I've recently discovered a wonderful passage in 2 Samuel 7 that bears talking about. David, now settled in his kingship, experiencing rest from all his enemies, decides to build a house for the God who has prospered him. For "the ark of God dwells in a tent". So it makes complete sense, and Nathan the prophet okays it.

Until Nathan's dream that night, that is. God interrupts his sleep to give Nathan a different message for David: I will build him a house. What? David already has a house.

The house God intends to build for David is the one Paul speaks of in Ephesians 2: So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (ESV)

So God's plans for David are much bigger than David's kingdom, bigger even than his posterity. Bigger than his son's kingship, and he was the wisest man who ever lived.

We see continually in the Scriptures that God's purposes are beyond all that we imagine. Just read Ephesians 1 and see if you don't agree with me. And while you have your Bible open, read 2 Samuel 7 also and take note of all the promises God makes to David.

We'll explore them more tomorrow.