but read the scripture, the gist is true). What we see from this is that God is a rewarder of those who seek to please Him, and that David was trying to please Him. This is important background to know going in to the next section of scripture, where the meat of the prophecy is. This is a direct response by God to his servant, David
First though, know that each one of the gospels (and really the rest of the NT as well) was written for the express purpose of explaining that Jesus (יֵשׁוּעַ ) of Nazareth was this prophesied Messiah(Or, Christ. Messiah=Christ=”Anointed One”, they all mean the same thing: Christ is not a last name, it is a title of authority). This is detailed in each of their thesis statements (Matt 1:1, Mark 1:1, Luke 1:30-32, John 20:31). Jesus himself explains to the samaritan woman that he is, in fact, the Messiah that has been foretold (John 4:25), and commends Peter for getting the correct answer in Matt 16:15 when he asks “but who do you say that I am?”. He is the Christ, the Messiah. Every time you see “Christ” in the new testament, it is a confirmation that Jesus of Nazareth is The Christ (Greek for “anointed one”), or, The Messiah (Hebrew for “anointed one”): they mean the same thing: the man anointed to be king. What does that mean, though?
THE CRITERIA OF THE MESSIAH (or, Christ). These are requirements, these MUST all be fullfilled in order to claim the title of The Christ
- REQUIREMENT 1– (2 Sam 7:12-13)- “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, ***I will raise up one of your seed after you, who will come forth from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kindgom forever.”(LSB). The Messiah MUST BE a human descendant of David, there is not an option for a different understanding because this is the promise God made to David (and God always, always, always keeps His promises).
- REQUIREMENT 2– (2 Sam 7:14-15)- “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will reprove him…but My lovingkindness shall not be removed from him…” (LSB) The Messiah MUST BE the son of God. Keep in mind that scripturally, the “sons of God” could refer to heavenly beings (Gen 6:2, Job 1:6, Ps 89:6) and that the term is also used metaphorically to refer to humans or groups that have a special relationship with God (as in Ex 4:22 , Ps 82:6, or Mal 2:10). In the instance of Jesus of Nazareth, both the literal and metaphoric explanations could be fully applied (because of his miraculous conception, but either would have been sufficient to fulfill this prophecy).
- REQUIREMENT 3– 2 Sam 7:16: “And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” To be The Christ you MUST establish a kingdom that will endure forever. We as Christians believe that when Jesus returns, this requirement will be fulfilled. In Jesus’ day, his disciples asked “So, uh, is this when you’re going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6, paraphrased). He explains to them “I don’t get to pick that, only God knows when that’s going to happen” (Acts 1:7, also paraphrased: See also Matt 24:36). We believe that when Jesus ascended and was sat at the right hand of God, this was our clear indication that our King had been chosen by God for this future kingdom, which we all strive to enter and be a citizen of as our core desire and primary reward. We know that even though this hasn’t been completely fulfilled yet that God always, always, always keeps his promises, and we see many clear prophecies and sermons about this kingdom which will be established on the earth.
***NOTE: This is actually an example of “progressive revelation” about the Messiah: Gen 3:15 states the “seed of the woman” will crush the serpent (a human), Deut 18:18 says God will “raise up one of your brothers from among you” (speaking to the Israelites, so now we have an Israelite human), and then 2 Sam 7:12-13 clearly shows it will be a descendant of David so the progressive revelation reveals that the Messiah will be (in order): (1)Human, (2)Israelite Human, (3)Israelite Human of David’s genealogical line. Note that in progressive revelation the base information never actually changes, it is simply clarified. This is important, so pay close attention here: you can’t just make something up new and call it progressive revelation. When you make up something new and add it to scripture, that’s called fabrication and it’s something else entirely.
So why does this matter? Firstly, we need to know that our gracious, merciful, and loving God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. While God certainly didn’t need David to build Him a nicer house (See Psalms 24:1), He respected and reciprocated the intent to please Him. We need to believe that there is a God, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him diligently (Heb 11:6). Secondly, men are not only confusing but confused. If someone is teaching you any doctrine that opposes what the scripture clearly says, this scripture, stop listening to them and go back to the original source; even if a majority of people say you’re wrong, because God is greater than man. It’s important for you to understand the scriptures you read, just as it’s important for you to submit yourself to God and receive the holy spirit, because God seeks those who worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). He will find you, if you seek in spirit and truth!
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Did you ever really give deep, serious thought to what “Jesus (the) Christ” actually meant? Do you feel as if this scripture helped clarify some?
- Do you think a working knowledge of the Old Testament is relevant to you as a Christian? Why, or why not?
- Are you trying your absolute hardest to please God, or are you more focused on pleasing yourself? Why? What is your expected outcome for either?
- What does is say of God’s character, that when we try to please Him he repays us a thousandfold, as seen in this scripture today?
- Why do you think God gives us such an abundance of prophecy in the scriptures? Discuss.
PRAYER
Father God, Creator of all things, thank you so much for telling us of the things which are to come. Purify us so that we can be holy. Please teach us your ways, grant us wisdom, and help our eyes to see and our ears to hear. Help us to circumcise our hearts and walk humbly before you, and to do the things that please you. Thank you Father, most of all, for sending us the Christ. Please grant that we may listen to all that he has spoken, and obey in truth and spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Seek Grow Love 