2 Samuel 7:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent."

NIV: he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."

NASB: that the king said to Nathan the prophet, 'See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God remains within the tent.'

CSB: the king said to the prophet Nathan, "Look, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains."

NLT: the king summoned Nathan the prophet. 'Look,' David said, 'I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!'

KJV: That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

NKJV: that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.”

God has blessed David with a house, a city, and relative peace from his enemies. His house is a work of art, but the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:10) still lives in a tent (2 Samuel 5:11; 6:17). David wants to show his gratefulness by building a temple for the ark of the covenant: a house for God. He asks Nathan what he thinks.

This is the first appearance of the prophet Nathan in the Bible. He shows up in the text with no explanation or historical information. He serves David as an advisor and counselor, but more importantly, he serves as a prophet. Nathan reflexively supports David's idea (2 Samuel 7:3). David's intentions are pure, and certainly the God of Israel deserves a temple. That night, however, God checks Nathan's enthusiasm. The truth is, even though David's battles were for God's purposes, he has killed too much to build God's house. His son, Solomon, will be a "man of rest." That is the sort of king the Lord wants to build the temple (1 Chronicles 22:8–10).

A true "prophet" was someone chosen by God to deliver specific messages to specific people or groups of people. The most well-known prophets in the Bible proclaimed God's messages to the people of Israel in general. Many other prophets served throughout Israel's history with little notice or fame. Nathan's specific role seems to have been to deliver God's messages to David. His most famous revelations include the one in this chapter and his words to David after David's sin against Uriah and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:1–14).

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.