1 Chronicles 17:1
Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains. Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.
David had settled into his own palace built of cedar while the ark of the covenant still rested under curtains in the tabernacle. That ark marked the place where the visible sign of God's presence dwelt between the cherubim. When David saw the contrast between his honorable dwelling and God's dwelling, he felt remorse and became convinced that a more honorable place for the worship of God should be made. He shared that desire with Nathan the prophet, who encouraged him to go ahead. God had another task for David, for He had chosen David's son Solomon to build the temple.