2 Samuel 7:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,

NIV: After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him,

NASB: Now it came about, when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,

CSB: When the king had settled into his palace and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,

NLT: When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies,

KJV: And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

NKJV: Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies all around,

David has entered a new season in his life. He is no longer running from King Saul. He is no longer waiting to become king over Israel as the Lord had promised. He is no longer in the early days of his kingdom. The Lord has fully established him as king over Israel. David is living in his permanent residence in Jerusalem, now called the city of David.

This grand house is made by craftsmen from Tyre, out of cedar from Lebanon (2 Samuel 5:11). Nearby, the ark of the covenant—the symbol of the presence of God with His people—is sitting in a tent (2 Samuel 6:17). David feels convicted realizes this isn't right. A servant, even if a king, shouldn't be blessed more than the God of the universe.

David's concern is one of many ways he proves he's a man after God's own heart. He's the only person mentioned in the Bible who wants to build God a temple. Joash repairs the temple (2 Kings 12), and Ezra, Zerubbabel, and Haggai worked to replace it after Nebuchadnezzar's army destroyed it. Most of Israel's kings, starting with Solomon, were more focused on building worship places for pagan gods. In modern times, we sometimes focus on David's failures. It's worth stepping back and remembering he really did love and worship God.

Because of this, God responds. David isn't the right choice to build the temple. His life is defined by war and violence. Those were not evil (Psalm 144:1), but it's not the context God wants associated with the building of His house (1 Chronicles 22:8). But God will build David a lasting dynasty that will culminate in Jesus' reign on earth.

Second Samuel 7:1–3 gives the context for the Davidic Covenant. David has a home, a family, and peace from his enemies. The ark of the Covenant, however, still lives in a tent (2 Samuel 6:17). David asks the prophet Nathan if he should build a temple. Initially, Nathan says yes, but God speaks to him that night. David will not build a house for God; his son will. But God will build David's "house": his legacy. David shows his faith in God by praising him and gathering materials for his son. David's proposal is also in 1 Chronicles 17:1–2.

In 2 Samuel 7, David wants to build a temple for the ark of the covenant. He's convicted that he has a big house, so the ark doesn't belong in a tent (2 Samuel 5:11–12; 6:17). God declines David's request. Rather, God will build David a "house": a dynasty. David's son will be king—and that sone will build the temple. David's throne will be established forever. David responds with a humble prayer of gratitude and praise, asking God to do all He has promised for David and for Israel. God will, through Jesus (Revelation 22:16). First Chronicles 17 records the same events.

In 2 Samuel 7, David learns he can't out-give God. God has made him king and given him a mansion and a family (2 Samuel 5:3, 11–15). He's allowed David to bring the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:1–15). Now, David wants to build the ark a proper temple. Instead, God says David's son will build the temple, and God will build David a lasting dynasty. Solomon does build the temple (1 Kings 5), and Jesus will fulfill David's dynasty (Luke 1:32).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.