u When the time of thy life ſhall expire. This Phraſe implies, that his days ſhall be compleated and prolonged to the uſual courte and ſtint of Nature, and nor cut off in the midſt, by any violent or untimely death. x I will ſer up in thy ſtead and Throne, thy Poſteriry, firſt So/cmom, and then others tucceſhively, and ar laſt the Mcſſias. So the following words may be underſtood diverſiy, part of his Poſterity in general or indefinitely taken ; part of Solomon, and part of Chriſt only, according to the ditfering nature of rhe teveral paſſages. y Our of rhy inward parrs, or from thy Loins ; who thal] be begotten by thee.
12 * He ſhall build an houſe z for my Name «, and I will ſftabliſh che chrone of his kingdom b for ever.
z This is meant lirerally and immediately of Solomon, who alone did build the material Houte or Temple ; bur myitically and ulti- mately of Chritt, who is the Builder of God's Spiritual Houſe or Temple Heb. 3:3, 6: 1Pet:2: 5: ate tor my Service,and Worlhip and Glory. 6 This is not mcant of S»lomon, for his Kingdom was not f-» ever, And though the Phrate for ever is fomerimes uſed of the time of a Man's Life, yet ir cannot be fo underſtood here. becauſe the Mercy here promited tro David's Son is of another nature, and of tar longer continuance, than that which was giver to Saul. v. 15. who yet enjoyed the Kingdom as long as he lived, Bur it 1s to be unceritood of David's Poſterity in general, but with ſpecial reſpe& to Chriſt, in whoſe Perſon the Kingdom was to be lodged for ever, Iſa: g: 7: Dan: 2: 44: Luke I; 32: 33.
14 * I will be his father, and he ſhall be my ſon c : * if he commit iniquity 4d, I will chaſten him with the rod of men .*., and with the ſtripes of the children of men : :
c I will carry my ſelf towards him as becomes a Father,” with all affetion and tenderneſs, and I will owne him as my Son- Thi iS 1:rended both of Solomen, as a Type of Chriſt ; and of Chriit himſelf, as is evident from Heb: 1: 5. &d This agrees only to Sols- mon and ſome others of David's Poſterity 3 bur nor tro Chriſt, who never committed Iniquity, as Solomon did, who thercin was no Type of Chriſt, and therefore this branch is terminated in Solc- men ; whereas in thole things wherein Solomon was: a Type ot Chrit, the ſenſe paſlerh through Solomon unto Chrilt. Either, Firſt, With ſuch Rods as Men ule to corre& their Sons, or to bear other Men : which are here oppoicd to the Rods or Strokes which an angry God inflits. See Fob 23: 6: Pſal: 39: 11. Iſa; 47:3; Rom 9: 22: Heb 109 31: and 12: 299 Or, Secondly, With tuch Rods as are gentle and moderate, and ſuited ro Man's weakneis ; as a tolerable and retiitible rempration is called humane, or common to men, 1 Cor. 1o. 13.
I5 Burt my mercy e ſhall not depart away from him, as 1 took ir from Saul f, whom I put away before thee.
'e7, e, Or my kinaneſs, i. e. the Kingdom which I have mer- citully and kindly promiſed to thee and thine. f In regard of _ Foſterity, for the Kingdom was contiued to his Perſon during ute.
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1s rightly ſaid to be before him.
16 And thine houſe, and thy kingdom ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever * before thee g: thy throne ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever.
'£ Thine Eyes in ſome ſort beholding it : for he lived to ſee his Wiſe and Godly Son Solomon aQtually placed in the Throne, with great reputation and general applauſe, 1 Kngs 1. 39, 40» which was 1n it {cif a good prefage of 'the continuance of the Kingdom 1n his Family ; and being conſidered, rogether with the :ntajhble certainty of God's Promite to him and his for ever, of che accompliſhment whereof, this was an earneſt, gave him good aſſurance thereof ; eſpecially conſidering that he had his Eyes and Thoughts upon the Mefliah, Pſal: r 10; i, &c. whote day he ſaw by Faith, as Abraham did, Jebn 8: 56: and whom he knew chat &od would raiſe out of the fruit of his Loins, to fit on 1s Throne, as is affirmed, Afts 2. 30. and that for ever : and 1o the Eterniry of his Kingdom [The LXX and Syrack read before me, Which is an uſual Phraſe, which makes no great variation 1n the Hebrew Text.
17 According to all theſe words, and according to all this viſion, fo did Nathan ſpeak unto David þ.
hþ Although it was contrary to his own Opinion, and an evi- dence of his Raſhneſs :n1 Folly. This therefore is here mention= <d as an evidence of his Fidehty and Impartiality in relating the whole Mind of God herein, and of his Modeſty in taking Shame ro himſelf.
18 C Then wene king David in, and fat 3 before :he LORD, and ſaid, Who aml, O LOR D God ?
nd what is my houſe, that thou haſt brought me utherto & ? |
# This word may note either, firſt, his Bodily geſture : for there 'S No certain geſture-to which Prayer is limited ; and we have -xamples of Saints Praying in that poſture, Exod; 17; 12: « Kings 19: 4: or, he might fir for a ſeaſon whilſt he was Meditating upon cheſe things, and then alter his Poſture, ( though it be not here ex- prefled ) and betake himſelf to Prayer. Or rather, Secondly, His :ontinuance there, as this Hebrew word is oft uſed, as Gen: 27: 44; Levit: 14:8: 1 Sam: 1: 22: and 20: 19: that he did nor barely pre- ſent himſelf before God, bur abode there for ſome competent time, chat he might with God's leave pour out his Soul freely before. him. For howſoever one may in 1lome caſes pray fitting, yer it is noſt probable that David would in this Holy Place, and upon this occaſion, uſe a more humble and reverent Geſture, ſuch as kneeling is, which therefore David preſcribeth or adviſeth, Pſal. g5: 6: and Solomon accordingly prattifeth. 1 Kings 8: 54: 2 Chron: 6:13, kHow infinitely unworthy am I and my Family of this great honour and happineſs |! : 19 And this / was yet a ſmall thing in thy ſight, O LORD God »- : but thou haſt ſpoken alſo of thy {ervants houſe for « great while to come » : and 5s this
the F manner of man, O LORD God o?