Lectionary Year B
July 20, 2003
II Samuel 7:1-14a

Step IV: Cross-Section

A. Primitive Christianity

(JFC) The ordinary citizen on the streets and roads of the first century believed the Messiah would come from the line of David, John 7:42 and Acts 13:23 attest. Even the angels explained to the virgin Mary in Luke 1:27-33 that her son will be a Dividide and His Kingdom will last eternally. II Corinthians 6:16b-18 quote God as saying, "I will live with these people and walk with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people." Then, "The Lord also says, 'Leave them (the wicked, unrighteous, non-believers, in the dark) and stay away! Don't touch anything that is unclean. Then I will welcome you and be your Father. You will be my sons and daughters, as surely as I am God, the All-Powerful'." These passages, in Aland-Nestle's NTG index, are from CEV. Hertzberg cites John 4:21, Acts 7:48f and 17:24 as referring to "the worship of God in temples is regarded as a stage to be superceded."

B. Old Testament and Judaism

(JFC) This week's OT lection is paralleled in I Corinthians 17:1-13a. It is close to verbatim repeated. Psalm 89 asks God for salvation from enemies and declares God's choice of David to anoint and to remain with forever, especially the 4th, 20th-23rd, 29th, 36th and the 49th verses. Also Psalm 132:11-18 lists some of God's promised blessings on/for David as our text at hand does. The King is designated as God's, Yahweh's, son in Psalm 2:7 and he will reign without any enemy prevailing against him in Psalm 2:1-6; 18:31-45, 21:7-12; 132:17f and 144:10f. Isaiah (7:9; 14:32; 28:12 and 16f and 30:15) trusted in God's promises like those to David in our text. The first century BCE Psalms of Solomon 17:4 prays, "Lord, you chose David to be king over Israel, and swore to him about his descendants forever, that his kingdom should not fail before you." It was all done in the auspices of the All Mighty.

C. Hellenistic World

(JFC) These philosophers could probably readily envision King David at peace in the opening line of our text and also identify with his restlessness in expressly wanting to build an appropriate place for the Ark of the Covenant. They would likely discuss God's having a better idea than even David, re: who and when such an edifice would be proper, too. The lineage of David possibly appealed to their sense of family values, as well. Furthermore, the absence of enemies to bother David's successors might interest their discernment for prioritizing peace and peacemaking.



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