2 Samuel — Chapter 7

See I dwell in a house of cedar and the ark of God is lodged within skins. Lapide: David vowed to build a temple from pure zeal for God's worship; he was moved by the contrast between his own cedar palace and the tent housing the Ark; this holy desire, though forbidden in its execution, was accepted by God.

Shalt thou build me a house to dwell in? God refused to allow David to build the Temple because his hands were stained with the blood of wars (1 Par. 22:8). Lapide: it was fitting that the Temple be built by Solomon the peaceful, who was a type of Christ the Prince of Peace; David represented Christ in battle; Solomon represented Christ in peace.

He shall build a house to my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. Lapide: Solomon built the Temple; but allegorically Christ built the Church, which is the true eternal temple. The promise of the eternal throne belongs properly and fully to Christ, not merely to Solomon.

I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. Lapide: this is explicitly applied to Christ by St. Paul (Heb. 1:5): \"For to which of the angels hath he said at any time: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?\" It is of faith that this text is to be understood of Christ. Lapide gives four opinions on the referent (Theodoretus, Angelomus, Lyranus, Hebrews), concluding with the fourth and truest: it applies literally to Solomon as type, but fully and properly to Christ.

And thy house shall be faithful and thy kingdom for ever before thy face. Lapide: \"faithful\" (Heb. ne'eman) means firm, stable, enduring, eternal — the promise of the perpetual dynasty pointing to Christ, whose kingdom alone is absolutely sempiternal.

And king David went in, and sat before the Lord, and said: Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? Lapide notes David sat in the tabernacle before the Ark, not from laziness but for quiet prayer. S. Augustine explains this session is the posture of one meditating on God's benefits in humility of heart. \"The soul becomes wise by sitting\" (Philosopher cited by Lapide).