Yes — God will chasten Israel with the rod of men and the stripes of the children of men, but His mercy will not depart from them.
In 2 Samuel 7:14, God says that when iniquity is committed, He will chasten with the rod of men, which Les Feldick explains means using other nations to punish Israel. Yet in the very next verse, God says "But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul," so discipline never means final rejection.
2 Samuel 7:14 — This verse directly answers the question by stating that if iniquity is committed, God will chasten with the rod of men and stripes of the children of men.
2 Samuel 7:15 — This verse is the immediate contrast, showing that God's mercy shall not depart from Israel as it did from Saul.
In 2 Samuel 7:14, God declares, "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." The verse is part of God's covenant promise to David, and the promise extends beyond Solomon to the nation of Israel. Verse 15 immediately adds, "But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee." Verse 16 then underscores the permanence of the promise: "And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever."
Les Feldick teaches that 2 Samuel 7:14-16 is not limited to King Solomon but speaks to the nation of Israel. He notes that Israel has been guilty of iniquity and has experienced God's disciplinary action over and over because of unbelief and sin. The phrase "rod of men" means God will use other nations to conquer and punish Israel whenever the nation becomes rebellious and idolatrous, as demonstrated throughout Israel's history.
2 Samuel 7:14 says God will chasten Israel with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men. Les Feldick explains that this means God will use other nations to punish the nation of Israel. He points to history, saying that when Israel became rebellious and steeped in unbelief or idolatry, God would bring in a conquering nation and put Israel into subservience.
No. The word "but" in 2 Samuel 7:15 is crucial: "But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul." Les Feldick calls this the "flip side" — regardless of how far Israel falls into wickedness, God will discipline them but He will not destroy the nation and has not turned His back on them forever. Unlike Saul, God has not removed His mercy from Israel.
Les Feldick says no. While the passage begins with Solomon, God is also speaking about the nation of Israel, the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He notes that verse 16 shows the passage is not just about King Solomon or King Saul, but about the ongoing covenant with the nation of Israel.
God’s Plan for Israel vs. Gentiles: Understanding the Abrahamic Covenant
become one stick. All right, now if you'll come on up and pick this very thing up in verse 31, 21, I'm sorry, of Ezekiel 37. Now he's put the two sticks together and they've become one, and he says, And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen. I think most of you know that the word heathen in Scripture simply refers to the non-Jew.
Reading 2 Samuel 7:14–16
Les directly connects the verse to Israel and explains that 'if he commit iniquity' means God will chasten the nation with the rod of men, using other nations, while the 'but' of verse 15 guarantees mercy.
Israel's Constant Failures
Les notes Israel has been failing constantly and has repeatedly come under God's disciplinary action because of unbelief and sin.
Conquering Nations as the Rod
Les points to history: when Israel became rebellious, idolatrous, and unbelieving, God would bring in a conquering nation and put them in subservience.
The Flip Side of 'But'
Les explains the 'but' in verse 15 is the flip side — God will discipline Israel even through the tribulation, but He will not destroy the nation or turn His back on them forever.
Israel's Roller-Coaster History
Les uses the book of Judges to show Israel was repeatedly disciplined — up and down spiritually — but God never gave up on them.
Fatherly Discipline Never Abandoning
Les compares God's discipline to an earthly father's, saying no matter how far Israel falls, His mercy shall not depart from them.
Why Moses Was Forbidden From the Promised Land — The Real Reason
And one of them, of course, I think it was the Gibeonites, tricked them, made league with them by pretending they were something that they weren't. But by hook or by crook, the conspiratorial power of Satan working behind the scenes is going to cause Israel to do just what God says they will do. All right? And reading on, He says, they will forsake Me.
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:
This is the direct answer to the question — God promises to chasten when iniquity is committed.
2 Samuel 7:15: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
The immediate contrast proves that discipline does not mean the loss of God's mercy toward Israel.
2 Samuel 7:16: And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
It shows the larger covenant promise that David's house, kingdom, and throne are established forever, beyond Solomon.
Les Feldick teaches that the rod of men means God will use other nations to punish the nation of Israel. When Israel was rebellious or idolatrous, God would bring in a conquering nation to put them under subservience.
No. In 2 Samuel 7:15 God says, "But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul." Les Feldick emphasizes that God has set Israel aside but has not turned His back on them forever.
Les Feldick says no — the passage extends beyond Solomon to the nation of Israel. He points to verse 16, which shows the promise of an everlasting kingdom, as evidence that the passage is about the nation.
Yes. Les Feldick note that Israel has been disciplined constantly throughout history because of unbelief and sin. He uses the book of Judges as an example of Israel's spiritual roller coaster of rebellion and restoration.
Watch the Teaching: God’s Plan for Israel vs. Gentiles: Understanding the Abrahamic Covenant