2 Samuel 7:1–29 The Lord’s Covenant with David 

2 Samuel 7:1–29 The Lord’s Covenant with David

[Study Aired November 2, 2026]

Today’s study gives us a glimpse of David’s mindset. He was worried about how he dwells in a palace of cedar while the ark of God still dwells inside a tent. He was therefore desiring a permanent temple for the ark.

Nathan assumed that because the Lord was with David, he could do what he desires regarding his desire for a permanent residence for the ark.  However, in the night, the Lord spoke to Nathan by pointing out that He never asked any of Israel’s judges or leaders for a house of cedar, having moved about in a tent and tabernacle during their journey in the wilderness and their sojourn in Canaan. Instead of David building God a house, the Lord promised to build David a “house” or a royal dynasty.

In response to the Lord’s plan concerning him, David prayed to the Lord with gratitude and surrender. 

David’s Concern

2Sa 7:1  And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest roundabout from all his enemies; 

David, being given rest from all his enemies by the Lord, shows us that as the Lord’s elect, we must enter the Lord’s rest, where we cease from our works.  

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 

This rest marks a time in our walk with Christ where we depend wholly on what the Lord is doing on our behalf and not what we do. This period is also characterized by significant victories over our flesh such that we are not under the influence of our flesh. As a result, we are delivered from our fears and the hard bondage under which we served our flesh. 

Isa 14:3  And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.

2Sa 7:2  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. 

David telling Nathan about his worry that the ark of God dwells in a tent while he lives in a house of cedar is another way of saying that we groan in this temporal tent of this body of our flesh, which is the habitation of the Lord, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, which is permanent.  

2Co 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 
2Co 5:2  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 
2Co 5:3  If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 
2Co 5:4  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 
2Co 5:5  Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

2Sa 7:3  And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee. 

David could have carried out his desire to have a permanent residence for the ark without consulting Nathan, a prophet. However, David consulting Nathan about his desire is to teach us the importance of the safety of the multitude of counsellors in our walk with the Lord. If we ignore this principle in our walk with Christ, we are setting ourselves to fail. 

Pro 11:14  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Pro15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.     

Although Nathan rashly told David to do what was in his heart, it was through Nathan that the Lord unveiled His plan regarding David. This plan entailed establishing the house of David and letting his son Solomon build Him a house, as we shall see later in this study.  

2Sa 7:5  Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? 
2Sa 7:6  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. 
2Sa 7:7  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? 

During the time of the Old Testament, our Lord did not dwell in the hearts and minds of His children. In the New Testament, it was after He had ascended and was received in a cloud, after dying for our sins, that He is building a house in the hearts and minds of His elect to dwell in. Verses 5 to 7 therefore, show us that it was not the Lord’s intention during the Old Testament time and the time before Christ’s death and resurrection, to dwell in the temple of the hearts and minds of His people. That is why when he was about to die, He told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them.

Joh 14:2  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 
Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 
Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 

2Sa 7:8  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: 
2Sa 7:9  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. 

Here in verse 8, the Lord is reminding David from where He took him. David was taken from the abode of sheep, from following sheep to become ruler over the people Israel. This is also the experience of every elect. The Lord has called and chosen us from various walks of life to become His elect with the promise of reigning with Him over the kingdoms of the earth in the fullness of time, just like David. 

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

In verse 9, the Lord told David that He has been with him wherever he went and has cut off all his enemies from before him. This is to assure us that the Lord is always with us, even though sometimes we may go through the valley of shadow of death. His presence with us also guarantees the victories over our flesh which is influenced by the devil, our enemy. 

Isa 43:1  But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
Isa 43:2  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

2Sa 7:10  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, 
2Sa 7:11  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. 

The Lord appointing a place for His people Israel, where He will plant them such that the children of wickedness shall not be able to afflict them anymore, is another way of saying that the Lord is preparing a place for us, and this place is our heart and mind, where He will come and dwell in us such that we shall not be overwhelmed by our flesh powered by the devil. 

Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 

Joh 14:16  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 
Joh 14:17  even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 
Joh 14:18  “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

In verse 11, the Lord promised to give David rest from all his enemies. When the Lord comes to take residence in our hearts and minds, that is the time we rest from our own strivings. 

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Again, in verse 11, the Lord promised to make us a house. A house in this case means a family. Therefore, the Lord promising to give David a house signifies the Lord bringing us into the family of His elect or the church of the firstborn, where we have a family of brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 
Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:  

David’s Son Shall Build the House

2Sa 7:12  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. 
2Sa 7:13  He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom forever.

To understand these verses, we have to see here that David represents God and His seed who shall establish His kingdom or build a house for the Lord’s name signifies Christ, the beginning of the creation of God. It was Jesus Christ who came out of the bowels of the Father to establish the kingdom of God. 

Rev 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 

It is important to note that the seed of David that built a house for the Lord is Solomon. The name Solomon means  ‘peace.’ We know that it was through Jesus, the Prince of Peace, who came to establish the kingdom or the throne of His kingdom forever. 

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Mar 1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 
Mar 1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 

2Sa 7:14  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: 
2Sa 7:15  But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 
2Sa 7:16  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.
2Sa 7:17  According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.  

Here in verse 14, we can see clearly that it was Jesus Christ, the son of God who bore our sins and was therefore chastised with the rod of men and the stripes of the children of men for our sake. 

Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 
Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 
Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 

Verse 15 indicates that Solomon was shown mercy by the Lord. This implies that it was through the mercy of the Father that Jesus was not consumed. As He is, so are we. It is through the mercies we have received from the Lord that we are not consumed. 

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 
Lam 3:23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 

David’s house and his kingdom being established forever in verse 16 indicates that, although earthly governments rise and fall, God’s kingdom has no end. God’s dominion endures throughout all generations and will never be destroyed. It also implies that our role as the Lord’s elect transcends this age. 

Psa 145:13  Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. 

Nathan telling David all that the Lord told him indicates that what we have received from the Lord, we must share with our brothers and sisters. What we receive from our brothers and sisters is what every joint supplies to the body for its edification. This supply from every joint is the speaking of the truth in love, which causes us to grow up in Him in all things.  

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

David’s Prayer of Gratitude

2Sa 7:18  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? 
2Sa 7:19  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? 
2Sa 7:20  And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.

These verses echo how we should be grateful to the Lord for His mercies toward us. David’s appreciation for what the Lord had done for him is reflected in the Psalms as follows:

Psa 40:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 
Psa 40:2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 
Psa 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 

2Sa 7:21  For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. 

In verse 21, the great things being done by the Lord according to His word and His predestinated plan for us, His elect, refers to making known to us our inheritance by opening our understanding to the mysteries of His kingdom.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 

2Sa 7:22  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. 

In this verse, we see David praising the Lord according to the knowledge he had been given. The more we see the wonderful works the Lord is doing in our lives in this age, the more we must be filled with adoration for His goodness towards us. This adoration must translate into offering our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord, which is the spiritual form of worshiping that the Lord desires.

Rom 12:1  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 
Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

2Sa 7:23  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? 
2Sa 7:24  For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee forever: and thou, LORD, art become their God. 

The one nation on the earth whom the Lord is redeeming for a people to himself is His elect or the church of the firstborn. We are those whom the Lord has favored in this age to overcome our flesh, and as a result, we shall be crowned kings over the nations of this world.

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 
Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 

The great and terrible things mentioned in verse 23 therefore relate to how the Lord is redeeming us from the world to make Him a name. Being delivered from the world entails being given power over the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, through the Lord’s judgment of our old man.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. 

2Sa 7:25  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. 
2Sa 7:26  And let thy name be magnified forever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. 

These verses indicate that what the Lord has spoken in His word concerning us shall come to pass. This is because He is God over us, His elect, and that we have been destined by Him to play a significant part in the implementation of His plan. 

Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Jos 23:14  And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.  

2Sa 7:27  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. 
2Sa 7:28  And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: 
2Sa 7:29  Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue forever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed forever. 

As indicated earlier, a house in these verses means a family and David here represents the Lord’s elect. Therefore, the Lord building a house for David implies the establishment of the family of the Lord’s elect in every generation through Christ. 

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

The goodness promised by the Lord to David in verse 28 refers to the establishment of the church of the Lord’s elect by the Lord and that it is through us that salvation shall come to the whole of humanity. That is why creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 

Verse 29 speaks of the blessings of the house of David lasting forever. It is worth noting that the word translated “forever” means “age-abiding,” “age-lasting,” or pertaining to a specific age or era rather than an endless, infinite duration. The blessings we are receiving in this age shall extend to the lake of fire age where the whole of humanity and even angels shall be blessed because of us.

Amen!!