King David settles in his new capital and the Ark of the Covenant is installed on Mount Moriah. David’s kingdom is solid. David now wants to build a massive, permanent temple for God,in place of the humble Tabernacle, which is constructed primarily of long strips of cloth. He asks the prophet Nathan to intercede on his behalf before God. David wants God’s blessing so that he may dedicate the temple to His glory. God replies that the time for a permanent temple has not yet arrived – David is not the one destined to build it. However, God does promise David that his household will last forever. And indeed, the House of David becomes the most stable dynasty in the land of Israel for generations to come. God has a master plan. He explains to the new king that his son will be the one to erect God’s final dwelling. From that moment on, the House of David becomes the Jewish people’s ultimate dynasty.
“Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? 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” (2 Samuel 7:6-7)
“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, 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.” (2 Samuel 7:10-11)
Restraint is the time taken after an impulse to restrict negative thoughts and behaviors.
