David's Desire to Build a Temple
Study note
Now that David was settled in his beautiful cedar palace and had peace from his enemies, he felt troubled that the Ark of God was still sitting in a tent while he lived in luxury. He shared this concern with the prophet Nathan, who initially encouraged David to go ahead. At this point, Nathan was speaking from his own judgment rather than from a direct word from God.
1 The king was settled in his palace. The Lord had given him rest from all the enemies around him. And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
2 David said to the prophet Nathan, "Look -- I live in a nice cedar palace, but God's Ark sits inside a cloth tent." That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
3 Nathan replied, "Go ahead with whatever plans you have in mind. The Lord is behind you." And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
God's Covenant with David
Study note
That night, God gave Nathan a message for David. God reminded David that he had never asked for a permanent house, having traveled with Israel in a tent since the exodus from Egypt. God told David that he would not be the one to build the temple. Instead, God would build something far greater for David: a dynasty. God promised that David's son would build the temple, and that David's throne would be established forever. This covenant is one of the most important promises in the Bible, because it points ahead to Jesus Christ, who would be called the Son of David and whose kingdom has no end.
4 That very night, however, the Lord spoke to Nathan with this message: And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,
5 "Go tell my servant David, 'Here is what the Lord says: Should you truly be the one to build me a permanent home?'" Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
6 "I have never lived in a building, not from the day I led Israel out of Egypt until right now. I have always traveled around using a tent as my dwelling place." Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
7 "Throughout all my journeys with the people of Israel, did I ever once complain to any of the tribal leaders I put in charge of my people? Did I ever say, 'Why have you not built me a cedar house?'" In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
8 "Tell my servant David this. 'The Lord says: I took you from the sheep fields. I made you ruler over my people Israel.'" Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
9 "I have stood by you everywhere you have gone. I have wiped out all your enemies right before your eyes. And I will make you famous -- as famous as the greatest people the world has ever known." And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.
10 "I will give my people Israel a permanent homeland. I will plant them there so they can live in their own place without being disturbed again. Violent people will no longer oppress them the way they used to." Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,
11 "I have given you peace from every enemy. And now the Lord is telling you that the Lord himself will build a house for you -- not a building, but a royal family line." And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
12 "When your life is over and you die, I will raise up one of your own children after you. I will make his kingdom strong." And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 "He will be the one to build a house honoring my name, and I will make his royal throne last forever." He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
14 "I will be like a father to him, and he will be like a son to me. When he goes astray, I will correct him the way people are corrected -- through hardship and difficulty." 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:
15 "But I will never withdraw my faithful love from him the way I withdrew it from Saul, whom I pushed aside to make room for you." But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
16 "Your family and your kingdom will stand firm in my presence forever. Your royal throne will never end." And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
17 Nathan went to David and reported every word of this vision from God. 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 into the tent where the Ark was kept and sat before the Lord in humble prayer. He was amazed that God had done so much for him already, and even more amazed that God was promising to bless his family forever. David praised God as being unique and incomparable, and he asked God to fulfill every word of this promise. This prayer shows David's deep relationship with God and his recognition that every good thing in his life came from God's grace.
18 King David went inside and sat before the Lord. He prayed, "Who am I, Lord God, and what has my family done to deserve all you have given me?" Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
19 "And yet this was not big enough for you, Lord God! You have also made promises about my family's distant future. Is this truly how you deal with ordinary people, Lord God?" And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
20 "What else can David possibly say to you? You know me inside and out, Lord God." And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.
21 "Because of your promise and your own generous heart, you have done all these amazing things and revealed them to me." For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
22 "You are truly great, Lord God! No one compares to you. There is no God other than you, just as we have always been told." Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23 "And what other nation on earth is like your people Israel? You are the God who went out to rescue a people for yourself. You made yourself famous by performing incredible wonders for your land and your people, whom you freed from Egypt, from other nations and their gods." And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
24 "You claimed your people Israel as your very own, forever. And you, Lord, became their God." For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.
25 "So now, Lord God, please keep this promise you have made about me and my family. Make it come true, just as you said." And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.
26 "Then your name will be honored forever. People will say, 'The Lord of Heaven's Armies is God over Israel!' And may the family of your servant David stand firm before you." And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.
27 "Lord of Heaven's Armies, God of Israel, you told me plainly that you would build a dynasty for me. Therefore I found the courage to bring this prayer before you." For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
28 "Sovereign Lord, you are the true God! Your words can be trusted, and you have made this wonderful promise to me, your servant." And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
29 "Now please bless my family so that it will continue before you forever. You yourself have spoken, Lord God, and with your blessing my family will be blessed for all time." Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.