1. David wants to build God's house (1-3)

David loved God, and God had blessed him. He said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent." He wanted to build a magnificent temple for God. Nathan encouraged him to do it, for the Lord was with him.

2. God promises to build a house for David (4-17)

God reminded David that he was a pilgrim God who had moved around in a tent with his people. He had never asked those whom he had appointed to shepherd his people to build him a house. The Lord Almighty had taken David, a shepherd boy, and had made him ruler over his people. This was God's grace. David's whole life rested on God's grace. He could do nothing for God; God would build his house and establish his throne forever. This promise was the hope of God's people in time of shame and exile; it was the promise of the Messiah, fulfilled by Jesus.