David Wants to Build God a House
Study note
David was living in his fine palace built from cedar wood, one of the most expensive building materials of the ancient world. He felt troubled that the ark of God's covenant was sitting under a simple tent while he lived in luxury. He shared his concern with Nathan the prophet, who initially encouraged him to go ahead with his plans.
1 David moved into his palace. He said to Nathan the prophet, 'I live in a fine cedar palace. But the ark of God's deal sits under tent curtains.' Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.
2 Nathan told David, 'Go ahead with whatever you have in mind, because God is on your side.' Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.
God's Promise to David
Study note
That same night, God spoke to Nathan with a surprising message for David. God told David he was not the one to build the temple. God reminded David of how he had taken him from being a shepherd boy and made him king over Israel. Instead of David building God a house, God would build David a 'house' -- meaning a lasting royal family line. God promised that David's son would build the temple and that his throne would be established forever. This promise, known as the Davidic Covenant, became one of the most important promises in all of Scripture. Christians see it as pointing to Jesus, the ultimate King from David's line.
3 But that very night, God spoke to Nathan with this message: And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
4 'Go tell my servant David that the Lord says this: You are not the one to build me a permanent home.' Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:
5 'I have never lived in a building from the day I brought Israel out of Egypt until now. I have always moved from one tent to another, from one temporary home to the next.' For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.
6 'During all the time I traveled with Israel, did I ever complain to any of the leaders I put in charge of my people? Did I ever say, "Why have you not built me a house made of cedar?"' Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?
7 'Now tell my servant David that the Lord of Armies says this: I took you from watching sheep in the pasture. I made you the ruler over my people Israel.' Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:
8 'I have been with you everywhere you have gone. I have wiped out all your enemies. I have made your name as famous as the most well-known people on earth.' And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.
9 'I will also provide a permanent homeland for my people Israel. I will plant them there so they can live in their own place and never be uprooted again. Cruel people will never oppress them like they used to.' Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,
10 'This has been true since the time I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. I will defeat all your enemies. And now I am telling you this: the Lord himself will build a royal house for you -- a lasting dynasty.' And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house.
11 'When your life comes to an end and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your own sons to take your place. I will make his kingdom strong and secure.' 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 is the one who will build a house for me, and I will make sure his throne lasts forever.' He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.
13 'I will be like a father to him, and he will be like a son to me. I will never take my love away from him the way I removed it from the king who came before you.' I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:
14 'I will put him in charge of my house and my kingdom forever. His throne will stand for all time.' But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.
15 Nathan told David every word of this message and the entire vision. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
David's Prayer of Thanksgiving
Study note
David went before the Lord and prayed one of the most heartfelt prayers in the Bible. He expressed amazement that God would bless someone as ordinary as him. He praised God for being unlike any other god and for choosing Israel as his special people. David asked God to keep his promises forever and to bless his family line. This prayer shows David's deep humility and trust in God.
16 King David went in and sat before the Lord. He prayed, 'Who am I, Lord God? What is my family? Yet you brought me this far.' And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
17 'And as if that were not enough, God, you have also made promises about the future of my family for generations to come. You have treated me as though I were the most important person alive, Lord God.' And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.
18 'What more can David say to you about the honor you have shown your servant? You know me completely.' What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.
19 'Lord, you have done all these amazing things for the sake of your servant and because you wanted to. You have made all these great promises known.' O LORD, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.
20 'Lord, there is no one like you, and there is no God except you. This is exactly what we have always been taught.' O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
21 'And who can compare with your people Israel? They are the one nation on earth that God himself went out to rescue and claim as his own. You made a great name for yourself by performing awesome miracles, driving out other nations to make room for the people you rescued from Egypt.' And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?
22 'You made Israel your own people forever, and you, Lord, became their God.' For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.
23 'And now, Lord, please make the promise you have given about your servant and his family come true forever. Do exactly what you said you would do.' Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.
24 'Let it come true so that your name will be honored forever. Let people say, "The Lord of Armies is Israel's God -- he truly is God to Israel." And let the family of your servant David be established and secure in your presence.' Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.
25 'You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a dynasty for him. Therefore I have found the courage to pray this prayer to you.' For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.
26 'Lord, you truly are God, and you have made these wonderful promises to your servant.' And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
27 'Now you have been pleased to bless your servant's family so that it will last forever in your sight. When you bless something, Lord, that blessing stands forever.' Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.