Study Desk

When David^(a) had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Look! I am living in a cedar house while the ark of the Lord 's covenant is under tent curtains."^(b)

So Nathan told David, "Do all that is on your heart, for God is with you."

But that night^(c) the word of God came to Nathan:

"Go to David My servant and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build Me a house to dwell in.^(d)

From the time I brought Israel out of Egypt until today I have not lived in a house; instead, I have moved from tent to tent and from tabernacle to tabernacle.^(e)

In all My travels throughout Israel, have I ever spoken a word to even one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, asking: Why haven't you built Me a house of cedar?'^(f)

"Now this is what you will say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from following the sheep to be ruler over My people Israel.^(g)

I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest in the land.

I will establish a place for My people Israel and plant them,^(h) so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they formerly have

ever since the day I ordered judges to be over My people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. "‘Furthermore, I declare to you that the Lord Himself will build a house for you.

When your time comes to be with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who is one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.

He will build a house for Me,⁽ⁱ⁾ and I will establish his throne forever.

I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me.^(j) I will not take away My faithful love from him as I took it from the one who was before you.^(k)

I will appoint him over My house and My kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever.'"^(l)

Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.

Then^(m) King David went in, sat in the Lord 's presence, and said, Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?

This was a little thing to You,^[a] God, for You have spoken about Your servant's house in the distant future. You regard me as a man of distinction,^[b] Lord God.

What more can David say to You for honoring Your servant? You know Your servant.

Lord , You have done all this greatness, making known all these great promises because of Your servant and according to Your will.⁽ⁿ⁾

Lord , there is no one like You, and there is no God besides You, as all we have heard confirms.

And who is like Your people Israel? God, You came to one nation on earth to redeem a people for Yourself, to make a name for Yourself through great and awesome works by driving out nations before Your people You redeemed from Egypt.^(o)

You made Your people Israel Your own people forever, and You, Lord , have become their God.^(p)

Now, Lord , let the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house be confirmed forever, and do as You have promised.

Let Your name be confirmed and magnified forever in the saying, "Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, is God over Israel." May the house of Your servant David be established before You.

Since You, my God, have revealed to^[c](q) Your servant that You will build him a house, Your servant has found courage to pray in Your presence.

Yahweh, You indeed are God, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.

So now, You have been pleased to bless Your servant's house that it may continue before You forever. For You, Lord , have blessed it, and it is blessed forever.