What does II Samuel 7 say about the royal line of David?
II Samuel 7 records the Davidic covenant, God's covenant with David about his offspring and Israel. It traces the royal line of David to the coming King, Christ the Messiah, descending through Solomon and Nathan. God promises to be a father to David's son, chasten him for iniquity, yet views the whole nation of Israel.
Les explains that II Samuel 7 is the Davidic covenant, meaning God made a covenant with David concerning his offspring, the nation of Israel. He notes the passage speaks of the royal line of the house of David, which would lead up to the coming of the King, the Christ, the Messiah. That line would come down through Solomon on one side and Nathan on the other, though verse 14 primarily addresses Solomon: "I will be his father, 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." Les points out that even though it sounds like it addresses Solomon only, God is looking at the long view of the whole nation of Israel. He would chasten Israel by their enemies and other ways. Verse 15 begins with "But," the flip side: God will chasten them, dealing harshly when they come into unbelief and abject behavior.