2020-3-25

2 Samuel 7:1-29

David looked out from his palace onto his kingdom.  David wanted to give back to the Lord for having given him so much.  The temple he wanted to build for God would be a temple worthy of God’s glory and a place for God’s people to gather for worship.  David called Nathan the prophet to help him know God’s will.  Nathan thought David’s plan to build a temple for the Lord seemed right.

That night God gave Nathan a message for David.  The kings of other nations build temples for their false gods, but the true God needs nothing.  The Lord’s purpose for David was much greater than David’s desire to give back to God.  He took David from being a shepherd and made him the king.  Now He promised to make David’s “name great like the names of the greatest men on earth.”

God’s plan is always good.  We too may desire to give back to God, who has given us so much.  There is nothing wrong with that.  God was not unhappy with David, but His “no” to David’s plan included a greater plan that David never dreamed of.  God brought David into His perfect pan for sending Jesus Christ.  God’s plans are greater than ours.  We can trust God to use a change in our plan.  He will bring about His plan for greater purposes as well as our good.  I believe this is happening right now.
God promised His people a place to rest and thrive.  Solomon would build the temple.  But both David and Solomon would one day die, but God’s promises endure forever.  His promises are sure because of His power and faithfulness to His Word.

God promised David, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16)  King David was a great king, but King Jesus, God’s Son, would come from David’s family line to rule Forever.  The kingdom and the throne belong forever to the Lord Jesus Christ.  King Jesus has promised to build His church – a spiritual house of people who believe in Him from all nations.  “The kingdom of the world [will] become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and He will reign for ever and ever!” (Revelation11:15)

David praised God.  He knew he deserved nothing, yet God had raised him up to govern all Israel.  How could God promise an eternal throne to a human king?  Only through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born into the world through David’s family.

God is GRACIOUS.  He chose Israel and David (and all others past, present and future who receive Him as Savior) not for any goodness in themselves, but only because of His Love.  David asked God to “do as you have promised, so that your name will be great forever.”   And God kept His promise in our precious Savior Jesus.        —- Mary Mauderer