“Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build for Me a house to dwell in?
We have here a full revelation of God's favour to David and the kind intentions of that favour, the notices and assurances of which God sent him by Nathan the prophet, whom he entrusted to deliver this long message to him. The design of it is to take him off from his purpose of building the temple and it was therefore sent, 1.
Commenting on 2 Samuel 7:4-17
Go and tell my servant David,.... The Lord speaks very honourably and respectfully of him, owns him to be his servant in other things, though he did not choose to employ him in this; and though he was not the person, nor this the time, to build the house of the Lord, yet, as he showed a good will towards it, so far it was...
Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? (b) Meaning, he should not: yet Nathan speaking according to man's judgment and not by the spirit of prophecy permitted him.