1) this plays with the meaning of house: is it the temple or the royal dynasty.

2) this is different than the sinai covenant as it seems unconditional to the house of david

3)This seems to be an ideology for royal legitmacy by fusing temple and royal power into a unit. The opposite of separation of church and state.

4) Notice that Nathan does not give consistent advice as he is willing to listen to a new voice from god

5) Look at god's preference for Solomon to tdo the work but also what seems to be pleasure in the freedom of the tent of meeting v. the portal of heaven and earth at the temple. One could use this as a good entry point on the presence of god at Advent/Christmas. Where is God, in church, or with the poor, with the pious or the squirming kid, in the perfect bell choir or with the disastrous christmas pageant.

6) This is a good Advent text as it links, past, present, future.

7) I like how god, with a moreover, reverses david request and decides to be the giver, not receiver of gifts.Again, the issue of giving or receiving gifts is a good piece for spiriutal growth or a sermon.

8) look at how christian messianic views have changed the political meaning fo a dynasty to a different level utterly, but see how lk stays in tension with it at 1:31-3.

9) Good example of father-son not biological. See Ps. 2:7 and 89:26

10) Onme could talk about faithful and faithfless promises, God's steadfast love/lyalty/liovingkindness (hesed). broken and kept vows/ making promises and unmaking them/ remembering or forgetting them.Christmas cards are a weak attempt to stay in touch after we've promised to do so. One could get nice and senitimental on Christmas promises.