In 2 Samuel, we learn of King David’s desire to build a permanent dwelling for the Lord.  We read in verses 1-2, “And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.”  The Lord’s reply was that David would be allowed to build the Lord a house (temple).  He gave that honor to his son.  We read in verses 12-13, “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.” 

Although David was a man ‘after God’s own heart’ (read Acts 13:22), the Lord would not allow him to build His temple.  Why?  We read in 1 Chronicles 22:8-9, “But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.”  Since David was such a man of war, the Lord allowed his son, Solomon to build the temple.  He is called “a man of rest”, which speaks of him being at rest from war.  Literally, he was a man of peace. 

Concerning David’s son, Solomon, we read in 2 Samuel 7:14, “I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.”  We then read in verse 16, “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.”  Surely this prophesy goes far beyond the person of Solomon.  This can only be fulfilled in the Messiah, the eternal Son of God.  He alone has an “everlasting kingdom.” (2 Peter 1:11).  We find the fulfillment of the first part of verse 14, completed in Christ as we read in Hebrews 1:5, “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?”

If this verse is prophetic of the Lord Jesus, how do we understand it when it is said, “If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men?”  While this would certainly apply to Solomon, how could it apply to Christ.  Christ Himself declared in John 8:29, “I do always those things that please him.”  It is also said prophetically of the Lord in Psalm 40:8, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”  The Lord Jesus always did His Father’s will.  Even more than that, He found His delight in doing His Father’s will.

While the Lord Jesus certainly had no iniquity of His own, we do learn in Isaiah 53:6 that, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD HATH LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL.”  Verse 12 says that Christ “…bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”  We read in 1 Peter 2:24 that Christ, “…his own self BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY on the tree…”  Although Christ “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21), and “had no sin” (1 Peter 2:22), and “in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5), God literally punished Him for the sins we committed.  He did not use “the rod of men”, He punished Him with His own harsh and fierce judgment.  It is said prophetically of Christ in Psalm 88:7, “Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.”  We read of Him in Lamentations 1:12, “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD HATH AFFLICTED ME in the day of his fierce anger.”  Romans 8:32 tells us that the Lord, “spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all…”

What a glorious plan of salvation…that the only begotten Son of God should feel the fierce wrath of God and die for our sins!  2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.”  (400.4)