Useful Bible Studies > Songs of Ascent Commentary

Psalm 127

· To get the maximum benefit from this study, please open your Bible and read Psalm 127 first.

After David became king, he established Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city. He built his own royal house there. And then he wanted to building the house of God called the temple there.

But God sent a *prophet called Nathan to David. Nathan told David that he must not build the house of God. That was not God’s plan. Instead, God would establish a ‘house for David’.

God did not mean that he would build a building for David. David already had a good home to live in. God meant that he would establish a permanent relationship with David and the future kings from David’s family. That was what God meant by the words ‘a house for David’ (2 Samuel chapter 7).

It was too early for David to build God’s house. God wanted its construction to happen only after he had given rest and peace to Israel. That happened during the rule of Solomon, David’s son. Because Israel’s wars had stopped, the people in Israel could work on the temple. And they carefully followed the plans that God had given to David (1 Chronicles 28:19-21).

Because God had established David’s ‘house’ (in other words, his family), its rule lasted. Only David’s son Solomon ruled all Israel. But David’s family continued to rule in Jerusalem for about 400 years.

Even after that, their authority to rule had not ended. And it will never end. Jesus Christ, whom God has appointed as the King of kings, is from David’s family (Matthew 1:1; Revelation 5:5).

Next part: The plans that people make

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