The Gospel According to David: You Won't Build Me a House, I Will Build You a House

Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent." And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you." But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, "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.'" In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, "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 7:1‭-‬29 ESV

Rev. Charles Han

David has come a long way from a shepherd boy. He was a warrior, musician, fugitive, rival for the throne, to finally ruler over all of Israel. And finally, David comes upon a period of peace.

The God of all grace

David is in a house of cedar. He is in a peaceful and good place. But David is discontent, the ark and tabernacle sits in a tent. He goes to the prophet, Nathan, and proposes that a temple be built for God. Nathan says yes, absolutely. But God says no. God says David will not build him a house. God chose the tent over the temple. This is to show that God stoops to serve us. He is among us and with us.

God serves us. We are commanded to serve Him. But God doesn't need our service. Pagan gods of that day needed a temple. Building a house for one of these gods will allow is to curry their favor. God is not like one of these. He is not like the other gods. He operates on grace, not karma.

The God of covenant promise

God makes a promise to David. Most covenants if this time are mutually agreed. But God does not, he does it unconditionally, no matter what.

What kind of promise is being made here? God will raise up David's lineage as kings. He will deal with his progeny as sons. His kingdom will last forever. Not hyperbole, but literally forever. It is like hitting the jackpot. Out of nowhere, God promises such great things. But what is this to us? This promise refers to Jesus. Those who have faith in Jesus as saviour and Lord, have claim to this promise.

As followers of Christ, we are treated as sons and daughters of God. Death will not keep us down. We will be a part of this kingdom that will last into eternity.

God lives in a tent, sure. But how sure can we be of God as Emmanuel, God with us? Jesus came and became one of us. He was homeless and experienced all the suffering that we encounter in this life. This should bring us peace and contentment.

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. - Luke 12:32‭-‬33 ESV

We can rest knowing that God is giving us the kingdom. He is giving us an ultimate home. A place that absolutely fits and suits us. This does not exist on this side of eternity. We can find inns and hotels that give some measure of this feeling, but with no permanence. We will stay unsatisfied until heaven comes. A kingdom and home is what God is making for us... in heaven. That is our inheritance.

Our response

David reacts to God's response with a long prayer. He is marveled by the grace of God. He is without words. This king is the one who wrote so many songs of praise in Psalms. This is the heart of gratitude for a debt that cannot be repaid. We should be gripped by a gratefulness that we cannot even put into words. The proper response is repentance and worship.