2 Samuel 7:8 (NLT)
8 “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel.
Have you ever thought of an idea, that to you was GREAT, but not as well received by others. In many ways, that is what is happening in our passage today. King David has been crowned King of both Judea and all of Israel. He put behind him the messiness of his conflict with King Saul, who was killed by the Philistines, along with his three oldest sons, as well as his conflict with Saul’s fourth son, Ish-bosheth, who was actually murdered by some of Ish-botheth’s fellow Benjaminites. To put the cherry on David’s chronicles, he had captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and King Hiram of Tyre had offered to send him enough cedar to build his palace, which David accepted, along with some stonemasons. Lastly, David has actually brought the Ark of the Covenant and the Tent of Meeting to Jerusalem for the first time. The palace was finished and David was feeling pretty good! So, looking around for something to do, David had the GREAT idea of building a temple to the Lord.
Sounds good, but in fact, God wasn’t a fan. In 2nd Samuel, the Lord the Heavenly Armies ask David, “Are you the one to do this? Have I been complaining, and in 1st Chronicles, the Lord of the Heavenly Armies telling David, “Do not build me a temple!” In both instances, the Lord tells David that one of David’s sons would build a temple for him, BUT NOT DAVID! Why? Scripture doesn’t tell us, but what it does say is the Lord has been with David and taken care of him. He took David from a shepherd in the field to King of all Israel. He then promised David that He would be with David and extend his kingship into a dynasty. That is a big promise, which the Lord keeps all the way to Jesus Christ! As Christians, we are called to seek after the Lord, and at times this might mean that God will tell us that our ideas, no matter how well-intentioned, are not what God wants us to do. Are we listening? Or, do we think that any and every idea we have must come from God? Of course, that would be foolishness. However, by extension of His promise to David, God is with us, and God is telling us what He wants us to do and not do. The question, are we listening to God? Let each of us listen to the One who has promised to love us and direct our lives to the best possible future and hope. Peace and Blessings!
In the Love of Jesus Christ, Pastor Bob – church
pastorbobtitus@gmail.com, (412) 520-5407
