"I Will Build A House For You!"

Scripture Passage

2 Samuel 7:1-17; 1 Chronicles 17:1-15; 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 1 Chronicles 17:16-27; 2 Samuel 8:1-14; 1 Chronicles 18:1-13; Psalm 60

Scripture Focus

I declare that the LORD will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings! (1 Chronicles 17:10 NLT)

Observation

I seem to be using the word “remarkable” a lot, lately. But again today, it is the word that comes to mind.

David has finally secured his reign over all of Israel. Saul, who had sought David’s life, is dead. Those tribes loyal to Saul and reluctant to acknowledge David’s anointing as King have relented, the city of Jerusalem has been secured as a capital city, the Ark of the Covenant has been moved to Jerusalem, and 2 Samuel 7:1 says…

“When King David was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies…” (2 Samuel 7:1 NLT)

…that David expresses to Nathan the prophet the desire of his heart—to build a suitable temple for the Lord.

Nathan’s first reaction is something like, “Sure—go ahead. Sounds good!”

But that night, the Lord speaks to Nathan very specifically. (And I was tempted to write at length about that—how refreshing that Nathan is able to say, “I thought one thing, but the Lord showed me another.” Even for the godliest among us, our first reaction isn’t always the right reaction.) And God instructs Nathan to deliver this message to David:

I declare that the LORD will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings! (1 Chronicles 17:10 NLT)

Indeed, the more of the message you read, the more you understand how good God has been to David:

“I took you from tending sheep in the pasture… I have been with you …and I have destroyed all your enemies… Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! I will provide a homeland for my people Israel…and I will defeat all your enemies…

“Furthermore, I declare that the LORD will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!” (1 Chronicles 17:7-10 NLT)

What a remarkable, incredible, lavishly gracious act on God’s part towards David—and towards us. Because this prophetic promise delivered by Nathan (while partially fulfilled in the kingdom of Solomon) was ultimately fulfilled in the Kingdom of our Savior, Jesus Christ. However rich the grace extended by God to David, His grace has been no less rich towards us! “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV)