King David in his palace kneeling before the Prophet Nathan Painting oil on copper by Tobias van Nijmegen (c.1670-1699) National Trust Collection
David Seeks God's Will
After David had been settled in the palace he had built, he sought God's will through the prophet Nathan, saying:
"Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."
At first Nathan tells him to go ahead and do with whatever plans he has. But the same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan:
"Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’
“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
The Davidic Covenant: The Promise of An Everlasting Kingdom
“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”
Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation. (2 Samuel 7:8-17)
The Significance of The Davidic Covenant
Nathan promises David that one will come after him from his own lineage and God will establish his throne forever (vv. 12–16). In verse 13 he says that rather than David building a “house” for God, God will make a “house” out of David through his seed, his descendants.
In Psalm 89:3-4 the psalmist Ethan in praising God says: "You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’" And in verses 26-29 he continues:
"He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Saviour.’ And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure."
It is a clear reference, in the words of the hymn 'Hail to The Lord's Anointed,' to the coming of "One who is great David's greater Son" - a Saviour who is Christ the LORD.