2 Samuel 7:1-16

2 Samuel 7:1-16 2 Samuel 1-11

2 Samuel 7:1-16
(2 Samuel 7:1-14a)
With thanks to page sponsor 2014:
The Rev. Mary Lessmann
Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, Dallas

Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- Hebrew Interlinear Bible, WLCv, WLC5, CHES, AV.
- The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
- Chapter CXVIII, Dialogue With Trypho, Justin Martyr. (c 160)
- III.20, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 209)
- X.22, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.230)
- Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
- From the Geneva Notes.
  - "He promises them quietness, if they will walk in his fear and obedience."
- From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
  - "Nathan here did not speak as a prophet, but as a godly man, encouraging David by his private judgment. We ought to do all we can to encourage and promote the good purposes and designs of others, and, as we have opportunity, to forward a good work."
- From Wesley's Notes.
  - "The design being pious and the thing not forbidden by God, Nathan hastily approves it, before he had consulted God about it, as both he and David ought to have done in a matter of so great moment. And therefore Nathan meets with this rebuke, that he is forced to acknowledge his error, and recant it. For the holy prophets did not speak all things by prophetic inspiration, but some things by an human spirit."
- From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
  - "Cedar was the rarest and most valuable timber. The elegance and splendor of his own royal mansion, contrasted with the mean and temporary tabernacle in which the ark of God was placed, distressed the pious mind of David."
Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
- Commentary, 2 Samuel 7:1-14a (Pentecost +8), Ralph W. Klein, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2015.
  - "It would be difficult to overestimate the importance of this passage for both Jews and Christians."
- The Center for Excellence in Preaching, Scott Hoezee, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, illustration ideas, 2015.
- "Except Everyone Is Watching," Lynn Miller, Art & Faith Matters, celebrating our creative and living God by generating art and architecture resources for congregations and individuals. Art and Faith Matters facebook page contains additional resources.
- Commentary, 2 Samuel 7:1-14a (Pentecost +8), Robert Hoch, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2012.
  - "The church may always be caught in the tension of genuine faith and more self-absorbed agendas, but perhaps this text is a Nathan for the church today, reminding it to frame the vision of its life with the vision of "thy will," opening our hearts, minds, and walls to the vision and breadth of God's love."
- "The Self-Righteous System and the Prophetic Task," Brennan Breed, ON Scripture, Odyssey Networks, 2014. Video: Are Our Institutions Failing Us?
- "Propaganda or Something Else?" John C. Holbert, Opening the Old Testament, 2014.
  - "Does not that child of Bethlehem come, too, to call us all to our higher and better selves? Does he not grow up to urge us to be less like David and more like him?"
- "An Eternal House for David," John C. Holbert, Patheos, 2012.
  - "Once again, as the Bible regularly does, we are warned not to get too comfortable with our gifts and privileges from God."
- "God Will Not Be Contained," Faith Element Discipleship System, "Setting the Bible Free," 2012.
- Commentary, 2 Samuel 7:1-11 (Advent 4), Elna K. Solvang, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
  - "Israel's hope does not rest in a dynasty but there is hope that from the house of David will come forth trustworthy leadership, attentive to the voices of those in need, and in faithful service to God's goals for Israel and the world."
- "David: King of Empire," Debbie Blue, The Hardest Question, 2011.
- "The Politics of 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 and Luke 1:26-38," Timothy F. Simpson, Political Theology, 2011.
- "Strange Relations," John C. Holbert, Patheos, 2011.
- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Studies on Old Testament texts from Series B, Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
- Commentary, 2 Samuel 7:1-14a (Pentecost 7), Richard W. Nysse, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
  - "The opening clause of 2 Samuel 7 sets up a tension that is explored throughout the chapter."
- The Old Testament Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-14a. Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan, Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
  - "What David was proposing was nothing short of a major upheaval to the way people understood the God of Israel and the way power was distributed within the society."
- "God the Exegete," Tim Bulkeley, 5 Minute Bible (podcast).
- The Old Testament Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16. Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
  - "...the Lord maintains divine freedom to the point which allows him to lead his people and all creation to new life. This is what we anticipate in the annunciation of the birth of Jesus."
- "Divine Favor," "Promises from the Past," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
  - "God declared David "his son." Through Christ, we are sons and daughters of God. How have you enjoyed God's favor this week? How can you show others they, too, are children of the Almighty?"
- "Building God's House (2 Samuel 7:1-29)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
  - "No matter how high and lofty our goals and plans may be, God's plans are greater."
Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
- Bodner, Keith, "Nathan: Prophet, Politician and Novelist?" Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2001. (See especially section beginning on page 44.)
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Brueggemann, Walter, "Rethinking Church Models through Scripture," Theology Today, 1991.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Cartledge, Tony W., "A House for God and a House for David," Word & World, 2003.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Craig, Kenneth M., Jr., "The Character(ization) of God in 2 Samuel 7:1-17," Semeia, 1993.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Firth, David G., "Shining the Lamp: The Rhetoric of 2 Samuel 5-24," Tyndale Bulletin, 2001.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- George, Mark K., "Fluid Stability in Second Samuel 7," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2002.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Goldsmith, Dale, "Acts 13:33-37: a Pesher on II Samuel 7," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1968.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Grisanti, Michael A., "The Davidic Covenant," Master's Seminary Journal, 1999.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Kruse, Heinz, "David's Covenant," Vetus Testamentum, 1985.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Laato, Antti, "Second Samuel 7 and Ancient Near Eastern Royal Ideology," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1997.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Levenson, Jon D., "A Technical Meaning for N'M in the Hebrew Bible," Vetus Testamentum, 1985.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Loretz, Oswald, "The Perfectum Copulativum in 2 Sm 7,9-11," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1961.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- McCarthy, Dennis J., SJ., "II Samuel 7 and the Structure of the Deuteronomic History," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1965.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- McKenzie, John L., S.J., "The Dynastic Oracle: II Samuel 7," Theological Studies, 1947.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- McKenzie, John L., S.J., "Royal Messianism," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1957.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Murray, D.F., "MQWM and the Future of Israel in 2 Samuel VII 10," Vetus Testamentum, 1990.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Norris, Kathleen, "Open Paths," The Christian Century, 2005.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Roehrs, Walter R., "Divine Covenants: Their Structure and Function," Concordia Journal, 1988.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Tsevat, Matitiahu, "Studies in the Book of Samuel, III. The Steadfast House: What Was David Promised in II Sam. 7:11b-16?" Hebrew Union College Annual, 1963.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Vanderhooft, David, "Dwelling beneath the Sacred Place: A Proposal for Reading 2 Samuel 7:10," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1999.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Sermons:
With Children:
- Worshiping with Children, Proper 11B, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2015. 2012.
- "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," June 14, 2015, Union Presbyterian Seminary.
- Worshiping with Children, Advent 4B, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2011.
- Celebrity Jesus -- Children's sermon based on Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 from SermonSuite.
- "King David," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
- "God Calls David to Be King of Israel," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
- "God's Covenant with David," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
Drama:
Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
- "The House Beloved," 2 Samuel 7, YouTube video, David Coleman, 2011.
- Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
Hymns and Music:
- Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
- God Builds a House, reflection and original hymn text by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia.
Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
Study Links and Resources for the Book of 2 Samuel