2 Samuel 7:24

For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel [to be] a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.

For thou hast confirmed {H3559} to thyself thy people {H5971} Israel {H3478} to be a people {H5971} unto thee for {H5704} ever {H5769}: and thou, LORD {H3068}, art become {H1961} their God {H430}.

You set up your people for yourself as your people forever; and you, ADONAI, became their God.

For You have established Your people Israel as Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.

And thou didst establish to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever; and thou, Jehovah, becamest their God.

Commentary

2 Samuel 7:24 is a profound declaration within King David's prayer of thanksgiving, following God's monumental promise known as the Davidic Covenant. This verse encapsulates God's unwavering faithfulness and the eternal nature of His relationship with the nation of Israel.

Context

This verse immediately follows God's gracious revelation to King David through the prophet Nathan, where God promises to establish David's house, kingdom, and throne forever (2 Samuel 7:16). David is overwhelmed by this divine favor, far beyond anything he could have asked or imagined. His prayer, spanning 2 Samuel 7:18-29, is a heartfelt response acknowledging God's greatness and His faithfulness to His covenant promises, not just to David personally but to Israel as a whole. This particular verse reflects on God's enduring commitment to the entire nation.

Key Themes

  • God's Enduring Covenant with Israel: The verse highlights God's active role in "confirming" Israel as His people "for ever." This speaks to their unique status as a people chosen by God from among all nations (Deuteronomy 7:6). It underscores the permanency of God's covenantal relationship with them.
  • Divine Faithfulness: David recognizes that God is true to His word. The phrase "thou hast confirmed" emphasizes the divine guarantee and unshakeable nature of this relationship. God is not fickle; His promises are secure and established by His own power.
  • Eternal Relationship: The phrase "for ever" (Hebrew: olam) underscores the perpetual nature of God's commitment to Israel. This is a foundational concept in understanding God's continuing plan for His chosen people, extending through all generations and into eternity.
  • God as Their God: The declaration "and thou, LORD, art become their God" reaffirms the core covenantal relationship first established at Sinai (Exodus 6:7). It signifies a personal, protective, and intimate bond, where God is sovereign over His people and they are uniquely His.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "confirmed" is qum (קוּם), which conveys the idea of establishing, raising up, or making firm. It implies a divine act of securing something permanently and irreversibly. The use of qum here reinforces the unshakeable nature of God's covenant with Israel. Similarly, "for ever" comes from the Hebrew olam (עוֹלָם), which denotes eternity, perpetuity, or an indefinite duration. In the context of God's covenant, it signifies a lasting and unbreakable bond, reflecting God's eternal purposes for His people.

Practical Application & Significance

For believers today, 2 Samuel 7:24 offers immense comfort and assurance. It reminds us that God is a covenant-keeping God, eternally faithful to His promises. If He is eternally faithful to His chosen people Israel, we can trust in His faithfulness to His promises for us, whether through the new covenant in Christ or His personal assurances in our lives. This verse encourages us to reflect on God's unwavering character and to live in confidence of His enduring love and presence, knowing that what He establishes, He establishes forever.

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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 26:18 (5 votes)

    And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that [thou] shouldest keep all his commandments;

  • 1 Peter 2:10 (4 votes)

    Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

  • Genesis 17:7 (3 votes)

    ¶ And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

  • John 1:12 (3 votes)

    But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

  • Isaiah 12:2 (3 votes)

    Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation.

  • Jeremiah 31:33 (3 votes)

    But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

  • Psalms 48:14 (3 votes)

    For this God [is] our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide [even] unto death.