David Requests a Place to Live
Jump to: SubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Biblical Context:
The narrative of David requesting a place to live is found within the broader context of his rise to kingship and the establishment of his reign over Israel. This event is situated in the period following David's consolidation of power and his desire to establish a central place of worship for the God of Israel. The account is primarily recorded in 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17.

Scriptural Account:
In 2 Samuel 7, David expresses his desire to build a house for the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolized God's presence among His people. At this time, the Ark resided in a tent, while David himself lived in a palace of cedar. David's request is motivated by his reverence for God and his desire to honor Him with a permanent dwelling place. The text states, "Now when the king had settled into his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, 'Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent'" (2 Samuel 7:1-2).

Divine Response:
God's response to David's request is delivered through the prophet Nathan. Initially, Nathan encourages David to proceed with his plan, but that night, the word of the LORD comes to Nathan with a different message. God reminds David of His faithfulness and the fact that He has never dwelt in a house since bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. Instead, God has moved with His people, dwelling in a tent. The LORD declares, "I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day, but I have moved about with a tent as My dwelling" (2 Samuel 7:6).

God then makes a covenant with David, known as the Davidic Covenant, promising to establish David's house and kingdom forever. The LORD states, "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever" (2 Samuel 7:16). This covenant is foundational for the messianic hope in the lineage of David, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Theological Significance:
David's request to build a house for God highlights his devotion and desire to honor the LORD. However, God's response emphasizes His sovereignty and the unfolding of His divine plan. The Davidic Covenant underscores God's initiative in establishing an everlasting kingdom through David's lineage, pointing to the future reign of the Messiah.

Historical and Cultural Insights:
In the ancient Near Eastern context, building a temple for a deity was a common practice among kings to legitimize their rule and demonstrate piety. David's intention aligns with this cultural norm, yet God's response sets Israel apart by emphasizing His presence with His people rather than being confined to a structure.

Application for Believers:
For believers, this narrative serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the importance of aligning personal desires with His divine will. It also points to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises through Jesus Christ, the descendant of David, who establishes an eternal kingdom.
Subtopics

David

David: A Prophetic Name for Christ

David: After Three Months, David Brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem With Dancing and Great Joy

David: Anointed King Over all Israel, After Reigning Over Judah at Hebron for Seven Years and Six Months

David: Assembles Thirty-Thousand Men to Escort the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem With Music and Thanksgiving

David: Consigns Seven Sons of Saul to the Gibeonites to be Killed to Atone for Saul's Persecution of the Gibeonites

David: David Rebukes the Priests for not Showing Loyalty Amid the Complaints of the People Against Him

David: Desires to Build a Temple, is Forbidden, But Receives God's Promise That his Seed should Reign Forever

David: King of Israel

David: King of Israel is Chastised With Grievous Affliction on Account of his Crime

David: King of Israel is Defrauded of Merab, and Given Michal to Marry

David: King of Israel is Rebuked by the Prophet Nathan

David: King of Israel is Refused Permission to Accompany the Philistines to Battle Against the Israelites

David: King of Israel: A Shepherd

David: King of Israel: Abner Revolts from Ish-Bosheth, and Joins David, But is Killed by Joab

David: King of Israel: About This Time Writes

David: King of Israel: Absalom's Defeat and Death

David: King of Israel: Absalom's Return

David: King of Israel: Absalom's Usurpation

David: King of Israel: Adonijah Usurps the Sceptre; Solomon Appointed to the Throne

David: King of Israel: After Living for One Year and Four Months at Ziklag

David: King of Israel: Age of, at Death

David: King of Israel: Amasa is Killed

David: King of Israel: Ammonites Defeated and Tortured

David: King of Israel: Amnon's Crime, his Murder by Absalom, and Absalom's Flight

David: King of Israel: Anointed King, While a Youth, by the Prophet Samuel, and Inspired

David: King of Israel: At Hebron

David: King of Israel: At Jerusalem

David: King of Israel: At This Time Probably Writes

David: King of Israel: At This Time, Probably, David Composes

David: King of Israel: At This Time, Probably, David Writes

David: King of Israel: Barzillai Rewarded

David: King of Israel: Builds a Palace

David: King of Israel: Buries Saul's Bones, and the Bones of his Sons

David: King of Israel: Chosen of God

David: King of Israel: Chronicles of, Written by Samuel, Nathan, and Gad

David: King of Israel: Civil and Military officers of

David: King of Israel: Commits Adultery With Bath-Sheba

David: King of Israel: Conducts a Campaign Against, and Defeats the Philistines

David: King of Israel: Conducts an Expedition Against Amalekites, Misstates the Facts to Achish

David: King of Israel: Conquers the Philistines, Moabites, and Syria

David: King of Israel: Covenants With Saul

David: King of Israel: Crosses the Jordan River

David: King of Israel: David As Musician

David: King of Israel: David As Poet

David: King of Israel: David As Prophet

David: King of Israel: David Goes to Hebron, and is Anointed King by Judah

David: King of Israel: David is Terrified, and Leaves the Ark at the House of Obed-Edom

David: King of Israel: David Wages War Against and Defeats Ish-Bosheth

David: King of Israel: David's Flight from Jerusalem

David: King of Israel: Death and Burial of Saul and his Sons

David: King of Israel: Death of

David: King of Israel: Death of his Infant Son (Born from Bath-Sheba)

David: King of Israel: Defeats the Philistines

David: King of Israel: Delivers his Charge to Solomon

David: King of Israel: Demands the Restoration of Michal, his Wife

David: King of Israel: Descendants of

David: King of Israel: Described to Saul

David: King of Israel: Detailed As Armor-Bearer and Musician at Saul's Court

David: King of Israel: Devoutness of

David: King of Israel: Discreetness of

David: King of Israel: Escapes by Way of Nob, where he Obtains Shewbread and Goliath's Sword from Abimelech

David: King of Israel: Escapes to Gath

David: King of Israel: Fame of

David: King of Israel: Flees to Achish and Lives in Ziklag

David: King of Israel: Friendship of, With Hiram, King of Tyre

David: King of Israel: Genealogy of

David: King of Israel: Goes to En-Gedi

David: King of Israel: Goes to the Wilderness of Ziph, is Betrayed to Saul

David: King of Israel: He Probably Writes, at This Time

David: King of Israel: Interpretation and Fulfillment of This Prophecy

David: King of Israel: Ish-Bosheth, Son of Saul, Crowned

David: King of Israel: Jesus Called Son of

David: King of Israel: Jonathan Intercedes For

David: King of Israel: Judah Accused by the Ten Tribes of Stealing Him Away

David: King of Israel: Justice in the Administration of

David: King of Israel: Kills a Lion and a Bear

David: King of Israel: Kills Goliath

David: King of Israel: Kills the Murderer of Saul

David: King of Israel: Lamentation Over Saul

David: King of Israel: Laments the Death of Absalom

David: King of Israel: Last Words of

David: King of Israel: Length of Reign, Forty Years

David: King of Israel: Lists of his Heroes, and of Their Exploits

David: King of Israel: Lives in the Wilderness of Ziph, Has Opportunity to Kill Saul, But Only Takes his Spear

David: King of Israel: Makes Amasa General

David: King of Israel: Makes Conquest of Jerusalem

David: King of Israel: Makes Second Covenant With Jonathan

David: King of Israel: Marries Abishag

David: King of Israel: Marries Nabal's Widow, Abigail, and Ahinoam

David: King of Israel: Meekness of

David: King of Israel: Mephibosheth Begs for the King's Favor

David: King of Israel: Merciful

David: King of Israel: Michal Rebukes Him for his Religious Enthusiasm

David: King of Israel: Offers Sacrifice, Distributes Gifts, and Blesses the People

David: King of Israel: Organized the Tabernacle Service

David: King of Israel: Philistines Make War Against, and are Defeated by Him

David: King of Israel: Popularity and Discreetness of

David: King of Israel: Probably Composes

David: King of Israel: Probably Writes

David: King of Israel: Probably Writes Psalms Eleven at This Period of his Life

David: King of Israel: Prophecies Concerning Him and his Kingdom

David: King of Israel: Prospered of God

David: King of Israel: Punishes Ish-Bosheth's Murderers

David: King of Israel: Rebuked by Joab

David: King of Israel: Recruits an Army of Insurgents, Goes to Moab, Returns to Hareth

David: King of Israel: Refrains from Killing Saul

David: King of Israel: Repents of his Crime and Confesses his Guilt

David: King of Israel: Rescues the People of Ziklag, Who had been Captured by the Amalekites

David: King of Israel: Returns to Jerusalem

David: King of Israel: Returns, and Jonathan Makes Covenant With Him

David: King of Israel: Saul Attempts to Kill Him

David: King of Israel: Saul is Diverted from Pursuit of

David: King of Israel: Saul's Jealousy of

David: King of Israel: Saves Keilah

David: King of Israel: Sends Commissioners With a Message of Sympathy to Hanun, Son of the King of Ammon

David: King of Israel: Sepulchre of

David: King of Israel: Sheba's Conspiracy Against David, and his Death

David: King of Israel: Shimei Begs for Clemency

David: King of Israel: Shimei Curses Him

David: King of Israel: Solomon is Born To

David: King of Israel: Takes Bath-Sheba to be his Wife

David: King of Israel: Takes the Military Strength of Israel Without Divine Authority, and is Reproved

David: King of Israel: The List of Men Who Join Him

David: King of Israel: The List of Those Who Join Him at Hebron

David: King of Israel: The Love of Jonathan For

David: King of Israel: Treats Mephibosheth, the Lame Son of Saul, With Great Kindness

David: King of Israel: Type of Christ

David: King of Israel: Uzzah is Struck Down when he Attempts to Steady the Ark of the Covenant

David: King of Israel: Wickedly Causes the Death of Uriah

David: King of Israel: Wives of

David: King of Israel: Writes

David: King of Israel: Writes a Psalm on the Betrayal

Epic: David's War Song

Iconoclasm: Destroyed by David

Magnanimity: David to Saul

Nepotism of David

Related Terms

Nephusim (1 Occurrence)

Nepthalim (2 Occurrences)

David Reproves Abner
Top of Page
Top of Page