20240514

the house he built

2 Samuel 7:1-17 (JDV)

2 Samuel 7:1 When the king had settled into his palace and Yahveh had given him relief on every side from all his enemies,
2 Samuel 7:2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains.”
2 Samuel 7:3 So Nathan told the king, “Go and do all that is on your mind, for Yahveh is with you.”
2 Samuel 7:4 But that night the word of Yahveh came to Nathan:
2 Samuel 7:5 “Go to my servant David and say, ‘This is what Yahveh says: Are you to build me a house to dwell in?
2 Samuel 7:6 From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today I have not dwelt in a house; instead, I have been moving around with a tent as my dwelling.
2 Samuel 7:7 In all my journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever spoken a word to one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?’
2 Samuel 7:8 “So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what Yahveh of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.
2 Samuel 7:9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a great name for you like that of the greatest on the land.
2 Samuel 7:10 I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have been doing
2 Samuel 7:11 ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. ” ‘Yahveh declares to you: Yahveh himself will make a house for you.
2 Samuel 7:12 When your time comes and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your seed, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
2 Samuel 7:13 He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
2 Samuel 7:14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals.
2 Samuel 7:15 But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
2 Samuel 7:16 Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.'”
2 Samuel 7:17 Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.

the house he built

David had determined to build a house (temple) for God. God said no. Instead, the LORD responded to David’s intention by promising to build David a house (dynasty). David’s dynasty lives on to this day in the kingdom of his son, and God’s Son – Jesus Christ. The LORD does not need us to do anything for him. But he responds favorably to our desire to honor him in what we do.

Thank you, LORD, for the house you built David. Thank you that we can be part of that house.