King David was concerned because while he lived in a house of cedar, the ark of God resided in a tent. He wanted to build a suitable place to house the ark. God told Nathan in a dream that he was to tell David that it was not he that would build the dwelling place for the ark of God. God had brought David from being a shepherd to being a prince, and God would build David a dynasty that would build a temple for the ark of God. David was not the one called to do that - it was up to his son Solomon.

Zechariah had doubted the angel Gabriel's message that he would have a son, so he had been unable to speak throughout Elizabeth's pregnancy. At John the Baptist's circumcision, his parents were asked his name. Both followed Gabriel's instructions and named him John. Then Zechariah was allowed to speak again. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaimed the power and might and mercy of God in fulfilling his prophecy and raising a Saviour. We know this hymn as the 'Benedictus.'