Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Samuel 7
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
2 Samuel 7
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
2 Samuel 7
"And it came to pass, when the king dwelt in his house, and Jehovah had given him rest from all his enemies round about, that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains." — 2 Samuel 7:1-2 (ASV)
And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
He said no more, but his intention was very plain, namely, to build a house that should be a more suitable abode for the ark of the Lord.
"And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thy heart; for Jehovah is with thee." — 2 Samuel 7:3 (ASV)
He spoke too fast. Even prophets, who are inspired by God, must wait on their Master for their message; and when they utter words that come only from their own mouths, they say what they will have to unsay before long. It did look very clear that this was the proper thing for Nathan to say to David; but he did not have a "Thus saith the Lord" for it.
"And it came to pass the same night, that the word of Jehovah came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah, Shalt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?" — 2 Samuel 7:4-5 (ASV)
And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD,–
"You have already let him know what Nathan had to say about the matter; now go and tell him what Jehovah says:"
"Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah, Shalt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?" — 2 Samuel 7:5 (ASV)
Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
The conception was altogether too low. He has made all space, time is his creation, and the arch of heaven stands by his almighty power; should he himself have a house in which he can dwell?
"for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle." — 2 Samuel 7:6 (ASV)
A structure to be set up, and taken down, and to be moved about wherever the people journeyed. That was sufficient to be a central shrine of worship, and God cared for nothing else.
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