Chapter 7:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 Samuel 1 Kings
2 Samuel 7
Nathan approves David's design of building an house for God,
ver. 1-3. God forbids it, but promises to bless him and his seed,
ver. 4-17. His prayer and thanksgiving, ver. 18-29.
Verse 1. Sat - 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.
Verse 2. Curtains - That is, in a tent or tabernacle, ver. 6, composed of
several curtains.
Verse 3. Nathan said - Pursue thy intentions, and build an 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. And therefore Nathan meets with this rebuke, that he is
forced to acknowledge his error, and recant it. For the holy
prophets did not speak all things by prophetic inspiration, but
some things by an human spirit.
Verse 4. The word of the Lord came - Because David's mistake was
pious, and from an honest mind, God would not suffer him to lie
long in it.
Verse 5. Shalt thou - That is, thou shalt not.
Verse 6. Tent and tabernacle - These two seem thus to be distinguished,
the one may note the curtains and hangings within, the other the
frame of boards, and coverings upon it.
Verse 8. My servant - Lest David should be too much 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.
Verse 10. Appoint - That is, I will make room for them, whereas hitherto
they have been much distressed by their enemies. Or, I will
establish a place for them, that is, I will establish them in their
place or land. My people - Among the favours which God had
vouchsafed, and would vouchsafe to David, he reckons his
blessings to Israel, because they were great blessings to David;
partly, because the strength and happiness of a king consists in the
multitude and happiness of his people; and partly, because David
was a man of a public spirit, and therefore no less affected with
Israel's felicity than with his own. Before time - Namely in Egypt.
Verse 11. And as since - Nor as they did under the Judges. But all this is
to be understood with a condition, except they should notoriously
forsake God. And have caused thee - That is, and as until this time
in which I have given thee rest. But these words, though
according to our translation they be enclosed in the same
parenthesis with the foregoing clauses, may be better put without
it, and taken by themselves. For the foregoing words in this verse,
and in ver. 10, all concern the people of Israel; but these words
concern David alone, to whom the speechs returns after a short
digression concerning the people of Israel. And they may be
rendered thus. And I will cause thee to rest, &c. - More fully and
perfectly than yet thou dost. He will, &c. - For thy good intentions
to make him an house, he will make thee an house, a sure house,
that is, he will increase and uphold thy posterity, and continue thy
kingdom in thy family.
Verse 12. And when, &c. - When the time of thy life shall expire. This
phrase implies, that his days shall be prolonged to the usual
course of nature, and not cut off in the midst, by any violent or
untimely death. I will set - I will set up in thy throne, thy
posterity, first Solomon, and then others successively, and at last
the Messiah. So the following words may be understood, part of
his posterity in general, part of Solomon, and part of Christ only,
according to the different nature of the several passages.
Verse 13. He shall - 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 his kingdom was not for ever. But it is to be
understood of David's posterity, in general, and with special
respect to Christ, in whose person the kingdom was to be lodged
for ever. 14. His father - I will carry myself towards 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 Heb. i, 5. If he commit - This agrees
only to Solomon and some others of David's posterity; but not to
Christ, who never committed iniquity, as Solomon did, who
therein was no type of Christ, and therefore this branch is
terminated in Solomon; whereas in those things wherein Solomon
was a type of Christ, the sense passes through Solomon to Christ.
Rod of men - With such rods as are gentle and moderate, and
suited to man's weakness.
Verse 15. My mercy - That is, Or, my kindness, that is, the kingdom
which I have mercifully promised to thee and thine. From Saul -
In regard of his posterity, for the kingdom was continued to his
person during life.
Verse 16. Before thee - Thine eyes in some sort beholding it: for he
lived to see his wise son Solomon actually placed in the throne,
with reputation and general applause, which was in itself a good
presage of the continuance of the kingdom in his family: and
being considered, together with the infallible certainty of God's
promise to him and his, (of the accomplishment whereof, this was
an earnest,) gave him good assurance thereof; especially
considering that he had his eyes and thoughts upon the Messiah,
Psalm cx, 1, &c. whose day he saw by faith, as Abraham did,
John viii, 56, and whom he knew that God would raise out of the
fruit of his loins to sit on his throne, and that for ever: and so the
eternity of his kingdom is rightly said to be before him.
Verse 18. In - Into the tabernacle. Sat - He might sit for a season whilst
he was meditating upon these things, and then alter his posture
and betake himself to prayer. Who am I, &c. - How infinitely
unworthy am I and my family of this great honour and happiness!
Verse 19. This - Which thou hast already done for me, that thou hast
brought me hitherto, to that 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. A great while -
For many future ages, and indeed to all eternity. Is this, &c. - Do
men use to deal so kindly with their inferiors, as thou hast done
with me? No: this is the prerogative of divine grace.
Verse 20. 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 - Thou knowest my
deep sense of thy favours, and my obligations to thee. And my
condition and necessities, what I do or may need hereafter; and as
thou knowest this, so I doubt not thou wilt supply me.
Verse 21. Thy word's sake - That thou mightest fulfil thy promises made
to me, and thereby demonstrate thy faithfulness. Own heart - Or
thy own mere liberality and good pleasure, without any desert of
mine. So far was David, though a very gracious man, from
thinking his actions meritorious.
Verse 22. Great - Both in power and in goodness, as appears by the great
and good things which thou hast done for me.
Verse 24. Confirmed - Partly, by thy promises, and that sure covenant
which thou hast made with them: and partly, by thy glorious
works wrought on their behalf, as it appears this day. Their God -
In a peculiar manner, and by special relation and covenant: for
otherwise he is the God and father of all things.
Verse 26. Let thy name - That is, do thou never cease to manifest thyself
to be the God and governor of Israel.
Verse 27. This prayer, &c. - That prayer that is found in the tongue only
will not please God. It must be found in the heart. That must be
lifted up and poured out before God.
Verse 28. That God - That God who hast declared thyself to be Israel's
God, and in particular my God.
Verse 29. Continue forever, &c. - When Christ for ever sat down on the
right-hand of God, and received all possible assurance, that his
seed and throne should be as the days of heaven, then this prayer
was abundantly answered.
Chapter 7:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 Samuel 1 Kings
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
