Now settled in his new capital, Jerusalem, David resolves to make a temple as a permanent dwelling place for the God who has been on the move alongside his people since they left Egypt, and with David since he was chosen to be Israel’s king. But God has other ideas: this is not the time for the building of a temple, a task that will fall to David’s successor, Solomon. Nonetheless, God makes an everlasting covenant with David that secures his royal dynasty.

Are we tempted to domesticate God? How can we respond to a God who refuses to be pinned down or confined to the houses we wish to make for him? How can we let God be God?