Bible Stories for the Young
Green triangles are narrated and fully illustrated and will have simple animation added along the way. Yellow triangles have narration, but the illustrations aren't done yet. Videos with red triangles are planned. New and updated videos will be added very often.
To download, right-click the download button above and select "Save Link As" or "Download Linked File"
God had helped David defeat all his enemies, and now God was letting him rest from all the fighting. One day as David was sitting in his big, beautiful palace, he jumped up from his seat and told his friend Nathan, “Here I am, living in this nice, comfortable palace built on a strong foundation with beautiful safe walls — but God is still living in a tent! That’s not right! He has only had a tent since way back when Moses made the Tabernacle! I want to build a really nice, strong, beautiful House for God.”
Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”
But that night God told Nathan, “Go and tell My servant David, ‘This is what God says: Are you the one to build Me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this very day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as My home. In all that time, did I ever say, “Why haven’t you built Me a house of wood?” (The answer to that question is “no.”)
“’David, I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and made you the leader over My People Israel. I’ve been with you wherever you’ve gone.
“’Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for My People and will settle them so that they can have an undisturbed home of their own. Wicked people won’t be able to keep you down anymore, and I will give you rest from all your enemies.
“’I declare to you that I will establish a house for you. When your days are over, I will raise up one of your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be My son. Your house and your kingdom will last forever before Me; your throne will be established forever.’”
Did you hear that? David said, “I want to build a big, beautiful house for God.” But, then God said, “Actually, I’m going to build a house for you, and a home for those who are Mine, and a house for My Name.” Watch for that to come true in the future. Cuz it’s not going to happen all at once. That’s what it means for something to be built in “stages.”
Do you want to know what David did next? He went and sat down before God to talk to Him, to pray. He said:
“Who am I and what is my family, that You’ve done so much for me? And as if this were not enough, You’ve told me about the future of the house of Your servant (me)!
“What more can I say? How great You are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like You. There is no God but You, as we have heard with our own ears. And who is like Your People — the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for Himself, and to make a name for Himself, and to perform great and awesome miracles? You have established Your People as Your very own forever, and You, Lord, have become their God.
“And now, God, keep forever these promises about this house you talked about. Build it! Do as You promised, so that Your name will be great forever. You said, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So I have the courage to pray this prayer to You. You are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and You have promised to do good things to me. May it make You happy to do what You said You would do with this house, that it may continue forever in Your sight; for You, Lord, have spoken, and with Your blessing the house will be blessed forever.”