The Way
The Promise of an Everlasting House
A house given to the king who wanted to build one
Story
Evening light filtered between the cedar pillars of the palace. The Lord had given David rest from his enemies all around, and at last he could rest. David said to the prophet Nathan, “Look, I live in a house of cedar, while the ark of God stays under curtains.” Nathan answered, “Do whatever is in your heart. The Lord is with you.” But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan.
The Lord said, “Go and tell my servant David: Are you the one to build me a house? From the day I brought Israel out of Egypt, I have moved about in a tent. I took you from following the flock and made you leader of my people. Now I will build a house for you. A son from your own body will build a house for my name. Your house and your throne will be established forever.”
Nathan went back and passed on the word exactly as it was given. David went in, sat before the Lord and prayed, “Lord God, who am I, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your eyes, you have spoken about your servant's house far into the future.” The king who wanted to build God a house had instead been promised a house that would last forever, and he sat a long while before it.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of God and David
I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, and made you leader over my people Israel.
Your house and your kingdom will stand firm before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.
Lord God, who am I, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
Go and do everything that is in your heart. The Lord is with you.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: 2 Sam 7:1–29
Background
The Hebrew word bayit means “house,” but can also mean a dynasty or a temple. This promise that an everlasting king would come from David's house became the root of Israel's hope for the Messiah, and the New Testament presents Jesus as the son of David.
Pause and Reflect
Before thinking about what to give God, do I remember the grace I have received?