Life had settled down for David. The battles, the struggles, the rushing from one end of his land to another, trouble wherever he looked, these were all behind him, at least for the present. For, "the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him." (2 Samuel 7:1)

In his unaccustomed leisure, David had time to build himself a house. A grand house. A house made of cedar. A house fit for a king. Then David, still having time on his hands, hada brilliant idea: he would build a house for God. "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent," he said. (2 Samuel 7:2)

When David shared his brilliant idea with Nathan the prophet, Nathan liked what he heard: "Go to it - God would love a house." And maybe it should not surprise us that Nathan, having spoken for t…