2 Sam. 7 David being at rest desires to build God a house; which Nathan at first approves of; afterwards, in obedience to the word of God, forbiddeth him 2 Sam. 7:1–11. He promiseth him benefits and blessings in his seed, Solomon and the Messiah, who should build the house of God, 2 Sam. 7:12–17.

When the king sat in his house, i.e. was settled and warm in the house which Hiram’s men built for him, 2 Sam. 5:11; then he reflected upon the unhandsome and unsettled state of the ark.

i.e. In a tent or tabernacle, 1 Sam. 7:6 composed of several curtains, Ex. 26:1;c.

Pursue thy intentions, and build a house for the ark. The design being pious, and the thing not forbidden by God, Nathan hastily approves it, before he had either seriously considered it in his own mind, or consulted God about it, as both he and David certainly ought to have done in a matter of so…

It came to pass that night: because David’s mistake was pious, and from an honest mind, God would not suffer him to lie long in his mistake, nor to disquiet his mind, or run himself into inconveniencies, in order to the work, before he gave a stop to it.

i.e. Thou shalt not. Or, Wilt thou build, &c.? Dost thou purpose it?

These two seem thus to be distinguished; the one may note the curtains and hangings within, the other the frame of boards, and coverings upon it.

Spake I a word? did I ever give any command about it? without which neither they did, nor thou shouldst attempt it. With any of the tribes: in 1 Chron. 17:6, it is of the judges; and to them, not to the tribes, the following words agree, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel.

So shalt thou say unto my servant David: lest David should be too much discouraged, or judge himself neglected and forsaken of God, as one thought unworthy of so great an honour, God here gives him the honourable title of his servant, thereby signifying that he accepted of his service, and of his…

I will appoint a place, i.e. I will make room for them; whereas hitherto they have been much constrained and distressed by their enemies, Or, I will establish (for so that verb sometimes signifies) a place for them, i.e. I will establish them in their place or land.

Nor as they did under the judges, neither so oft nor so long. But all this is to be understood with a condition, except they should notoriously forsake God, or rebel against him; which being so oft declared by God in other places it was needless to mention it here.

When thy days be fulfilled; when the time of thy life shall expire. This phrase implies that his days shall be completed and prolonged to the usual course and stint of nature, and not out off in the midst, by any violent or untimely death.

He shall build an house: this is meant literally and immediately of Solomon, who alone did build the material house or temple; but mystically and ultimately of Christ, who is the builder of God’s spiritual house or temple, Heb. 3:3, Heb. 3:6, 1 Pet. 2:5. For my name, i. e.

I will carry myself towards him as becomes a father, with all affection and tenderness, and I will own him its my son. This is intended both of Solomon, as a type of Christ; and of Christ himself, as is evident from Heb. 1:5.

My mercy, or my kindness, i. e. the kingdom which l have mercifully an kindly promised to thee and thine. As I took it from Saul; in regard of his posterity, for the kingdom was continued to his person during life.

Before thee; thine eyes in some sort beholding it; for he lived to see his wise and godly son Solomon actually placed in the throne, with great reputation and general applause, 1 Kings 1:39–40, which was in itself a good presage of the continuance of the kingdom in his family; and being considered,…

Although it was contrary to his own opinion, and an evidence of his rashness and folly. This therefore is here mentioned as an evidence of his fidelity and impartiality in relating the whole mind of God herein, and of his modesty in taking shame to himself.

Sat: this word may note either, first, His bodily posture, for there is no certain gesture to which prayer is limited and we have examples of saints praying in that posture, Ex.

This, to wit, which thou hast already done for me, as he now said, that thou hast brought me hitherto, i.e. to that pitch of honour, and peace, and prosperity, in which through thy favour I now stand.

What can David say more unto thee? either, first, In way of gratitude and praise to thee; words cannot express my obligations to thee, nor my sense of these obligations. Or rather, secondly, In way of prayer, as appears by the parallel place, 1 Chron. 17:18.

For thy word’s sake; that thou mightest fulfil thy promises made to me by Samuel and Nathan, and thereby demonstrate thy faithfulness. According to thine own heart, i. e. of thine own mere liberality and good pleasure, without any desert of mine.

Thou art great, both in power and in goodness, as appears by the great and good things which thou hast done for me, All that we have heard with our ears; what we have heard from our parents, or out of thy word, concerning the incomparable excellency of thy majesty, and of thy works; of that I have…

God went, to wit, into Egypt; an expression of God after the manner of men. To make him a name; to advance the glory of his power and goodness, and other perfections. Compare Ex. 9:16.

Thou hast confirmed to thyself; partly by thy promises, and that sure covenant which thou hast made with them; and partly by thy glorious works wrought on their behalf, as it appears this day.

The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel, i.e. do thou never cease to manifest thyself to be the God and Governor of Israel.

Because thy promise hath given me encouragement to pray, and assurance of answer. Found in his heart, or, found his heart, i.e. taken courage; as a man is said to lose his heart when he wants courage.

That God who hast declared thyself to be Israel’s God, and in particular my God.

Thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it, and therefore wilt certainly do it, for thy words never fail.