INTRODUCTION: This amazing chapter begins with David sitting in his house of cedar at rest from all his enemies. As he contemplates the dwelling place of the ark of God, he determines to build a house for the Lord. God, however, puts a halt to David’s plans. But, as a concession, He promises David that his house (royal line) will never be obliterated but will continue forever.

What a wonderful Lord! David wants to build Him a house; but instead, God promises to make David a house that will last forever. This entire passage shows the goodness of God to those who serve Him. We want to do something for God. God determines to do much more for us.

1. DAVID DESIRES TO BUILD GOD A HOUSE (2 Samuel 7:1-3 [1] And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; [2] That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. [3] And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
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1. David Has Rest from All His Enemies (2 Samuel 7:1And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
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1. David receives this rest from the Lord.
2. David sits down in his house.
3. NOTE: There are three houses in this chapter. Most new versions change the word for at least one of them and, therefore, remove the comparison.
1. David’s house of cedar (2 Samuel 7:2That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
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2. The house of the Lord (2 Samuel 7:5Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
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3. The royal house of David (2 Samuel 7:11And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
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2. David Tells Nathan of His Desire (2 Samuel 7:2That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
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1. David dwells in a house of cedar.
2. The ark dwells in a house of curtains (see Exodus 26:1-3 [1] Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. [2] The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure. [3] The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
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3. Nathan Encourages David in His Desire (2 Samuel 7:3And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
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1. Do all that is in thine heart.
2. The Lord is with thee (2 Samuel 5:10And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
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3. NOTE: Evidently, even good prophets had to have a special revelation from God and were not right in all their opinions. Here, Nathan used human judgment: the Lord was with David; David wanted to do a good thing; therefore, David should do whatever he desired to do. However, God had other plans for David.
2. DAVID TOLD NOT TO BUILD THE HOUSE (2 Samuel 7:4-11 [4] And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, [5] Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? [6] Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. [7] In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar? [8] Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: [9] And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. [10] Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, [11] And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
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1. God Has No Need of a House (2 Samuel 7:4-7 [4] And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, [5] Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? [6] Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. [7] In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
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1. God reveals His will to Nathan (2 Samuel 7:4And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,
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2. David not the man to build a house (2 Samuel 7:5Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
   See All...; see 1 Chronicles 28:3-6 [3] But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. [4] Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel: [5] And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. [6] And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
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3. God always had a tent or tabernacle (2 Samuel 7:6Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
   See All...; 1 Chronicles 15:1And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.
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4. God had never asked for a house (2 Samuel 7:7In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
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2. David Not Chosen to Build the House (2 Samuel 7:8-11 [8] Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: [9] And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. [10] Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, [11] And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
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1. Taken from shepherd to ruler of Israel (2 Samuel 7:8Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
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2. Given victory over all his enemies (2 Samuel 7:9And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.
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3. The time to build the house will come later (2 Samuel 7:10-11 [10] Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, [11] And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
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4. For now, God will build David a house (2 Samuel 7:11And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
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3. GOD PROMISES TO MAKE DAVID A HOUSE (2 Samuel 7:12-17 [12] And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. [14] I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: [15] But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. [16] And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. [17] According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
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1. God Promises to Continue David’s Line (2 Samuel 7:12-15 [12] And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. [14] I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: [15] But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
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1. To set up a seed after David (2 Samuel 7:12And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
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2. To establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:13He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
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3. To deal with him as a father with his son (2 Samuel 7:14I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
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4. To never take God’s mercy from him (2 Samuel 7:15But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
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2. God Makes a Covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:16-17 [16] And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. [17] According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
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1. To establish David’s house (2 Samuel 7:16And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
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2. To establish David’s kingdom (2 Samuel 7:16And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
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3. To establish David’s throne (2 Samuel 7:16And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
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4. To fulfill the words of God (2 Samuel 7:17According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
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4. DAVID GLORIES IN THE HOUSE GOD PROMISES (2 Samuel 7:18-24 [18] Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? [19] And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? [20] And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant. [21] For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. [22] Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. [23] And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? [24] For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.
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1. David’s Humility (2 Samuel 7:18Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
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1. Who am I?
2. What is my house?
2. David’s Awe (2 Samuel 7:19And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
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1. A small thing in God’s sight
2. Concerning a great while to come
3. Not spoken after the manner of men
3. David’s Silence (2 Samuel 7:20And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.
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1. What more can be said?
2. This was done despite God’s full knowledge of His servant.
4. David’s Faith (2 Samuel 7:21For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
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1. According to God’s word
2. According to God’s heart
3. According to God’s work
4. To reveal God to His servant
5. David’s Praise (2 Samuel 7:22Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
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1. The greatness of God
2. The uniqueness of God
1. None like thee
2. None beside thee
3. The faithfulness of God – “according to all that we have heard”
6. David’s Thanksgiving (2 Samuel 7:23And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
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1. For taking Israel as His people
2. For redeeming Israel from Egypt
3. For making Him a name through Israel
7. David’s Confidence (2 Samuel 7:24For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.
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1. In God’s faithfulness to Israel
2. In God’s faithfulness to His own character
5. DAVID CONFIRMS HIS DESIRE TO RECEIVE THIS HOUSE (2 Samuel 7:25-29 [25] And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. [26] And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. [27] For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. [28] And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: [29] Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
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1. Establish Your Word Forever (2 Samuel 7:25And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.
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2. Let Your Name Be Magnified (2 Samuel 7:26And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.
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3. Let This Prayer Be Answered (2 Samuel 7:27For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
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4. Let Your Promise Be Fulfilled (2 Samuel 7:28And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
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5. Let Your Pleasure Be Done (2 Samuel 7:29Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
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CONCLUSION: David will not be able to do what he desired to do for the Lord, but the Lord will do for David more than he could have ever desired.