July 15, 2025 • 22 mins
# 191 - Davidic Covenant - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, David dreams of building a temple for God, but instead receives an eternal promise that his house and kingdom will endure forever. Join us as we explore 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17, where God’s covenant transforms human plans into divine destiny, laying the foundation for a kingdom without end.
Episode 191 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.
Sign up for The Chosen People devotionals at https://www.thechosenpeople.com/sign-up
For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Psalm 113:7–8, “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.”
Listen to some of the greatest Bible stories ever told and make prayer a priority in your life by downloading the Pray.com app.
Show Notes:
(00:38) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(01:49) Davidic Covenant
(15:37) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the Chosen People.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
What do you give the one who has everything? David
tried a temple. God responded with a throne Shelloh, my friends,
from here in the holy land of Israel, i'm l
extein with international fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome
to the Chosen People. What happens when a man tries
to honor God only to find that God has something
(01:02):
even greater in mind? And what does it mean for
the creator of heaven and earth to make a promise
an eternal covenant? Today we encounter a moment unlike any
other in the Hebrew Bible. David conquered, unified and built
his house. But now David turns his eyes to the
tent that holds the ark of the covenant. David wants
(01:25):
to honor God, and in response got to something astonishing.
So far, the Chosen People have gone from wandering to settling,
from war to worship, and now David dares to dream
of building a home for God. What he receives is
not a command, not even permission. What he receives is
(01:47):
a promise.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
It was the hour before dawn. The mist clung low
to the earth, shrouding the King's gardens in aale of
pale silver, King David walked alone. The solitude was welcome,
the quiet, the space to think and pray. David's steps
(02:13):
were slow and deliberate, his bare feet pressing into the
damp soil. As he passed beneath the fig trees and
myrtle bushes. He looked back at his house, the palace
carved from cedar, set upon stone, quarried from the hills outside.
Hebron It was beautiful, yes, two beautiful perabs. His eyes
(02:37):
drifted toward the road beyond the gates. The path ran eastward,
winding gently down the slope until it disappeared into the
folds of Jerusalem. And there, down that road, beneath a
cloth of stars and the encroaching dawn, stood the tent
where the Ark of the Covenant lay, a temporary shelter
(03:00):
for the throne of the Almighty. David frowned, the weight
of guilt settled low in his chest. Her sound pulled
him from his thoughts, the crunch of footsteps among the
olive trees. From the haze, Nathan appeared, doing the same
as David, praying and enjoying a moment of quiet peace.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Good morning, Nathan.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
The prophet turned with a smile, inclining his head in
gentle reverence.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
And you, my King, you rise early.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
I could not sleep. I guess I'm still not used
to sleeping in a palace after years in the wilderness.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
David's eyes were fixed on the palace behind him, slowly
illuminated by the rising dawn. Nathan followed his gaze, taking
in the sharp lines of cedar beams and the proud
stone towers edged with the scitils of Judah's lion.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
It is a fine home fit for the man who
united the tribes of Israel.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
David's face remains still built.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
From the gifts of kings, cedar, from tire stones shaped
by foreign craftsmen of the East. My hall glows with gold,
and my hearth burns clean with riverstone. It's a home
meant for triumph.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Nathan studied the young king, waiting.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Why do you sound so sullen? Is it not enough?
Speaker 3 (04:38):
No, it's too much. I dwell in a house of grandeur,
while the ark of the Lord rests in a tent
no greater than the one that I slept beneath in
the wilderness. I a man dine in splendor, while God's
throne sits beneath canvas. How can that be right?
Speaker 1 (05:01):
The wind stirred the branches overhead. Nathan smiled, not the
smile of amusement, but of approval. There was something fierce
and holy in the young King's heart. That much was certain.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
You speak as a man who understands his place. The
distance between you and the beggar on the street is
minuscule compared to the chasm that lays between you and
the holiness of a shem. The Lord is with you, David,
whatever you set your hand to do it.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
David smiled at that. Nathan's blessing was not law, but
it was no small thing. The prophet's voice held weight
even in matters of kings. David bowed his head, humbled
and full of resolve. The sky was brightening, now, gold
beginning to creep into the clouds. A new day was rising.
(06:02):
He turned back toward the palace, heart alight with a
vision not yet born, a house, not for himself, but
for the Almighty, a house where all Israel would gather,
a place of fire and song.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
I will build a temple here in Jerusalem.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Nathan lingered in the garden, long after David had gone,
his hands clasped and his eyes raised to the heavens,
though no voice answered just yet. The wind rustled the
leaves above, and the distant bleating of goats could be
heard beyond the city walls. The prophet walked among the
(06:44):
fig trees, praying in silence. All that day, he remained
beneath the boughs, fasting from food and speech, waiting not
as one demands, but as one listens. When the sun
began began to sink, the Lord answered. It felt at
first like a whisper, her still small, quiet voice, rustling
(07:10):
with the leaves. It was not a dream. It soon
became a weight pressed upon the soul, a fire that
burned behind the eyes. The voice of the Almighty came
to Nathan as it had come to Moses, as it
had come to the judges and seers of old. It
shook the marrow of his bones and filled him with
(07:32):
holy dread.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
My servant David wishes to build me a temple.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Yes, Almighty, it does.
Speaker 5 (07:43):
You shall go and tell speak to David on my behalf.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
What is your message to David?
Speaker 3 (07:50):
My lord?
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Nathan trembled as the Lord spoke about his servant David.
The Lord poured out his will, intentions, and promises for David.
Nathan was taken back by it.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
All.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
He knew David was God's anointed one, but the way
the Lord spoke about him was different, Different from heroes
and leaders passed. There was a tenderness, a paternal favor,
as a father would for his son. The presence left,
and the stillness once again returned to the trees, and
(08:30):
so as the final light nestled behind the hills, Nathan
ran to the King. He found David seated where he
often sat in the late hours, near the fire, his
brow quiet with contemplation, his lips murmuring soft songs to
(08:52):
the Lord of hosts.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
My King, the Lord has spoken.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Nathan's eyes had a calm to them, a confidence that
the message he bore was solid as iron.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Is it regarding the temple I wished to build? Have
I gone too far? Have I presumed too much? Yes?
Speaker 4 (09:15):
You shall not be the one to build the temper,
But this is no reprimand, my king, the Lord desires
to make a covenant with you. He has given me
a message for you, a declaration of his love and promises.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
David perked up At that, he leaned forward with his
chest as if there was a cord tethered between his
heart and the Lord's.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
I was under the trees, listening to the words of
the Lord, as if he were speaking within my own heart.
Hear me, David, son of Jesse, these are not my words,
but the words of the Lord.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
He did not wait for permission. He spoke of what
God had shared in whispers under the trees.
Speaker 5 (10:06):
Are you the one to build me a house to
dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from
the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt
to this day. I have been moving from place to
place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have
moved with all the Israelites. Did I ever say to
(10:28):
any of my appointed leaders, why have you not built
me a house of cedar? Did I command Joshua to
build me a permanent house? Did I ask Samuel to
erect a city in my name? I took you from
the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler
over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever
(10:53):
you have gone, and I have cut off all your
enemies from before you now now, I will make your
name great, like all the names of the greatest men
of earth. And I will provide a place for my
people Israel, and will plant them so that they can
(11:14):
have a home of their own. Wicked people will not
oppress them anymore. I will also give you rest from
all your enemies. I will establish a house for you.
When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your
(11:37):
own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.
He is the one who will build a house for
my name, and I will establish the throne of his
kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will
be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish
(11:59):
him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted
by human hands. But my love will never be taken
away from him, as it was from Saul. Your house
and your kingdom will endure forever before me. Your throne
will be established forever.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Nathan fell silent, his chest heaving from the message's burden.
The fire crackled. David was quiet for a long while.
The promise was too large to behold.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
H Here, I am wanting to build a house for
the Lord. But he goes and flips it on me.
He is going to build my house. The Lord is
better to me than I deserve.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
David's breath caught in his throat. The kingdom would pass
through him, but would not end with him, and from
his line her son, a king who would not merely
build a house of stone, but would become the very
dwelling of the Almighty. And though he could not yet
(13:14):
see the shape of that promise, nor understand the blood
it would take to fulfill it, he knew this truth
with certainty. The Lord loved him. Nathan left David alone
with his thoughts. David took his lyre and began to strum.
(13:34):
The song was quiet and contemplative, soothing. He prayed to
the Lord as the music filled the chamber, Who have.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
I, Sovereign Lord? You've brought me this far, And as
if it weren't enough to make me king, you've spoken
about the future of my house. What more can I,
David the Shepherd Boy, say to you. You've already searched
the depths of my heart.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
You know me.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
How great you are, Sovereigned Lord. There's no one like you,
There's no God, but you and who is like your people, Israel,
the one nation on earth that you chose to redeem.
Israel is a people set apart for you to make
your name famous and to perform, and to perform great
(14:28):
and awesome wonders. You've established your people Israel as your
very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
David stood now more alive with his body than strumming
the liar, as if he were playing in front of
a thousand people.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you made.
Do as you've promised, so that your name will be
great forever. Then people will save the Lord Almighty is
God over Israel, and the House of David will be
established for the glory of God. Sovereign Lord, you are God,
(15:09):
Your covenant is trustworthy, and you've promised these good things
to me. Now be pleased to bless my house that
it may continue.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
Forever in your sight. For you, Sovereign Lord, has spoken.
Your blessing will outlast me. The kingdom of men will
one day fall, but the Kingdom of Heaven will stand forever.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
What does it mean to build something holy? Is it
about effort, intention, materials? Does it require gold or is
it humility? Is humility enough? When David looked at the
tent where the ark dwelt, he saw him imbalance. He
saw opulence for himself and simplicity for God, and it
disturbed him. But here's the twist. God never asked for
(16:05):
a permanent place, not from Moses, not from Joshua, not
even from the prophets. The tent had always been enough.
And then God says to David, the Lord declares to
you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you.
You see in Hebrew the word bite house means dwelling, yes,
(16:27):
but it also refers to lineage. The word bite house
refers to legacy. In this moment, God redefines what it
means to build something lasting. He takes David's dream a
temple of stone rising to the heavens, and he turns
it into something eternal. And the emphasis it's not just
(16:47):
on David, it's on Israel. I will provide a place
for my people Israel, God says, and will plant them
so that they can have a home of their own
and no longer be disturbed. That's the Devidic covenant, and
it ripples across the ages. The promise of David's line
(17:10):
isn't about one king. It's about a kingdom, a kingdom
of justice, of mercy, and enduring trust in God. It's
no small thing that David responds not with action, but
with a prayer. He sits, he sings, he receives. We
don't often think of stillness as obedience, but here it is.
(17:34):
This Bible story reminds me of a Passover memory from
my childhood. Back then, a friend of mine was baffled
by a tradition we were performing during the Passover sator meal.
At the point where Elijah the prophet is invited to
come join the satyr, all those present get up and
one person physically opens the door for Elijah to enter.
(17:57):
My friend thought that this was ridiculous. If Elijah was
a spirit or ghost, why couldn't he just walk right
through the walls. What kind of ghost needs people to
open the door for it. Now, as adults, we realize
that the act of opening the door for Elijah is
not really for Elijah. We actually opened the door for
the benefit of everyone at the satyr. By opening the door,
(18:17):
by getting up to greet Elijah, each one of us
learns that we play an active role in bringing about redemption.
It won't just magically appear. Human participation is required from
making the world a better place. The reason why I
thought of that passive memory is that in this Bible story,
we also see that God doesn't need a home, and
(18:37):
we see that we can't contain the Almighty in anyone place.
And just like the act of opening the door for Elijah,
the act of building a house for God is not
for God's sake, It's for ours. David wanted to build
a temple that desire, pure and beautiful as it was,
became the stage for something far more explosive, for God,
(18:59):
interrupting human initiative to declare divine intention. This covenant became
a hinge upon which history would turn because here in
Second Samuel seven, God doesn't just say well done. God
says I'm not done. God doesn't want a house of stone.
God wants a kingdom that will never fall and never
(19:20):
turn to dust. This eternal kingdom ruled by an eternal king,
is promised to David, and God's faithfulness is poured out
to the chosen people and the nations that would be
blessed through them. The promise made to Abraham the promise
made to Isaac and Jacob, the promise made to Moses
(19:42):
and the Israelites at the base of Sinai, is a
promise that God will be with us present, ruling with
his righteous arm. So here's the question that you might
be asking, what do I do when God says no
to my best plans. David wasn't rebuked for his dream.
He was reoriented. He brought God a blueprint, and God
(20:04):
handed him a bloodline. And maybe that's what you need
to hear today. God doesn't despise your dreams, but sometimes
he interrupts them with something so much deeper and something
so much truer. I know this because I've lived it.
I've stood at the crossroads, holding my plans like brick
(20:24):
and murder, begging God to let me build, and I've
heard his whisper put them down. I'm building something in
you first. So if you're in a season of waiting
or wandering, or watching others move ahead while your temple
remains unbuilt, take heart. I believe it, I know it,
I trust it. God has a plan for you.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
You can listen to the Chosen People with the isle
Eckstein Ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey
dot Com app today. This Prey dog Com production is
only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents.
Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are
the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yiele Eckstein,
(21:14):
Edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are
voiced by Jonathan Gotten, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan,
Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and
the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by
Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and
(21:38):
Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paulinier, Robin van Ettin,
kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship
of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot
Com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on
the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you
enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please raise and
(22:00):
leave a review,
Previously on the Chosen People.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
What do you give the one who has everything? David
tried a temple. God responded with a throne Shelloh, my friends,
from here in the holy land of Israel, i'm l
extein with international fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome
to the Chosen People. What happens when a man tries
to honor God only to find that God has something
(01:02):
even greater in mind? And what does it mean for
the creator of heaven and earth to make a promise
an eternal covenant? Today we encounter a moment unlike any
other in the Hebrew Bible. David conquered, unified and built
his house. But now David turns his eyes to the
tent that holds the ark of the covenant. David wants
(01:25):
to honor God, and in response got to something astonishing.
So far, the Chosen People have gone from wandering to settling,
from war to worship, and now David dares to dream
of building a home for God. What he receives is
not a command, not even permission. What he receives is
(01:47):
a promise.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
It was the hour before dawn. The mist clung low
to the earth, shrouding the King's gardens in aale of
pale silver, King David walked alone. The solitude was welcome,
the quiet, the space to think and pray. David's steps
(02:13):
were slow and deliberate, his bare feet pressing into the
damp soil. As he passed beneath the fig trees and
myrtle bushes. He looked back at his house, the palace
carved from cedar, set upon stone, quarried from the hills outside.
Hebron It was beautiful, yes, two beautiful perabs. His eyes
(02:37):
drifted toward the road beyond the gates. The path ran eastward,
winding gently down the slope until it disappeared into the
folds of Jerusalem. And there, down that road, beneath a
cloth of stars and the encroaching dawn, stood the tent
where the Ark of the Covenant lay, a temporary shelter
(03:00):
for the throne of the Almighty. David frowned, the weight
of guilt settled low in his chest. Her sound pulled
him from his thoughts, the crunch of footsteps among the
olive trees. From the haze, Nathan appeared, doing the same
as David, praying and enjoying a moment of quiet peace.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Good morning, Nathan.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
The prophet turned with a smile, inclining his head in
gentle reverence.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
And you, my King, you rise early.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
I could not sleep. I guess I'm still not used
to sleeping in a palace after years in the wilderness.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
David's eyes were fixed on the palace behind him, slowly
illuminated by the rising dawn. Nathan followed his gaze, taking
in the sharp lines of cedar beams and the proud
stone towers edged with the scitils of Judah's lion.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
It is a fine home fit for the man who
united the tribes of Israel.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
David's face remains still built.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
From the gifts of kings, cedar, from tire stones shaped
by foreign craftsmen of the East. My hall glows with gold,
and my hearth burns clean with riverstone. It's a home
meant for triumph.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Nathan studied the young king, waiting.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Why do you sound so sullen? Is it not enough?
Speaker 3 (04:38):
No, it's too much. I dwell in a house of grandeur,
while the ark of the Lord rests in a tent
no greater than the one that I slept beneath in
the wilderness. I a man dine in splendor, while God's
throne sits beneath canvas. How can that be right?
Speaker 1 (05:01):
The wind stirred the branches overhead. Nathan smiled, not the
smile of amusement, but of approval. There was something fierce
and holy in the young King's heart. That much was certain.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
You speak as a man who understands his place. The
distance between you and the beggar on the street is
minuscule compared to the chasm that lays between you and
the holiness of a shem. The Lord is with you, David,
whatever you set your hand to do it.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
David smiled at that. Nathan's blessing was not law, but
it was no small thing. The prophet's voice held weight
even in matters of kings. David bowed his head, humbled
and full of resolve. The sky was brightening, now, gold
beginning to creep into the clouds. A new day was rising.
(06:02):
He turned back toward the palace, heart alight with a
vision not yet born, a house, not for himself, but
for the Almighty, a house where all Israel would gather,
a place of fire and song.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
I will build a temple here in Jerusalem.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Nathan lingered in the garden, long after David had gone,
his hands clasped and his eyes raised to the heavens,
though no voice answered just yet. The wind rustled the
leaves above, and the distant bleating of goats could be
heard beyond the city walls. The prophet walked among the
(06:44):
fig trees, praying in silence. All that day, he remained
beneath the boughs, fasting from food and speech, waiting not
as one demands, but as one listens. When the sun
began began to sink, the Lord answered. It felt at
first like a whisper, her still small, quiet voice, rustling
(07:10):
with the leaves. It was not a dream. It soon
became a weight pressed upon the soul, a fire that
burned behind the eyes. The voice of the Almighty came
to Nathan as it had come to Moses, as it
had come to the judges and seers of old. It
shook the marrow of his bones and filled him with
(07:32):
holy dread.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
My servant David wishes to build me a temple.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Yes, Almighty, it does.
Speaker 5 (07:43):
You shall go and tell speak to David on my behalf.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
What is your message to David?
Speaker 3 (07:50):
My lord?
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Nathan trembled as the Lord spoke about his servant David.
The Lord poured out his will, intentions, and promises for David.
Nathan was taken back by it.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
All.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
He knew David was God's anointed one, but the way
the Lord spoke about him was different, Different from heroes
and leaders passed. There was a tenderness, a paternal favor,
as a father would for his son. The presence left,
and the stillness once again returned to the trees, and
(08:30):
so as the final light nestled behind the hills, Nathan
ran to the King. He found David seated where he
often sat in the late hours, near the fire, his
brow quiet with contemplation, his lips murmuring soft songs to
(08:52):
the Lord of hosts.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
My King, the Lord has spoken.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Nathan's eyes had a calm to them, a confidence that
the message he bore was solid as iron.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Is it regarding the temple I wished to build? Have
I gone too far? Have I presumed too much? Yes?
Speaker 4 (09:15):
You shall not be the one to build the temper,
But this is no reprimand, my king, the Lord desires
to make a covenant with you. He has given me
a message for you, a declaration of his love and promises.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
David perked up At that, he leaned forward with his
chest as if there was a cord tethered between his
heart and the Lord's.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
I was under the trees, listening to the words of
the Lord, as if he were speaking within my own heart.
Hear me, David, son of Jesse, these are not my words,
but the words of the Lord.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
He did not wait for permission. He spoke of what
God had shared in whispers under the trees.
Speaker 5 (10:06):
Are you the one to build me a house to
dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from
the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt
to this day. I have been moving from place to
place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have
moved with all the Israelites. Did I ever say to
(10:28):
any of my appointed leaders, why have you not built
me a house of cedar? Did I command Joshua to
build me a permanent house? Did I ask Samuel to
erect a city in my name? I took you from
the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler
over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever
(10:53):
you have gone, and I have cut off all your
enemies from before you now now, I will make your
name great, like all the names of the greatest men
of earth. And I will provide a place for my
people Israel, and will plant them so that they can
(11:14):
have a home of their own. Wicked people will not
oppress them anymore. I will also give you rest from
all your enemies. I will establish a house for you.
When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your
(11:37):
own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.
He is the one who will build a house for
my name, and I will establish the throne of his
kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will
be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish
(11:59):
him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted
by human hands. But my love will never be taken
away from him, as it was from Saul. Your house
and your kingdom will endure forever before me. Your throne
will be established forever.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Nathan fell silent, his chest heaving from the message's burden.
The fire crackled. David was quiet for a long while.
The promise was too large to behold.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
H Here, I am wanting to build a house for
the Lord. But he goes and flips it on me.
He is going to build my house. The Lord is
better to me than I deserve.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
David's breath caught in his throat. The kingdom would pass
through him, but would not end with him, and from
his line her son, a king who would not merely
build a house of stone, but would become the very
dwelling of the Almighty. And though he could not yet
(13:14):
see the shape of that promise, nor understand the blood
it would take to fulfill it, he knew this truth
with certainty. The Lord loved him. Nathan left David alone
with his thoughts. David took his lyre and began to strum.
(13:34):
The song was quiet and contemplative, soothing. He prayed to
the Lord as the music filled the chamber, Who have.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
I, Sovereign Lord? You've brought me this far, And as
if it weren't enough to make me king, you've spoken
about the future of my house. What more can I,
David the Shepherd Boy, say to you. You've already searched
the depths of my heart.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
You know me.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
How great you are, Sovereigned Lord. There's no one like you,
There's no God, but you and who is like your people, Israel,
the one nation on earth that you chose to redeem.
Israel is a people set apart for you to make
your name famous and to perform, and to perform great
(14:28):
and awesome wonders. You've established your people Israel as your
very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
David stood now more alive with his body than strumming
the liar, as if he were playing in front of
a thousand people.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you made.
Do as you've promised, so that your name will be
great forever. Then people will save the Lord Almighty is
God over Israel, and the House of David will be
established for the glory of God. Sovereign Lord, you are God,
(15:09):
Your covenant is trustworthy, and you've promised these good things
to me. Now be pleased to bless my house that
it may continue.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
Forever in your sight. For you, Sovereign Lord, has spoken.
Your blessing will outlast me. The kingdom of men will
one day fall, but the Kingdom of Heaven will stand forever.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
What does it mean to build something holy? Is it
about effort, intention, materials? Does it require gold or is
it humility? Is humility enough? When David looked at the
tent where the ark dwelt, he saw him imbalance. He
saw opulence for himself and simplicity for God, and it
disturbed him. But here's the twist. God never asked for
(16:05):
a permanent place, not from Moses, not from Joshua, not
even from the prophets. The tent had always been enough.
And then God says to David, the Lord declares to
you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you.
You see in Hebrew the word bite house means dwelling, yes,
(16:27):
but it also refers to lineage. The word bite house
refers to legacy. In this moment, God redefines what it
means to build something lasting. He takes David's dream a
temple of stone rising to the heavens, and he turns
it into something eternal. And the emphasis it's not just
(16:47):
on David, it's on Israel. I will provide a place
for my people Israel, God says, and will plant them
so that they can have a home of their own
and no longer be disturbed. That's the Devidic covenant, and
it ripples across the ages. The promise of David's line
(17:10):
isn't about one king. It's about a kingdom, a kingdom
of justice, of mercy, and enduring trust in God. It's
no small thing that David responds not with action, but
with a prayer. He sits, he sings, he receives. We
don't often think of stillness as obedience, but here it is.
(17:34):
This Bible story reminds me of a Passover memory from
my childhood. Back then, a friend of mine was baffled
by a tradition we were performing during the Passover sator meal.
At the point where Elijah the prophet is invited to
come join the satyr, all those present get up and
one person physically opens the door for Elijah to enter.
(17:57):
My friend thought that this was ridiculous. If Elijah was
a spirit or ghost, why couldn't he just walk right
through the walls. What kind of ghost needs people to
open the door for it. Now, as adults, we realize
that the act of opening the door for Elijah is
not really for Elijah. We actually opened the door for
the benefit of everyone at the satyr. By opening the door,
(18:17):
by getting up to greet Elijah, each one of us
learns that we play an active role in bringing about redemption.
It won't just magically appear. Human participation is required from
making the world a better place. The reason why I
thought of that passive memory is that in this Bible story,
we also see that God doesn't need a home, and
(18:37):
we see that we can't contain the Almighty in anyone place.
And just like the act of opening the door for Elijah,
the act of building a house for God is not
for God's sake, It's for ours. David wanted to build
a temple that desire, pure and beautiful as it was,
became the stage for something far more explosive, for God,
(18:59):
interrupting human initiative to declare divine intention. This covenant became
a hinge upon which history would turn because here in
Second Samuel seven, God doesn't just say well done. God
says I'm not done. God doesn't want a house of stone.
God wants a kingdom that will never fall and never
(19:20):
turn to dust. This eternal kingdom ruled by an eternal king,
is promised to David, and God's faithfulness is poured out
to the chosen people and the nations that would be
blessed through them. The promise made to Abraham the promise
made to Isaac and Jacob, the promise made to Moses
(19:42):
and the Israelites at the base of Sinai, is a
promise that God will be with us present, ruling with
his righteous arm. So here's the question that you might
be asking, what do I do when God says no
to my best plans. David wasn't rebuked for his dream.
He was reoriented. He brought God a blueprint, and God
(20:04):
handed him a bloodline. And maybe that's what you need
to hear today. God doesn't despise your dreams, but sometimes
he interrupts them with something so much deeper and something
so much truer. I know this because I've lived it.
I've stood at the crossroads, holding my plans like brick
(20:24):
and murder, begging God to let me build, and I've
heard his whisper put them down. I'm building something in
you first. So if you're in a season of waiting
or wandering, or watching others move ahead while your temple
remains unbuilt, take heart. I believe it, I know it,
I trust it. God has a plan for you.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
You can listen to the Chosen People with the isle
Eckstein Ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey
dot Com app today. This Prey dog Com production is
only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents.
Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are
the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yiele Eckstein,
(21:14):
Edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are
voiced by Jonathan Gotten, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan,
Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and
the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by
Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and
(21:38):
Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paulinier, Robin van Ettin,
kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship
of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot
Com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on
the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you
enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please raise and
(22:00):
leave a review,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!