2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16 (NRSV)
Read 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 7Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, Verse 2the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." Verse 3Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you."
Verse 4But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: Verse 5Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? Verse 6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Verse 7Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" Verse 8Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; Verse 9and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. Verse 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, Verse 11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. Verse 16Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.
Devotion
In today’s reading, we find King David new to the throne and recently moved into his newly built royal palace. He seems to be bothered, though, that while he lives a royal life in a fancy palace, his God lives and resides only in a simple tent, or tabernacle. So, King David and his prophet Nathan devise a plan to build God a fancy temple and royal home. But, in God’s typical surprising way, God tells King David not to build a temple because God instead will build a “home” among God’s people marked by an everlasting covenant from God to Israel through David. This lineage and reign will not be for David’s glory, but for God’s and it will be forever. And thus begins the Davidic lineage that reaches all the way to the Savior and King who was born as a baby in Bethlehem, the City of David, who came to save the world from sin.
Prayer
O holy Child of Bethlehem, come and dwell in our hearts today and every day and make us more and more like you. Amen.