Why is this quote applied to the Son?

Question

“I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,” ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭

Or

“I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you,” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭17:13‬ ‭

Paul in the book of Hebrews (I stand with the early church fathers that Paul is the author) writes the following, presumably quoting the above two verses

“For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭

Much is implied here by Paul, but how is Paul making the connection that these, one or both OT passages are speaking about the Son?

And what tense is used, because for the ages to have been made by the Son, the Son had to have predated them as per Heb1:2.

Answer 1

2 Sam 7 is the formal establishment the Davidic (or Regal, or Royal) Covenant: 2 Sam 7, 23:5, 1 Kings 6:11, 12, 8:25, 1 Chron 17:11-14, 2 Chron 6:14-16, 7:17, 18, 13:5, Ps 89:4, 29, 34, 39, 132:11, 12, Jer 33:21, Eze 37:15-28. This is an eternal covenant.

The provisions of the Davidic Covenant were as follows.

• God promised to make David, a shepherd king over Israel. 2 Sam 7:9, 1 Kings 8:25, 2 Chron 21:7.
• God promised to defeat all David’s enemies and give him peace on all sides, 2 Sam 7:9
• David’s name would be great, 2 Sam 7:9-11
• God promised there would always be a blood descendant of David on his throne, by an eternal “covenant of salt” (ie very solemn), 2 Chron 13:5, forever, 2 Sam 7:13, 15, 16, Eze 37:26, (2 Sam 23:5).
• God promised that the descendant of David would have God as his Father and he would be His son, 2 Sam 7:14.
• David’s son, Solomon, was the person to build the temple, 2 Sam 7:12, 13.
• David and his descendants must remain faithful to God and keep all that is written in the Book of the Law (Deuteronomy), Deut 17:18, 31:26.

Note that the Davidic Covenant was distinct from the Israelite and Levitical Covenants – David became a type of the eternal reign of Messiah to come. While David and his successors were earthly kings, they were to recognise that the real king of Israel was God. 1 Sam 8:7, 8, 24:6, 2 Sam 19:21, 1 Chron 28:5, 29:23, 2 Chron 9:8, 13:8, Ps 5:2, 44:4. See also 1 Sam 12:14.

It is a simple matter of history that David’s descendants were not always faithful and the earthly Davidic dynasty ended in 586 BC with the final capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. However, the New Testament calls Jesus Christ, Messiah, “the Son of David” as a direct fulfilment of the (ultimately) eternal throne of David which Jesus inherited. Matt 1:1, 20, 9:27, 12:23, 15:22, 20:30, 15, 21:9, 15, Mark 10:35, Luke 1:32, 33, 18:38, 39, John 1:49, Acts 13:32-37, Heb 1:8. See also Rev 11:15, 19:16. Such a Messiah was prophesied long ago: Ex 15:18, Ps 10:16, 61:7, 68:16, 92:8, 93:5, 146:10, Isa 9:7, 47:7, Lam 5:19, Micah 4:7, etc. Compare Isa 55:3 with Acts 13:34 and John 1:49.

Note especially, what the angel said to Mary before Jesus’ birth in Luke 1:32, 33 –

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

CONCLUSION

2 Sam 7 said that David's son Solomon was to be the king of Israel as the earthly representative of the true heavenly kingdom that would ultimately be fulfilled by Messiah, David's (more distant) son and that this would be an eternal throne. Thus, both Solomon and Jesus fulfill this prophecy in 2 Sam 7.

Answer 2

Double meaning

Hebrew writing frequently makes a "dual prophecy" - that is, the prophet states something that will have a temporal fulfilment and a spiritual fulfilment, or an application in his day and an application at one (or both) comings of the Messiah:

E.g.

Isaiah spoke in such a manner that his words find application and fulfillment in many different ages or events in world history. (see Ludlow Isaiah - Prophet, Seer, and Poet p. 54)

--

Solomon or Jesus

The passage in 1 Chron. 17 more clearly illustrates the dual nature of the prophecy being spoken. Let's back up a few verses. God says to David:

11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.

13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son...

The seed of David is clearly applicable to Solomon, who built the temple, but it is also applicable to Jesus, a descendant of David who said destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.

The kingdom of God was indeed established/ordered by Jesus, and Solomon's throne was only "established forever" in the sense that the blessings of the gospel came through Israel to the whole world because of Jesus. In the physical sense, the kingdom of Solomon has long since fallen.

Hebrews rightly recognizes that this is a dual prophecy which had short-term fulfilment in Solomon, but found its ultimate fulfilment in Jesus.

God the Father is the Father of the spirits of the human family (e.g. Hebrews 12:9), but He is also the Father of Jesus in a unique sense: Jesus is His Only Begotten Son in the flesh.

Answer 3

Actually Hebrews 1:5 is a "rhetorical" question. This means the answer is implied to make a point. In this case, the context demands the answer, "none."

The point of quoting Psalm 2:7 is to contrast between the Son and the angels. Although the angels as a group are called the "sons" of God: in the Old Testament (Genesis 6:2, Job 1:6, and others, no angel ever is called "Son."

The Father, however, calls Jesus "Son" at His baptism and at the Transfiguration. God promised David a son who would establish David's house, throne, and kingdom forever (Samuel 7:13,14). And David knew about and looked for a greater Son than Solomon (Psalm 89).

The writer of Hebrews continues at vs 6 outlining the superiority of Jesus Christ. The angels are to worship Him. His Father designates the Son as "God." (Psalm 45). At vs 10-11, He existed before the universe because He created it. It is not everlasting; He is. Like a fragile garment susceptible to decay and will crumble, yet He shall remain forever and ever since He is Jehovah God.