God’s Covenant with David
And it was, when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest all around from all his enemies,
that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now — I live in a house of cedars, and the ark of God stays in the middle of tent curtains.”
And Nathan said to the king, “All that is in your heart — go, do it, for the LORD is with you.”
And it was that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:
“Go, and say to my servant, to David: Thus says the LORD: Is it you who will build me a house for my dwelling?
For I have not lived in a house from the day I brought the sons of Israel up from Egypt to this day; I have been going about in a tent, in a dwelling place.
In all my going about among all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedars?’
Now then, thus you shall say to my servant, to David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I myself took you from the pasture, from behind the flock, to be leader over my people, over Israel.
And I have been with you wherever you went, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are on the earth.
And I will set a place for my people, for Israel, and plant them, and they will dwell in their own place and tremble no more; and the sons of injustice will not afflict them again, as at the first,
from the day I commanded judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. And the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house:
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, who will come out of your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.
He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. When he does wrong, I will correct him with the rod of men, and with the blows of the sons of man;
but my loyal love will not depart from him, as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
And your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you; your throne will be established forever.”
According to all these words, and according to all this vision — so Nathan spoke to David.
David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving
And King David came and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, Lord GOD, and who is my house, that you have brought me this far?
And this was still small in your eyes, Lord GOD — you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a distant time. And is this the instruction for mankind, Lord GOD?
And what more can David add in speaking to you? You know your servant, Lord GOD.
For the sake of your word, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, to make it known to your servant.
Therefore you are great, Lord GOD — for there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
And who is like your people, like Israel — one nation on the earth whom God went to ransom for himself as a people, and to make a name for himself, and to do for you the greatness, and fearful things for your land, before your people whom you ransomed for yourself from Egypt — nations and their gods?
And you established your people Israel for yourself, as a people for yourself forever; and you, LORD, became their God.
And now, LORD God — the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, raise it up forever, and do as you have spoken.
And may your name be great forever, so that it is said, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel’ — and may the house of your servant David be established before you.
For you, LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have uncovered the ear of your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found his heart to pray this prayer to you.
And now, Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are truth; and you have spoken this good thing to your servant.
Now then, be pleased to bless the house of your servant, to be forever before you — for you, Lord GOD, have spoken; and from your blessing may the house of your servant be blessed forever.”