SCRIPTURE READING
2 Samuel 7:1-17
1Now when the king was settled in his house and the Lord had given
him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 the king said to the prophet
Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God
stays in a tent.” 3 Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in
mind, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell
my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a
house to live in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up
the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about
in a tent and a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have moved about among all the
people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of
Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why
have you not built me a house of cedar?’ 8 Now therefore thus you shall
say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from
the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people
Israel, 9 and I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all
your enemies from before you, and I will make for you a great name, like
the name of the great ones of the earth.
10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so
that they may live in their own place and be disturbed no more, and
evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I
appointed judges over my people Israel, and I will give you rest from all
your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will
make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with
your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come
forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build
a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom
forever. 14 I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. When he
commits iniquity, I will punish him with a rod such as mortals use, with
blows inflicted by human beings. 15 But I will not take my steadfast love
from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before
you. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before
me; your throne shall be established forever.” 17 In accordance with all
these words and with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
Reader: Word of God. Word of life.
All: Thanks be to God.