Along with God’s covenants with Abram and with Israel at Sinai, this was a high-water mark in history.
You see that 2 Samuel 7 is divided into four unequal parts: David talks with Nathan (vv 1-3); God talks with Nathan (vv 4-16); Nathan talks with David (v 17); and David talks with God (vv 18-29). David’s desire to “build a house” for God (v 5) is dwarfed by this monumental revelation: “the Lord tells you that He will make YOU a house” (v 11). It’s good to notice no upset in either Nathan or David when corrected by God. This royal house will be established in Solomon’s day, and God says, “I will be his Father, and he shall be My son” (v 14). Though there will be moral failure in this line of kings, requiring severe chastening “with the rod of men” (v 14), yet the Lord promises that He will persist until “your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you” (v 16). From our vantage point in history, we know who the final glorious King will be in this line! See how this realigned David’s thinking. He was the king, wasn’t he? So why not build something? But now, no fewer than ten times in verses 18-29, David speaks of himself as “Your servant.” This beautiful response gathers around the following themes: Who am I? (vv 18-21); Who are You? (v 22); Who are Your people? (vv 23-25); concluding with God’s sure promise for continued blessing (vv 26-29). “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?” (v 18). He doesn’t directly answer the question, but the implication is obvious. He was not chosen for his greatness, but by God’s grace. “For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things…Therefore You are great, O Lord God” (vv 21-22). Amen, David! When the Lord takes up people like us, it reveals His greatness and grace.