2 Samuel

PROMISE AND SIN

David’s Dynasty Promise and Prayer

When the king had settled in his palace, and the Lord had rid him of all his surrounding enemies,

he told Nathan the prophet: “Look, I live in a house of cedar, but the Ark of God is housed in a tent.”

Nathan replied: “Do as it seems fit to you, for the Lord is with you.”

But that very night, the Lord’s word came to Nathan:

“Go and tell my servant David, this is what the Lord says: Are you able to build a house for me to live in?

I have not dwelt in a house since I brought the Israelites up from Egypt to the present day. But I went about with a tent for shelter.

As long as I walked with the Israelites, did I say anything to the chiefs of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people, Israel? Did I say: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?

Now you will tell my servant David, this is what the Lord of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the sheep, to make you commander of my people Israel.

I have been with you wherever you went, cutting down all your enemies before you. Now, I will make your name great, as the name of the great ones on earth.

I will provide a place for my people, Israel, and plant them so that they may live there in peace. They shall no longer be harassed, nor shall wicked men oppress them as before.

From the time when I appointed judges over my people Israel, it is only to you that I have given rest from all your enemies. The Lord also tells you that he will build you a house.

When the time comes for you to rest with your ancestors, I will raise your son after you, the one born of you, and secure his reign.

He shall build a house for my name, and I will firmly establish his kingship forever.

I will be a father to him, and he shall be my son. If he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod, as men do.

But I will not withdraw my kindness from him as I did from Saul when I removed him from your way.

Your house and your reign shall last forever before me, and your throne shall remain firm.”

Nathan repeated these words and related this vision to David.

Then King David went in, sat before the Lord, and said: “Who am I, O Lord God, and who is my family that you have brought me so far?

Yet this was not enough for you, O Lord God, for you have also spoken of your servant’s house reaching into the future. Is this how men act, O Lord God?

What more can David say to you? You know your servant, O Lord God!

You fulfill your promise and carry out your plan, as you do now, bringing about all these great things and revealing them to your servant.

Therefore, you are great, O Lord God, for there is no one like you, nor is there a God other than you from all we have heard.

Is there on earth another nation like your people, Israel, whom God has come to redeem and to make his people? Indeed, you made them famous when you did, for your glory, marvelous things, rescuing them out of Egypt from their people and their gods.

You have set apart your people Israel to become your people forever. You, Lord, have become their God.

Now, O Lord God, keep the promise you made forever and have revealed to me regarding myself and my family,

that your name may be honored forever and people may say, ‘the Lord of Hosts is God over Israel.’ The house of your servant David will be secure before you,

because you, O Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, have made it known to your servant and have said to him: ‘Your family will last forever.’ This is why I have dared to address this prayer to you.

So now, O Lord God, since you are the faithful God, and have promised me this good thing,

please bless my descendants, that they may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing, my family shall be blessed forever.”