2 Samuel 7 David’s Desire
David’s desire is to build the Lord a house. He has a house, so why should the Lord only have a tent? God has other plans.
I tried to find out exactly when in David’s reign he had this desire and conversation. We are in a section of 2 Samuel that has a lot of broad statements. Even when I looked for this Event in 1 Chronicles, I didn’t find anything to pinpoint these events. One thing that Samuel has that Chronicles doesn’t, is that David was “at rest” from his adversaries. This could have been a lull in the cycles of war, or near the end of his reign where he had stopped fighting.
A couple things tell me that this is an earlier event in David’s reign. The fact that David is in a house. It feels like this was a ‘new thing’ for him. The second fact that is that David put aside many of the spoils for building the house of the Lord. Solomon had a MASSIVE head start when he decided to build the Lord a home.
Because no time is given, and the reasons just stated, I’m going to have this happen in David’s early years. Let’s join him as he presents his ideas to Nathan and the Lord.
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The Philistines have learned their lesson; at least for now. None others have dared to contend with David; yet. There is peace in Israel.
David is enjoying his new home. Hiram’s men were expert carpenters and masons. David cannot imagine life being any sweeter. He even has the ability to come before the Lord every day.
Something begins to bother him though. As the seasons change, he notices the difference between what he lives in and what God’s Ark ‘lives’ in. The comfort of his home is denied to the Lord. The biting bitter wind on the top of the hill spurs David’s thinking. “Why do I live in a house and the Lord does not? God is more deserving than I am of good things. This must change.”
That afternoon, David calls Nathan the prophet to appear before him. Nathan comes immediately when summoned. He waits at the threshold of the throne room to be invited in. Once David motions him forward, he bows and waits for David to share his thoughts.
“See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” (2 Samuel 7:2)
Nathan is pleased by David’s thoughts. Giving honor to the Lord is most welcome. Nathan takes no time in replying. “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” (2 Samuel 7:3)
David is pleased by Nathan’s reply and he begins generating ideas of what the Lord’s house will look like. He makes a mental list of who he will tap to work on this project, what materials he wants used, and where it will be located.
After providing David with his answer, Nathan goes back to his daily routine. His mind is also filled with thoughts of what the Lord’s house would look like once it is completed. Nathan knows David’s heart, and anything the king sets him mind to, WILL be accomplished in short order.
As the day draws to a close, the city of Jerusalem settles down for a good night’s rest. David is satisfied with his ‘progress’ so far on the Lord’s house. Nothing physical has taken place, but David has compiled his lists of ‘first steps’. Some he has written down, but most of them reside solely in his mind.
Nathan settles in for the night too. Shortly after he drifts off to sleep, he is given a word from the Lord.
“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 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, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” (2 Samuel 7:5-16)
When morning came, Nathanial didn’t waste moment. He went immediately to the throne room of David. No one was in the throne room so Nathan asked the guard for assistance.
“I must speak with the king immediately. I have a message from the Lord.”
“He is still in his bedchambers.”
“Please. Tell him that I am waiting to speak with him.”
“As you wish.”
The guard goes to seek out David while Nathaniel waits. David was up and about when the guard arrives.
“My lord, the prophet Nathaniel says that he must speak with you. He has a message from the Lord.”
David drops his fork on his plate, wipes his face and hands, and goes quickly to the throne room. He will NOT keep the Lord waiting.
As soon as David is seated, he motions for Nathaniel to enter. “You have a word for me from the Lord?”
“I do my lord. When I spoke to you yesterday regarding your desire, I had not consulted the Lord on the matter. I had assumed that, because the Lord was with you in so many other areas, that He would be with you in this area too. As I slept last night, the Lord spoke to me on this matter.”
David has a feeling that the encouragement he received yesterday was going to be withdrawn this morning. He hangs his head to the point that it nearly rests on his chest. Then, he straightens up. “Tell me Nathan, all that the Lord has shared with you.”
Nathan begins to repeat what the Lord shared. “In short, my lord, the Lord is pleased with your care for Him, but He has no desire for a house made of cedar. He will honor your desire through your descendant. And he will bless your house forever!”
David’s heart is doing two things at once. It is rejoicing and breaking at the same time. He feels so unworthy of the promises made to him in the Lord’s words through Nathan. His heart breaks, knowing that he cannot live up to the wonders that the Lord has promised. And he is rejoicing because he KNOWS that HE doesn’t have to live up to anything, beyond LOVING the Lord with all his might. These promises come from the Lord. It is in HIS hands to fulfill; NOT David’s. It is up to David to walk with the Lord though. “I must go and meet with the Lord” David says with tears streaming down his face.
David leaves his throne room and goes to the Tent where the Ark of the Lord rests. Just outside the door of the Tent, David drops to his knees. The ground is soddened from the latest rains and David’s knees sink deep into that muck, but he does not care. He begins to pour out his heart.
“Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.” (2 Samuel 7:18-29)
After pouring his heart out before the Lord, David begins to sing the Lord’s praises. He stays on his knees for nearly an hour before he rises. His body is chilled to the bone, but his spirit soars high.
David returns to his house and finds warmth by the fire as his servant prepares a bath for him. David’s mind is now focused on preparations for his son to build the House of the Lord. “I will gather precious materials for his use. This I CAN and WILL do for my Lord.”
(to be continued)
David had a heart to serve the Lord. This was one way he wanted to serve Him. But God didn’t need a house built with hands. He used one He had designed as a way for man to come to Him. But He could come to man any place, any time, and any way He chose. Moses and the burning bush. Elijah and the quiet space. Many people in the dreams He gave them. All God needs is our hearts. That is where He longs to dwell.
Father God, fill my Heart with Your presence. Fill me with Your peace. Help me focus on You in all I do. Thank You for the praise songs with the chickens each morning. I wonder if they are praising you when they get loud during out time together.
