Godly was the desire of David, as he sat in his house, that He who had acted so powerfully, and in such grace on behalf of Israel and their king should have a suitable dwelling place in the city which He had chosen to put His name there. The "house of cedars" and the "curtains" spoke by their very comparison, to the man after God's own heart, but he must learn like Abraham, that the day of fulfilment of promises was not his, though the promises were made to him.
David could die in faith, not having received the promises (i.e., their fulfilment), but having seen them afar off, and been persuaded of them and embraced them, and confessed that he was a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth. (Heb. 11:1313These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)).
David's desire toward God brought a rich message that night: God could build him a house, a lasting one, though he could not be permitted to carry out his wish. The house David would have built, his son should provide when wars were over and peace prevailing.
Not yet was the day of conflict at an end, and the Lord of hosts who had gone with His people through their wanderings and remained their preserver and protector in all their days, had not asked for a permanent dwelling place.
He had taken David from the sheepfold (1 Samuel 16:1111And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. (1 Samuel 16:11)) that he might be the ruler of Israel; He had been with him whithersoever he had walked, and cut off all his enemies, making him a name like the great men of the earth. Israel should be planted in the place God had ordained for them, to be disturbed no more, and their king should be of David's sons.
The words are in the fullest application only true of the Lord Jesus when He returns to this earth to reign, but the immediate reference is, of course, to Solomon. If reference be made to the corresponding passage in 2 Samuel 7 it will be observed that the latter part of verse 14 is omitted here, because divine grace is the theme of the Chronicles, and we are led to look right on to the personal reign of the King of Kings. (Revelation 19:1616And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:16)).
Deeply moved by the message brought to him by Nathan the prophet, David sat no longer "in his house" (verse 1), but "came and sat before the Lord" (verse 16) and poured out his heart in gratitude and in acknowledgment of the sovereign favor of which he had been made the object.
"Who am I, O Lord God? and what is mine house ?" is the language of one who has learned in the school of God. And further,
"What can David speak more to Thee ? . . . . for Thou knowest Thy servant."
Here we are reminded of that other servant of the Lord, Peter, whose heart also lay exposed in the presence of his Master: "Thou knowest all things" (John 21:1717He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:17)). And should not those who bear His Name today, be seeking such intimacy, breathing such language ?