2nd Samuel Chapter 7

Nathan approves the purpose of David

7:1 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;
7:2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains.
7:3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart; for the LORD is with you.

David not to build a temple

7:4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,
7:5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shall you build me an house for me to dwell in?
7:6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
7:7 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ya’ll not me an house of cedar?
7:8 Now therefore so shall ya’ll say unto my servant David, This says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
7:9 And I was with you where ever you went, and have cut off all your enemies out of your sight, and have made you a great name, like to the name of the great men that are in the earth.
7:10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as before time,
7:11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that he will make you an house.
7:12 And when your days be fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
7:15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.
7:16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established for ever before you: your throne shall be established for ever.
7:17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

David’s prayerful submission

7:18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that you have brought me here?
7:19 And this was yet a small thing in your sight, O Lord GOD; but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
7:20 And what can David say more unto you? for you, Lord GOD, knows your servant.
7:21 For you word’s sake, and according to your own heart, have you done all these great things, to make your servant know them.
7:22 Wherefore you are great, O LORD God: for there is none like you, neither is there any God beside you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
7:23 And what one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for your land, before your people, which you redeemed to you from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
7:24 For you have confirmed to yourself your people Israel to be a people unto you for ever: and you, LORD, are become their God.
7:25 And now, O LORD God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as you have said.
7:26 And let your name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of your servant David be established before you.
7:27 For you, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, I will build you an house: therefore have your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto you.
7:28 And now, O Lord GOD, you are that God, and your words be true, and you have promised this goodness unto your servant:
7:29 Therefore now let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue for ever before you: for you, O Lord GOD, have spoken it: and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed for ever.