The Word for today:
2 Samuel 7
mark this: 2 Samuel 7:12-17
If your Bible has one of those neat old-time ribbon markers and you're not using it much, consider lodging it permanently at 2 Samuel chapter 7.
The Bible rounds third and heads for home at 2 Samuel 7, because here God promises that one of David's descendants will reign forever.
All the prophets from this point forward will make this promised King, and his Kingdom, their theme song. Scrupulously kept genealogies will record every birth in the dynastic line...
until, one thousand years after David...
an industrious carpenter from the line of David's son Solomon, and his teenage bride from the line of David's son Nathan...
went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child (1).
That child is the focal point of scripture and of history. Second Samuel 7 casts a laser beam which cuts through the Bible straight into a stable in Bethlehem...
And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn...
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (2).
Think of 2 Samuel 7 as Christmas Eve: all promise and gathering excitement; anticipation, and eager awaiting. That's exactly what the covenant with David is: God's promise to David of the greatest gift of all.
In Biblical, timeless terms, 2 Samuel 7 is the night before Christmas.
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(1) Luke 2:4-5; (2) Luke 2:6-7, 9-11
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