Now when the king dwelt in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies round about, the king said to Nathan the prophet, \u201cSee now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.\u201d And Nathan said to the king, \u201cGo, do all that is in your heart; for the Lord is with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, \u201cGo and tell my servant David, \u2018Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, \u201cWhy have you not built me a house of cedar?\u201d\u2019 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David, \u2018Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men; but I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.\u2019\u201d In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
–2 Samuel 7:1-17<\/p>
Just 1 day to go until Christmas in my Top 10 Christmas Countdown, where I'm sharing one of my own favourite Peak District festive photos every day until the big day.
This was one of the first photographs I ever shared on social media, taken more years ago than I care to\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/04Kksu1wEg<\/a><\/p>— peaklass (@peaklass1) December 24, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>