7:292 Samuel 7:29

David had purposed to make Jerusalem the religious center of the nation and to build a magnificent temple for the ark instead of leaving it dwelling in a tent, and when he told his intention Nathan at first told him to do all that was in his heart.PP 711.3–712.3 That same night God spoke to Nathan and told him that David was to be deprived of building a house for God.PP 711.3–712.3 The reason David himself must not build was that he had shed blood abundantly and had made great wars, while his son Solomon would be a man of rest to whom God would give peace and quietness from his enemies round about, and Solomon would build the house.PP 711.3–712.3

At the same time God granted assurance of divine favor to David, his posterity, and the kingdom of Israel, declaring that He had taken David from following sheep to rule over Israel, had been with him wherever he went and had cut off his enemies from before him and had made him a great name, and that He would plant Israel securely in a place of their own.PP 711.3–712.3 He promised to make David a house and to set up his seed after him to build a house for His name, with a throne established forever.PP 711.3–712.3 Though his cherished purpose was denied, David received the message with gratitude, humbling himself before God over how far God had brought him and that God had spoken of his house for a great while to come, and he renewed his covenant with God.PP 711.3–712.3 In this verse David therefore prays for God to be pleased to bless the house of His servant so that it will continue forever before Him, appealing to the fact that God Himself has spoken it and that with His blessing the house will be blessed forever.PP 711.3–712.3