2 Samuel 7:12-13
When one thinks about the church and its beginnings, where does their mind immediately go? Acts 2? They should know that the kingdom that Jesus promised to build in Matt 16:18 was planned many years before the Lord professed these beautiful words.
As one approaches 2 Sam 7, they can notice that David finds himself in a blessed condition, “Now when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,” (2 Sam 7:1). David has been given a house and peace; things are going well at home, personally and nationally. David’s house is built by the king of Tyre (2 Sam 5:11), likely from the beautiful trees of Lebanon.
Now that David is at home, he desires to build a home for his God (2 Sam 7:2); he never forgot his Rewarder. Nathan encourages David to do that very thing, until he is corrected by God (2 Sam 7:3-7). God did not tell anyone prior that He wanted something different than the tabernacle; David was not to take it upon himself to build God a house mainly because he was a man of war (1 Chron 28:3).
Although David is not allowed to build God a house, one would come and build Him one (2 Sam 7:12-13). In the immediate context, one can see that, of course, this is Solomon, as he would build the first temple (1 Kings 6). But the reader cannot miss certain details that point us to a greater Builder (cf. Matt 12:42). Jesus promised to build His church, which is the kingdom of God (Matt 16:17-18). Interestingly, the church is also called the house of God (1 Tim 3:15). So can the reader not only notice the immediate context of 2 Sam 7:12-13, but also notice the Messianic/kingdom prophecy?
Notice details about the house being built in 2 Sam 7:12-13. “When your days are fulfilled, and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom” (v.12). When the church was established, Peter referred to the death of David (Acts 2:29). This shows when it would be established. “I will raise up your offspring after you” (v.12). Jesus established the church; He was of the seed of David (Luke 1:31-33; Acts 2:30). This shows Who would establish it. “He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever” (v.13). The kingdom/church would be forever (Dan 2:44; Matt 16:17-19). This shows for how long it will be established.
The diligent Bible student understands that the church was established in Acts 2, but let them not miss that this great kingdom, which shows the manifold wisdom of God (Eph 3:10), was planned before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4-5), and one of the many instances that shows this can be found seated in 2 Sam 7:12-13.
-Willie Bagwell