Rev. Don Campbell
2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 20
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, May 7, 2019
“THE BEST COMMENTARY ON THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WORD OF GOD”
The Bible tells the story of sin and redemption, beginning in Genesis chapter three. Ironically, the first glimpse of redemption is given to Satan: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (v.15). Looking back from our vantage point we see this as a reference to the Messiah. There are many such prophecies which comingle near and far fulfillments—that is an immediate, temporal fulfillment and a future spiritual fulfillment. Men often search a passage with a fine-tooth comb, assign a meaning to it, and then force later revelations to harmonize with their predetermined interpretation. The proper method is to identify commentary made by the Holy Spirit which interprets earlier revelations.
In our reading today, we hear God speaking through Nathan and promising David that after he died, God would raise an offspring who would build God a house (2 Samuel 7:12-13). If it were not for later revelations, we might conclude that this promise pertained only to the immediate, temporal fulfillment that was realized when God established Solomon on his throne. Notice, however, that God said, “I will establish his kingdom forever.”
We now go to the first gospel sermon preached after the ascension of Christ. The Holy Spirit guided Peter to quote David’s praise of God’s promise of security in Psalm 16:8-10. Peter said, “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool”’ (Acts 2:29-35).
Between 2 Samuel seven and Acts two are many prophecies of the same nature. In fact, Peter says that all the prophets from Samuel on proclaimed “these days” (Acts 3:24). Did they understand their own prophecies? No! “Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:10-12). The best commentary on the Word of God is the Word of God—Scripture interprets Scripture.
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
CONNECTIONS
1. Isaiah said, “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David” (55:3, KJV). According to Paul, to what does this refer? (Acts 13:32-39)
2. Based on Isaiah 49, verses 3 & 6, would it be a logical conclusion to believe God was speaking of the restoration of Israel? What is Paul’s explanation? (Acts 13:47)?
