2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel) 7:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, whether in the presence of the ark, in a secluded location away from onlookers, or deep within his heart, it is fitting to describe David as having "sat down before the Lord." It might seem unusual that he prayed while seated, yet the prophet Elijah did the same when asking for rain (1 Kings 18:42-45). These instances affirm that there is no definitive rule regarding physical posture in prayer when the spirit is genuinely reaching out to God. We may pray while standing, as indicated by the publican who "stood afar off" (Luke 18:13), while kneeling as noted in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 7:59, Acts 20:36), or while sitting, as was done by David and Elijah. If praying while lying down were unacceptable, the Psalms would not include, "Every night I wash my bed, with my tears I wet my bed" (Psalms 6:7). When engaged in prayer, one arranges their body in a manner that supports a spirit of prayer. If prayer does not arise from our own seeking but rather overtakes us, compelling inexpressible sighs, we should not cease our supplication regardless of our posture, nor should we concern ourselves with changing positions. The mind directed towards God creates a space of solitude, often causing us to lose awareness of our bodily position or orientation towards heaven.

During that time, David anticipated a son through whom his lineage would continue in Jesus Christ, making his house eternal—truly the house of the Lord. This would be known as "the house of David," stemming from David's line, while also being "the house of God," as it served as the temple of God, not constructed from stone, but from a community of believers. Within this house, a people would dwell eternally with God, and God would reside among His people, filling them, so that He may be all in all (1 Cor. 15:28)—the source of their peace and strength in their struggles. This is reflected in Nathan’s instruction to David, "Thus saith the Lord, Shall thou build me a house for my habitation" (2 Sam. 7:5). David acknowledged, "Since thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house" (2 Sam. 7:27). The house we must cultivate through virtuous living is the one that the Lord helps us establish by guiding us in righteous paths, for "Unless the Lord builds the house, in vain are those who labour to build it" (Psalm 126:1). Only upon the completion of this house will the words spoken through David come to pass: "And I will make a place for My people Israel, and will root them up, and they shall dwell securely in their place, and shall not be troubled any more, neither shall the wicked men press them any more, as they have done since I set judges over My people Israel; and I will rest thee from all thine enemies. And the Lord declares to thee that He will make a house for thee" (2 Samuel 7:10-11).

When the prophet Nathan revealed to David the promise of an exceptional and everlasting blessing from God concerning the temple, his immediate reaction was to visit the house of the Lord and offer prayers of gratitude. Conversely, during times of distress, when he fasted and humbly repented for his sins and mourned the illness of his son, upon receiving news of the boy's death, he promptly “changed his garments, and entered into the house of God” (2 Sam. 12:20) to submit himself in prayer, offering a sacrifice of acceptance that was now free from sadness.