A Kingdom that Lasts - The Books of 2 Samuel & 1 Chronicles

In this Bible Story, David comes to the realization that the Lord should have a temple built for him. Nathan the prophet agrees, and speaks for the Lord saying his kingdom would be established forever. The Lord blesses all of David’s exploits, and the kingdom of Israel continues to grow day by day. This story is inspired by 2 Samuel 7-8 & 4:4 & I Chronicles 17-18. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.

Today's Bible verse is 2 Samuel 7:2 from the King James Version.

Episode 100: As David looks around at his luxurious new home, he is struck by the sudden urge to build a better home for God. So he holds counsel with Nathan the Prophet and Nathan encourages him and prays for him. That night, Nathan receives a promise from God for David, a promise that God will build up the household of David. David exemplified what it meant for a leader to follow God. He worshiped God both in battle and in praise and he taught the nation to do the same.

Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.

Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.

Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.

Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.

Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max Bard

Producer: Ben Gammon

Hosted by: Pastor Jack Graham

Music by: Andrew Morgan Smith

Bible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray, the king said, unto Nathan the prophet.
See now I dwell in an house of cedar, but
the ark of God dwelleth within curtains Second Samuel seven too,
Dear Heavenly Father, you call our bodies a living temple. Therefore,

(00:22):
as I meditate on David and his heart in Second
Samuel and First Chronicles, I have now decided to make
sure that my body will be a temple that is
built to house your presence. I declare that health and
wholeness is my focus. I declare that I now have
the mindset to get into the best shape of my life.

(00:45):
My body is an instrument that is used to bring
your love and glory to every one I meet. Therefore,
I will be diligent to avoid anything that would hurt
and hinder my ability to live out my purpose and destiny.
Thank you Jesus, that through you and your sacrifice, I
now contain the power to overcome any obstacle that would

(01:08):
stand in the way of my health. As I take
care of my mind, body, and soul, I thank you
God that you can see that I am trustworthy enough
to honor the body and life you've given me. Through
this trust you will continue to not only bless me,
but also allow my decision to prioritize health to bless

(01:31):
my legacy. I decree that my body is the temple
of the Lord, and I will do whatever is necessary
to make sure that God can keep using me to
build a kingdom that lasts in Jesus name. Amen, thank

(01:53):
you for making prayer a priority in your day. To
learn more about the Bible, stay tuned for today's story,
brought to you by Bible in a year dot com.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
A Kingdom that Lasts. In our last story, we learned
about David returning the Ark of the Covenant home to
the people of Israel. Music, singing and dancing filled the
air as the Ark made its way down to the
city of Jerusalem. However, the revelry was quickly replaced by
fear as Uza was struck down when he touched the ark.

(02:34):
David questioned God's goodness, but pressed into God through his doubt.
When the Ark finally returned to Israel, David leapt for
joy and danced among the people. He took off his
kingly robes, which angered his wife. However, David would not
be embarrassed to show his love for God. Now we
are introduced to a new prophet by the name of Nathan.

(02:57):
He would prove as a voice of encouragement, prophecy, and
correction for David for years to come, and David, with
a heart that loves God, leads the people of Israel
into more prosperity and victory inspired by Second Samuel and
First Chronicles.

Speaker 3 (03:17):
Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the
Bible in a Year podcast. In our previous story, we
heard how David moved the Arc to Israel into the
city of David, where it belonged. Though it wasn't an
easy task and because David had set about it in
the wrong way at first, a man died, but the
Ark eventually made its way to Israel, where David danced

(03:40):
before the Lord without shame. His own wife, Michael, disapproved,
but David made it clear he was worshiping God. Today
we will meet a new prophet, a man named Nathan,
who will both encourage and challenge David in the years
to come. God will speak through Nathan to guide and
correct David, who will lead God's people with a righteous

(04:00):
heart that seeks the Lord always. God will bless Israel
with victory and prosperity under this king who had a
heart for God. Listen now to today's scripture.

Speaker 2 (04:13):
David arose from his bed early in the morning. The
musk of cedar and spring flowers filled the room as
a soft light trickled through the windows. David walked from
his bed towards the window and leaned over. He breathed
in the crisp morning air and let the new sun
warm his face. He looked around the outside of his home.
There were gardens, trees, and wild flowers lacing the property.

(04:37):
Across the way was a hall for him to meet
with the elders and his mighty men. Growing up as
a shepherd boy, David would have never fathomed living like
a king. David looked back at his room. Beautiful cedar
beams held up the high ceilings. He observed them closely.
David tilted his head and pressed his lips together, seeing

(04:57):
how the large beams were constructed pieces of art. Then,
in an instant, David's eyes widened. David put on his
shirt and robe and ran outside towards the meeting hall.
David burst through the doors with a smile on his face.
Nathan the Prophet was there, as he often was if
the king needed counsel Nathan, David shouted as he hugged him.

(05:20):
Nathan smiled in return, wondering what had put David in
such a good mood. David leaned in close as he spoke, saying,
look at this beautiful home I have. I dwell in
a house of cedar, fortified and filled with beauty. Yet
the ark of God is outside, dwelling in a tent.
David waved his arms towards the outside and put his

(05:41):
hands on his head. Why wouldn't the Lord be deserving
of a beautiful home? Nathan stroked his beard and pondered
David's words. He shrugged his shoulders with a grin and said,
do all that is in your heart, my king. The
Lord is with you. So David wasted no time in
beginning the plan to build God a temple, a home

(06:02):
so magnificent and glorious that the whole world would awe
at the sight of it. That night, Nathan was praying
to the Lord on David's behalf. The prophet kneeled at
the side of his bed, considering the home David desired
to create for God. Then in the quiet, God spoke
to Nathan, saying, go and say these things to David.

(06:24):
I have not lived in a house since the day
I saved the people of Israel from Egypt. I have
been moving among my people in a tent in all
their history. I have not asked for a dwelling place,
nor have I complained. Yet here you are, David, prepared
to build for me a temple. I remember taking you
from the pasture among your sheep. I have been with

(06:45):
you everywhere you have went. I have cut off every
enemy that pursues you. I will make you great in
all the earth, and I will set your son up
after you. When he sins, I shall not depart from
him like I did so, nor will I leave you
for all the days of your life. Nathan held these
words like precious jewels and presented them to David. The

(07:09):
next morning. David sang and was glad. This interaction between
David and God truly showed why David was chosen to
be king. David was passionate after pleasing the heart of God,
he was still flawed and deeply naive in many ways.
Yet his heart sought to cling to gods, as Jacob
once did many years prior. Together David and God shepherded

(07:33):
the people of Israel into an era of prosperity and growth.
As God gave David's strength as a shepherd to defeat
lions and wolves, so he gave David the strength to
protect the people of Israel. David rose up against the
Philistines and completely subdued them and took one of their capitals.
After this, he defeated the Kingdom of Moab, and the

(07:55):
Moabites served Israel and prospered as a result. David also
thwarted the King of Zoba in a fierce battle. The
two kings clashed over control of the Euphrates. He took
from him seventeen hundred horsemen and twenty thousand soldiers. When
the Syrians came to King Zoba's aid, David and his

(08:16):
mighty men struck them down with a mighty blow. Many
other kings sought to destroy David, but ended up crushed
by the power of God. David reigned over the land
with strength and mercy. With each victory, the small and
helpless nation of Israel rose to a place of prominence
an influence. Yet David was not just a mighty warrior.

(08:37):
Each week he would lead the congregation and worship, singing
his psalms before the people, drawing them closer to the
presence of God. He would write songs of God's goodness, power, salvation,
and joy. He taught the people how to be honest
before God while showing him reverence. Slowly, David's heart for

(08:57):
God began to translate onto the people of Israel. The
ones far off, rebellious and fickle people of Israel were
finally pursuing the Lord once again.

Speaker 3 (09:10):
As we begin today's story, we are introduced to a
new character, the Prophet Nathan. It has been years since
God has spoken through the prophet Samuel, and now there
is a new man called to bring God's prophetic word
to his people and to King David. Nathan and David
will form a strong bond of trust over many years,

(09:30):
and in today's story we find David seeking Nathan for
counsel on an issue very close to his heart. As King,
David lives in a palatial home with all the comforts
and luxuries of a king, and yet as he looks
at the ark and where it is kept a tent,
he knows that this is not right. God's presence deserves

(09:51):
a home fit for a king, a heavenly king, something
beautiful and permanent, a temple that would catch the eye
of all who would see it. So David tells Nathan
that he wants to build a home, a temple for God,
and Nathan gives his blessing to David, knowing the king's
heart is right where it belongs. I imagine David is

(10:13):
like a small child with excitement as he draws up
the plans to honor God with a temple. Nathan, for
his part, took the request to the Lord in prayer
to confirm that his guidance to David was correct. God
was pleased by David's desire to build a temple for generations.
God had moved with the Israelites a nomad, liked them
dwelling in temporary houses in the wilderness, going from place

(10:36):
to place. But now as his plan was unfolding and
the man who pursued his heart was leading his people,
God would provide a permanent home that the world, all
the world could see. Listen to what God says to
Nathan in Second Samuel seven, he shall build a house
for my name, and I will establish the throne of
his kingdom forever. I will be to him like a father,

(10:59):
and he shall be to me like a son. When
he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod
of men, with the stripes of the sons of men.
But my steadfast love will not depart from him. These
words are specifically about David, but they reflect a desire
for God's relationship with each one of us. Our father

(11:20):
in heaven wants us to walk with him as his children.
David's primary interest was not for the power of a king,
or the position or the recognition. That was what was
in Saul's heart, and it led him on a destructive path.
David's desire was to honor God, to be near to
him and show him love, reverence, and lavish generosity. And

(11:44):
for this God blessed both David and the nation of Israel.
He led the nation to many victories in battles against
other nations, and with every victory David gave glory to
God and made his name known throughout the earth. Dear God,
we thank you that you are our father and we
are your children through Jesus Christ, our Lord, thank you

(12:08):
for the privilege of knowing you and loving you, serving you,
and following you. May we always confess our sins and
find forgiveness, and may we always live in obedience to
You in Christ's name. Amen. Thank you for listening to
today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas.

(12:28):
Download Theprey dot com app and make prayer and Bible
study a priority in your life. If you enjoy this podcast,
share it with someone you love or know. And by
sharing this podcast, we can get the word of God
to the world. And if you want more resources on
how to tap into God's power for Christian living, be
sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless you.