The Bible Says
2 Samuel 7:8-9a Meaning

There is a parallel scripture of 2 Samuel 7:8-9 in 1 Chronicles 17:7-8.

2 Samuel 7:8-9b begins the second part of the LORD’s message to David through the prophet Nathan. This second part of the LORD’s message (2 Samuel 7:8-16) presents the Davidic Covenant.

2 Samuel 7:8-9b establishes the divine foundation of the Davidic Covenant which God is about to promise to King David in 2 Samuel 7:9b-17. God’s promise to David is that the LORD will establish his house and the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Samuel 2:16).

The promise of the Davidic Covenant is fulfilled in Jesus, David’s descendant (Matthew 1:1, 1:17, Luke 1:32-33)

In the previous section of scripture, David had suggested to the prophet Nathan that he wanted to build a permanent house for the ark of God (2 Samuel 7:1-2). Initially Nathan thought it was a good idea, but the word of the LORD came to Nathan in the middle of the night and gave him a different plan that he was to tell David (2 Samuel 7:3-7).

The LORD’s message had two parts to it. The first part directly addressed David’s desire to build a temple for the ark of God (2 Samuel 7:5-7).

It seems that God did not want David to build His house because:

1. God had not commanded it.
   (2 Samuel 7:6-7)
   
   
2. God is sovereign-His will, not human ambition, accomplishes His objectives.
   (Psalm 3310-11, Proverbs 19:21, Isaiah 46:10)
   
   
3. God’s plan was for David’s offspring to build it.
   (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
   
   
4. David was a warrior king and a man of war who had shed much blood.
   (1 Chronicles 22:8, 28:3)
   
   
5. God did not wish to be misunderstood to be like the transactional pagan gods.
   (Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Samuel 15:22)
   
   
6. The temple was to be built during a time of peace under David’s son, Solomon.
   (1 Chronicles 22:9-10)

Now in 2 Samuel 7:8-17, the word of the LORD continues the second part of His message to David through Nathan the prophet with a divine promise to David-instead of David building God’s house, God promises to establish David’s throne forever.

The word of the LORD continued speaking to the prophet Nathan:

Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you (vv 8-9a).

The expression-Now therefore-signals to Nathan (and the reader) that the word of the LORD is not finished speaking but is about to say something different than what He has previously said. In other words, the LORD is changing subjects.

Previously, the word of the LORD was suggesting that David not be the one to build His house (2 Samuel 7:4-7). Now the word of the LORD will talk about what the LORD has done for David and what He will do for him. Instead of David building a house for Him, God will build a house for David-a dynasty without end.

The LORD refers to David as: My servant David.

This is the second time King David has been described by God as My servant in this message. The first time was in 2 Samuel 7:5. This expression puts David in similar company with great (v 9b) men such as Abraham, Moses, and Job (Genesis 26:24, Numbers 12:7, Job 1:8, 2:3).

The prophet Nathan is to tell David: Thus says the LORD of hosts to indicate that the following message is from the LORD and not Nathan’s personal opinion, as was the case when the prophet told the king to do what was in his mind (2 Samuel 7:3).

In the first part of the LORD’s message (2 Samuel 7:5-7), Nathan was told to tell David: “Thus says the LORD…” (2 Samuel 7:5). But here in the second part of the LORD’s message, Nathan is told to tell David: Thus says the LORD of hosts.

Both expressions indicate a prophetic utterance or message from God. But the expanded phrase Thus says the LORD of hosts adds a military and cosmic dimension, portraying God not only as covenant-maker but also as the supreme commander of angelic armies and all heavenly forces. This expression emphasizes His unmatched authority and power.

The term translated as hosts is “Sabaoth” in Hebrew. It means “armies.” Sabaoth refers to the angelic armies of heaven, whose leader is the LORD. The term qualifies God as a warrior and the phrase the LORD of hosts describes His power as He leads His army to defeat His adversaries (Amos 5:16, 9:5; Habakkuk 2:17). It demonstrates God's power as the supreme warrior who has complete control and authority over all human affairs. He will fight for Judah, and they “will devour and trample on the sling stones” (Zechariah 9:15).

This expression may have reminded David that though he was a victorious warrior king (1 Chronicles 22:8, 28:3), it is the invincible LORD of hosts who has graciously given him all of his victories.

The LORD of hosts’ message to His servant David is from one Warrior King to another warrior king. The message could be something like, “I too am a Warrior King like you. Instead of you building Me a house, I am going to build you a house.”

The second part of the LORD’s message to David through Nathan continues by recalling all that I, the LORD of hosts, have personally done for David up to this point in his life:

I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel (v 8b).

God’s statement to David begins with the pronoun-I. This lets David know that the LORD of hosts is the One who has personally intervened on David’s behalf to exalt (v 8) and deliver him (v 9a). The LORD will continue to use the pronoun-I-as He presents His covenant with David and states each promise which the LORD will personally do for him vv 9b-17).

God is reminding His servant that it was the LORD who elevated David to the throne of Israel. Before God sent his prophet Samuel to Jesse’s house, David was an overlooked young man from the pasture who herded and followed the sheep (1 Samuel 16:11). Because of the LORD, David was now the ruler over God’s people.

The LORD then reminded David how He has continually blessed him.

I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you (v 9a).

This a personal and powerful reminder of God’s faithful presence and sovereign protection of His servant David amidst numerous trials and dangers. These words reflect not only divine companionship but also divine initiative. It reiterates that it was the LORD of hosts who gave David his victories. It was not David’s luck. And it was not David’s skill, courage, or military strength alone.

The LORD of hosts cut off all of David’s enemies from before him. Every time David eluded the traps set by his enemies or was delivered from danger, and every time he won a victory over his enemies, it was the LORD of hosts who saved or exalted him.

Here is a short list of some of the occasions where the LORD of hosts protected David from his enemies:

• The LORD caused David to kill the Philistine giant, Goliath.
  (1 Samuel 17, Psalm 9:5-6)

• The LORD caused David to prosper in battle, and Saul set him over the men of war.
  (1 Samuel 18:5, 14)

• The LORD protected David when Saul tried to kill him. He escaped through Michal’s help, Jonathan’s interventions and warning, Ahimelech’s provision, Achish’s protection, and Gad’s counsel.
  (1 Samuel 19-22)

• The LORD caused David to defeat the Philistines at Keilah. He rescued the town by God’s instruction.
  (1 Samuel 23:1-5)

• The LORD providentially delivered David when Saul nearly captured him, by using a Philistine invasion to redirect Saul.
  (1 Samuel 23:26-28)

• The LORD was with David when he fled to the Philistine king, Achish. Achish found favor with David and protected him from Saul and the Philistines.
  (1 Samuel 27, 29)

• The LORD gave David victory over the Amalekites.
  (1 Samuel 30:1-20)

• The LORD gave King David victory over the Philistines twice with His guidance.
  (2 Samuel 5:17-25, 1 Chronicles 14:8-17)

The LORD of hosts has been with David wherever he has gone, all the way from the pasture to the palace. God’s continued presence in David’s life has been the decisive factor in every success, especially in moments of mortal danger and political uncertainty.

By reminding David of his humble beginnings following sheep, and of all these past deliverances, God establishes the foundation for His coming promises and the covenant that the LORD is about to make with David.

This foundation sets the tone for the covenant that follows.

God rejected Saul as king because Saul would not obey Him (1 Samuel 15:26-28). God chose David because of his heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Now God calls David-My servant-because David has continued to serve Him.

Just as the LORD of hosts has been with David through every circumstance and trial, He will continue to fulfill His purposes through him and his lineage. God will greatly reward David’s faithful service by granting him the promise of a dynasty that will never end. This promise will be fulfilled through Jesus Christ.

After Jesus resurrected, all authority was given unto Him in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). He was given the reward of being a “Son” (Hebrews 1:5). He was given the scepter of the earth and restored humanity’s right to reign over the earth (Hebrews 1:8,13, 2:9). Amazingly, Jesus has promised all who believe in Him to share His throne of authority if they overcome as He overcame (Revelation 3:21). This means that the LORD’s promise to David is a foreshadowing of the promise Jesus, the Son of David, will make to all who believe in Him.