An Eternal House for David: Reflections on 2 Samuel 7:1-14a

July 15, 2012 by John Holbert

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But for Christians much more occurred. Because the Gospels regularly connected Jesus with the house of David (see especially those accounts of Palm/Passion Sunday), the early Christians were convinced that the eternal promise to David's throne included an eternal promise for Jesus' kingship over all. Hence, vastly important theological ideas poured from this text both for Judaism and for Christianity.

That is the history of the text. But it is interesting that the lectionary stops at verse 14a. Listen to the rest of verse 14. "When he commits iniquity, I will strike him with a human rod, with mortal blows." Well, that is a promise of a different sort! Even in this obvious piece of pure propaganda for the house of David and his son Solomon, the author cannot fail to warn this would-be eternal kingdom that God remains vigilant and will not be mocked, no matter how powerful these would-be eternal kings fancy themselves to be. In short, this propaganda becomes more than propaganda. There is never in the sight of this God carte blanche for any kings, even if they claim a throne promised by God to be an eternal one.

Once again, as the Bible regularly does, we are warned not to get too comfortable with our gifts and privileges from God. Nowhere in the Scripture is one chosen by God for ease and comfort; responsibility for the world comes with God's choice. Simplistic readers, beware! Even here in 2 Samuel 7, "things are seldom what they seem." You have been warned!

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About John Holbert

John C. Holbert is the Lois Craddock Perkins Professor Emeritus of Homiletics at Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, TX.

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