A House Forever

The Story

King David was finally at rest. His enemies were defeated, and he lived in a beautiful palace of cedar. One day he looked around and felt uneasy.

“See now, I dwell in an house of cedar,” he told the prophet Nathan, “but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.” God’s presence lived in a tent while David lived in a palace. David wanted to build God a house.

Nathan said, go ahead. But that night, God spoke to Nathan with a different message.

You want to build Me a house, God said to David. But I have never asked for one. I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people. I have been with you wherever you went.

And now I will build you a house.

God wasn’t talking about a building. He was talking about a family line, a dynasty. After you die, God said, I will raise up your son, and he will build a house for My name. “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.”

David went in and sat before the Lord, overwhelmed. “Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?”

Reflection