Study Desk

^(C1)And it came about, when David lived in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under tent curtains."

Then Nathan said to David, "Do whatever is in your heart, for God is with you."

But it happened that same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

"Go and tell David My servant, 'This is what the LORD says: "^(C1)You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in;

for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, ^(C1)but I have ^(F1)gone from tent to tent and from one dwelling place to another.

"In all places where I have walked with all Israel, have I spoken a word ^(C1)with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'"'

"Now, therefore, this is what you shall say to My servant David: 'This is what the LORD of armies says: "I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel.

"I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have eliminated all your enemies from you; and I will make for you a name like the name of the great ones who are on the earth.

"And I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them there, so that they may live in their own place and not tremble with anxiety again; and the ^(F1)wicked will not make them waste away anymore as they did previously,

even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you.

"When your days are fulfilled that you must ^(F1)go to be with your fathers, then I will set up one of your ^(F2)descendants after you, who will be from your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

"He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

"^(C1)I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My favor away from him, ^(C2)as I took it from him who was before you.

"But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever."'"