Theme: Son of God

The Prophecy of Nathan – 2 Samuel 7:12-16 24 Sep 2009

The prophecy of Nathan without doubt point to Jesus Christ, the son of God. “I will make his kingdom firm. It is he who shall build a house for my name. And I will make his royal throne firm forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.”

But verses 13-15 can sometimes confuse us with Solomon;

1. Why is it that verse 13 was not indicating the temple built by Solomon; and that the son here not Solomon?

David indeed had proposed to build a house for God, which God did not permit. Yet, approving the piety of David's intention, God was pleased to reward it by promising that he would make a house for DAVID; which house, to be built by God, was certainly not material, but a spiritual house, or family, to be raised up for the honour of God, and the salvation of mankind. And this house, which God would make, was to be built by David's SEED; and this seed was to be raised up AFTER David has rest with his ancestors; which words clearly exclude Solomon, who was set up and placed upon the throne BEFORE David was dead.

This building promised by God, was to be erected by one of David's descendants, who was also to be an everlasting king; and indeed the house and the kingdom were both of them to be established forever. Now that this house or spiritual building was to be set up, together with a kingdom, by the Messiah, is clear from Zechariah; who very emphatically says, (Zech. vi. 12, 13,) Behold the man whose name is The Branch; HE SHALL BUILD THE TEMPLE of the Lord. Even HE SHALL BUILD THE TEMPLE of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his THRONE.

2. Could verse 14 be poorly translated? Because v14 supposes that this son might commit iniquity, which could not be the case for the Messiah.

Instead of “to commit iniquity”, Could it in the passive sense signify “to suffer for iniquity”.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son: EVEN IN HIS SUFFERING FOR INIQUITY, I shall chasten him with the rod of men, (with the rod due to men,) and with the stripes (due to) the children of ADAM.

He hath carried OUR SORROWS, (i.e., the sorrows due to us, and which we must otherwise have suffered,) he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. And thus (as it follows) thine house (O David) and thy kingdom shall, in Messiah, be established for ever before ME: (before GOD:) thy throne shall be established for ever. Thus the angel, delivering his message to the virgin mother, Luke 1. v32, 33, speaks as if he was quoting from this very prophecy: The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob FOR EVER: and of his kingdom there shall be no end.