_A.M. 2962. B.C. 1042._
Nathan approves David's design of building a house for God, 2 Samuel
7:1. God forbids it, but promises to bless him and his seed, 2 Samuel
7:4. His prayer and thanksgiving, 2 Samuel 7:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the king sat in his house_ That is, was settled in the house
which Hiram's men had built for him; then he reflected upon the
unsettled state of the ark. For, being a pious prince, he spent much
of his time in holy meditations and the exercises of devotion; and
among other subjects of considera... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nathan said, Go and do all that is in thy heart_ Pursue thy
intentions, and build a house for the ark. The design being pious, and
the thing not forbidden by God, Nathan hastily approves it before he
had consulted God about it, as both he and David ought to have done in
a matter of so great moment.... [ Continue Reading ]
_That night the word of the Lord came to Nathan_ Because David's
mistake was pious, and from an honest mind, God would not suffer him
to remain long in it. _Shalt thou build a house for me?_ That is, How
is it that thou hast formed this design? _Whereas I have not dwelt in
any house_, &c. I have not... [ Continue Reading ]
_The tribes of Israel whom I commanded to feed my people Israel _ The
word _tribes_ seems here to be put for _judges_, appointed to govern
the tribes. Indeed, the Hebrew word שׁבשׂי, _shibtee_, here
rendered _tribes_, signifies also _sceptres_, and, consequently,
supreme governors or rulers; such as... [ Continue Reading ]
_So shalt thou say unto my servant David_ Lest David should be
discouraged, or judge himself neglected of God, as one thought
unworthy of so great an honour, God here gives him the honourable
title of his servant, thereby signifying that he accepted of his
service and good intentions.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest_ In the time of his
banishment he was remarkably preserved by God. _Moreover, I will
appoint a place_, &c. I will make room for them, whereas hitherto they
have been much straitened and distressed by their enemies. Or, _I have
appointed a place_ for them,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as since the time that I commanded judges_ In whose days they
were sorely afflicted by the Moabites, Canaanites, Midianites, and
others. But all this, as the event showed, was intended to be
understood with a condition, except they should notoriously forsake
God, which they did, and therefore t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when thy days are fulfilled_, &c. When the time of thy life shall
expire. This phrase implies, that his days should be prolonged to the
usual course of nature, and not cut off in the midst, by any violent
or untimely death. _Thy seed, which shall proceed out of thy bowels_
This manner of speaki... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall build a house for my name_ This is meant literally of
Solomon, who alone did build the material house or temple; but
ultimately of Christ, who is the builder of God's spiritual house or
temple. _For my name_ That is, for my service and glory. _For ever_
This is not meant of Solomon, for hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will be his father_ I will carry myself toward him as a father,
with all affection, and I will own him as my son. This is intended
both of Solomon, as a type of Christ, and of Christ himself, as is
evident from Hebrews 1:5. _If he commit iniquity_ This agrees only to
Solomon and some others of Da... [ Continue Reading ]
_My mercy shall not depart from him_ Or, _my kindness_, as the Hebrew
word חסדי, _chasdi_, rather means. That is, the kingdom which I
have mercifully and kindly promised to thee and thine. _As I took it
from Saul_ In regard of his posterity, for the kingdom was continued
to Saul himself during his l... [ Continue Reading ]
_According to all this vision did Nathan speak unto David_ And thereby
manifested his integrity, not being ashamed to retract his own words
when he was better taught of God. And, as Dionysius observes in the
epistle to Novatus, the correction of his fault was more remarkable
than the fault itself.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then went King David in_ Into the tabernacle. _And sat before the
Lord_ That is, before the ark, the symbol of the divine presence, and
where God was then peculiarly present, and was believed by David to be
so. David probably _sat_ for a season, while he meditated on these
things, and then altered... [ Continue Reading ]
_This_ Which thou hast already done for me, _that thou hast brought me
hitherto_ to this pitch of honour, and peace, and prosperity in which,
through thy favour, I now stand. _Was small_ Though it was more than I
deserved, or could expect, yet thou didst not think it enough for thee
to give to me. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_What can David say_ Either in a way of gratitude and praise Words
cannot express my obligations to thee, nor my sense of these
obligations or in a way of prayer: What can I ask of thee more than
thou hast freely done? _Thou knowest thy servant_ Thou knowest my deep
sense of thy favours, and my obli... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore thou art great_ Both in power and in goodness, as appears
by the great and good things which thou hast done for me. _Neither is
there any God besides thee_ Thus Hannah had expressed herself in her
song, in which she prophesied of him, 1 Samuel 2:2; 1 Samuel 2:10.
_According to all that we... [ Continue Reading ]
_What one nation in the earth_, &c. He seems to have in view the words
of Moses in Deuteronomy 4:7; Deuteronomy 4:34. _To make him a name_
That all the world might know and acknowledge his power and glory. _To
do for you great things and terrible_, &c. Instead of, _for you_, the
Seventy, Vulgate, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_For thou hast confirmed_ Partly by thy promises, and that solemn and
sure covenant into which thou hast entered with them; and partly by
thy glorious works wrought on their behalf, as it appears this day.
_Thou art become their God_ In a peculiar manner, and by special
relation and covenant; for ot... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy servant found it in his heart to pray this prayer_ That prayer
which is found in the tongue only will not please God; it must be
found in the heart, which must be lifted up to God, and poured out
before him. _Thou art that God_ Who hast declared thyself to be
Israel's God, and in particular my... [ Continue Reading ]