Useful Bible Studies > 2 Samuel Commentary > chapter 7

David expresses the desire to build God’s temple

2 Samuel 7:2

God’s people often make impressive plans to do a great work for God. They expect that those plans will bring great honour to God. It is good that they love God so much (Mark 12:30). It is also good that they have eager attitudes (2 Corinthians 8:16-22).

However, they may not have understood properly how God works. God always acts to bring honour to his own name; therefore, his honour does not depend on the actions of any person (Psalm 115:1). So, it is always God who must act in any situation (Psalm 127:1).

God’s people are the servants whom God directs to carry out his plans (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). They have the great honour to do the work that he has provided for them to do (Ephesians 2:10). In that way, their lives can achieve truly wonderful things for God, in this world (1 Corinthians 15:10).

David and Nathan were both prophets (Acts 2:29-30), holy men who received messages from God. Their desires were good and their attitudes were sincere. David’s plan was to build the temple, in other words, the magnificent house of God in Jerusalem. Nathan approved very much of this plan; however, it was still a human plan, of human origin. It was not God’s plan (see Psalm 127:1).

God did have a plan in this situation - and it was greater and more wonderful than anything that David could imagine. God’s plan included not just the temple in Jerusalem, but the future of David’s family (2 Samuel 7:11-18; Psalm 132).

Next part: Nathan approves of David's plan (2 Samuel 7:3)

 

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