misunderstood and maltreated verse 13 of 2 Samuel 7—we hear for the first time the determination of Almighty God, that as long as He shall have a human people for His own possession (and that too is ‘for ever’, see v. 24), so long shall the seed of David be the covenanted bearer of a divinely conferred and divinely maintained sovereignty over it.13 Yahweh’s promise to David then would never simply play out, exhausted by passage of time. Much more could be said, should be said; but I want you to hear