By Bryan D. Gill, D.Min.
Director of the Office of Faith, Learning and Vocation, Samford University
God’s Promise of a King
2 Samuel 7:8–16
In 1997, Fred Rogers received the Emmy’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his impact on the lives of so many children. In his acceptance speech, he said, “So many people have helped me to come to this night … All of us have special ones who have loved us into being.” Then he asked the audience to take 10 seconds to think about those who helped them become who they are. Audience members were in tears as they thought about the many people who prepared the way for them and those who loved them along their journey to stardom.
In every great person’s life, there are people behind the scenes working just as hard or harder than the person in the spotlight. In our passage for today, we are reminded that the source of King David’s greatness was God.
God is at work in our lives. (8–9)
God had a special appointment for David as King of Israel. In verses 8 and 9, God is reminding David that his past, present and future is in God’s hands. God took him from being a shepherd boy and made him king. As king, God removed all of his enemies. And in the future, God would make King David’s name great.
We often think highly of King David, and rightfully so. However, the only reason we know anything about David is because of the great work God did through him. David would not have become the king we all know about if it had not been for God preparing the way and equipping David to do great things.
God establishes His people. (10–11)
When God has a plan, He will provide the necessary resources so that the plan will be successful. For the Israelites, they needed a place to call their own and relief from their enemies. God promised that He would give these to David and his kingdom, and He did. God still works in this way today. I’ve heard countless stories of God providing resources for churches or missionaries who were praying for God’s provision.
The benediction in Hebrews 13:20–21 is a prayer that God would “equip you with everything good for doing His will.” Even now, God equips His children to accomplish His will. When we realize that God is working out His will in the background, we are able to see His hand more clearly when He provides for His people.
God will place His king over an everlasting kingdom. (12–16)
God promises two things in verses 12–16. The first is that David’s offspring would establish a house for God. This is referring to Solomon and the temple he would build. God is promising David that his heir would sit on the throne in the house he would build. Secondly, God is reassuring David that he would not only have an earthly heir, but one who would rule eternally. This eternal king is Jesus, as He was born from the lineage of King David.
We often think of our tasks and our service to God as temporary and earthly in nature. However, God has an eternal mindset and works beyond what we can comprehend. God’s will reaches far beyond what we will see with our own eyes, but our work for the Lord is eternal. God is always working in the background of those He calls to do His will. He equips and provides for them, and He sustains their eternal work.
Share with others: