God Builds David am Eternal House

The kingdom of David was enjoying the peace that God delivered to them by destroying their surrounding enemies. David's love and gratefulness to God caused him to think how he could do something for God. Perhaps as was done by other pagan nations, David thought of building a temple for God. Nathan, the prophet for David, initially encouraged David to do as he pleased but the LORD spoke to Nathan to tell David to stop.

God explained to David via Nathan that He has been with Israel, even physically, since they came out of Egypt. Then on a more personal level, God also explained that He took David from being a shepherd to rule over Israel and had destroyed the enemies. Contrast this to the false pagan gods which people had to make idols to represent and build temples to house them. The God of Israel, creator of heavens and earth, in all his magnificence and glory would not be able to be housed in any man made temple.

Instead of accepting the House David intended to build for God, God turned around and declared that He will build a house for David that will last forever. This is the prophecy concerning the Messiah. God revealed the details of the Messiah being the descendant of David, and that the Messiah's throne will be everlasting.

After hearing God's prophecy it appeared David had a good understand of it and went straight to thanking God. He did insist on building the temple anymore but wholeheartedly accepted God's future plans. His thanksgiving praise to God below is a very interesting and unique example of how to receive blessings and give thanks for it. The amazing way that he thanked God was by accepting God's promises literally and completely and more than just thanking God, he prayed and asked God to bless the prophecies to make it come true. He knew God was trustworthy and God's promises will come true, yet David immersed himself in the future blessing and got involved in the blessing by praying to God to make it come true.

How often do we pray only when things seem humanly impossible? How often do we get involved in the promises and blessings of God, by praying for them to come true, even though we already know God will make them come true. Perhaps this is what it means when we pray in the Spirit, pray according to the Will of God and pray according to the Will of God.


2 Samuel 7

God’s Covenant with David

 1 Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.”
3 Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”
4 But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? 6 For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’ 8 Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 10 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; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, 11 since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house.[a]
12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you.[b] Your throne shall be established forever.”’”
17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Thanksgiving to God
 

25 “Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. 26 So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.
28 “And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. 29 Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”