– by Victor Fawole
I welcome everyone back to our “No Bible, No Breakfast” spiritual exercise. Last time out in chapter 6, we read the drama with the Ark. The joy, the tragedy, and finally the celebration as the Ark returned to the Capital City of David. Today in 2Samuel Chapter 7, the story shifts from the Ark to the king. God had granted him rest from all his enemies, and now he had the opportunity to totally focus on God in a way he had previously not been able to do.
Join me to review…
THE KING WANTS TO BUILD A HOUSE!
2Sam. 7:1-3 Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”
Flashback to Chapter 5… King Hiram of Tyre sent his skilled artisans to David and they built a cedar palace for him in the city of Jerusalem. At this point, David had reigned for approximately 15 years, and now, for the first time, he had peace on all fronts. God had given him rest from all his enemies. He enjoyed the rest that comes with grace. And in that position of comfort, he did what any godly heart would aspire to do. Concerned by the difference between his own luxurious house and the temporary tent of the Ark of Covenant, he decided to build a house for the Ark. He wanted to do something for God! What David wanted to do was noble. Admirable. A beautiful gesture of reverence. A normal person would love and appreciate this.
As a king, David must necessarily be a decision maker. But as a man after God’s heart, he must necessarily make divinely-approved decisions. He informed Prophet Nathan about his decision. That is commendable. Many of his previous mistakes came when he made decisions without checking with God. And like I said, every normal person would approve of his decision here. Little wonder Prophet Nathan was quick to give him a go-ahead. They both presumed to know God’s will without asking for God’s will.
Later that night, God spoke to Nathan to correct their assumption. He reminded them that He had never asked for a permanent house. When God commanded Moses to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Exo. 26:1), it was meant to be a mobile structure (a tent) that showed His desire to dwell with His people, not be housed apart from them. The movement of the Tabernacle represented Him journeying with Israel, guiding them, protecting them, and manifesting His glory.
Although God would eventually allow a Temple to be built, it wasn’t David’s job to initiate it. Just as God had plans to give Israel a king, but it wasn’t their duty to ask for it. In fact, God had a much greater priority in mind, which was not the building of a house for Him, but the establishment of a house through David. Yes, that was the next move in God’s mind. David was thinking in terms of architecture, God was thinking in terms of legacy. God has His way of redirecting us, not because our ideas are evil, but because His plans are far greater. Our heart may be in the right posture, our motives may be pure, but our timing and assumptions could be off. It’s not just about what we want to do for God. It’s about discerning what God wants to do through us.
THE KING OF KINGS WILL BUILD A HOUSE!
2Sam. 7:10-11 Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house.
In a beautiful and surprising twist, God promised to build a lasting house for David. He wanted to build God a temple but God said, “Thank you, David, but no thanks. Let Me build you a house instead. I will build a dynasty, a throne, and a kingdom that will outlast forever.” What a twist! God honoured David’s zeal, but He redirected it into something far greater. David’s temple plan was good, but God’s eternal covenant was glorious. The good had to give way for the glorious. David wanted to give God a building, God wanted to give David a blessing. The building was not as important as the blessing. He wanted to offer God bricks and mortar, but God gave him bloodline and throne. The bricks and mortar are nothing compared to the bloodline and throne. He wanted to raise walls for God’s glory, but God raised up a covenant for eternal glory.
When we set our hearts to honour God, He honours us in ways we never imagined. Our small but sincere offerings to God are never wasted. They become seeds that God multiplies into something worthy. God never despises what we offer Him, but He often exceeds our vision. What David thought would be his greatest legacy (a temple) was overshadowed by what God gave him instead (an everlasting covenant that points to Christ). Like I said before, God sometimes says no to our plans, not because they are evil, but because He has something better, deeper, and long lasting.
The promise God made to David was not fully fulfilled in Solomon, nor in any of the kings who followed. It was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, Whose throne is eternal (Isa. 9:6-7, Isa. 16:5, Jer. 23:5-6, Luke 1:32-33). He is the fulfillment of God’s covenant of an eternal Kingship through David. In Christ, we see that every promise of God is “Yes” and “Amen”. God is faithful to His covenant. Generations may rise and fall, but His word never fails. David’s dynasty faced rebellion and division, but the lamp of David’s house was never extinguished. Today, as believers, we rest on that same faithfulness, secured in Christ Jesus.
THE KING WANTS THE HOUSE!
2Sam. 7:25-26 “Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.
I wrote the other time that in Christ, we see that every promise of God is “Yes” and “Amen”. It is a line taken from 2Cor. 1:20. Actually, God’s promises are sure and settled in heaven, but our “Amen” ascends to God as our response of faith, affirming His word for His glory. King David understood this principle and he plugged himself in it. His response to God’s promises was lovely. He did not argue, he did not doubt, he did not reason it out, he did not try to negotiate. Instead, he sat before God in humility and worship. He began with gratitude, acknowledging his unworthiness. From gratitude, David moved to acceptance. He embraced God’s promise wholeheartedly. He didn’t stop there. He proclaimed God’s words back to Him, asking God to establish His promise forever. In David, we can clearly see that: Faith cometh… Faith speaketh… and Faith worketh! These three bearings of faith were evident in his life. Learn more about the bearings of faith by listening to Pastor Dammy’s sermon titled: Have Faith In God — Part 2 (The Bearings)
David shows us that a true theologian is not simply a bible memorizer but a worshipper… not merely a student of God’s word but a son who lives it out. His theology was doxological. He was a thinking thanker. Pastor Dammy once preached a sermon titled: Think & Thank. David’s theology ended in worship, wonder, and willingness. Permit me to show you five important doctrines that David taught through this chapter.
i. The Doctrine of Grace (vs. 18-19)
David recognized that all he was and all he had came by grace. Sitting before the Lord, he exclaimed: “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?” A true theologian begins with humility before God’s unmerited favour.
ii. The Doctrine of Election (vs. 20-21)
David understood that God had chosen him, not because of his own greatness, but because of God’s will and purpose. He saw himself as part of God’s sovereign plan. For David, his throne was rooted in God’s plans, not human efforts. He was favoured and elected by grace, not by works.
iii. The Doctrine of Covenant (vs. 22-24)
David celebrated God’s covenant love with Israel. He recounted the Exodus, the redemption of Israel, and how God set His name upon them. He interpreted history through the lens of God’s covenant faithfulness. That is a sign of sound theology. That is why a believer’s theology must be grounded in the Covenant of Grace made by Jesus, through Jesus, and in Jesus. For example, eternal salvation is built on the Covenant of Grace, and every believer must trust in this covenant in order to enjoy the assurance of salvation.
iv. The Doctrine of God’s Name (vs. 22, 26)
Repeatedly, David magnified the uniqueness of God: “You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You.” For him, nothing was more important than the exaltation of God’s name and glory. Those who exalt the name of God will get to enjoy God’s promotion among men.
v. The Doctrine of Prayer (vs. 25-29)
David turned God’s promise into prayer. David taught us how to partner with God. Receive His word, then return His word in prayer. Speak what God has spoken. Speak the promises you read in the Bible. A true theologian doesn’t just study God’s word, he kneels on it.
Dear Gogolights, this is the beauty of faith. Do not take God’s promises as postulations or probabilities that need to be analyzed on the table of reasoning. You have to take God at His word, you celebrate His word in worship, and you declare it in prayer until it comes to pass.
God bless you for reading this review.
Thank you for sharing your reflections too.
See you tomorrow, beloveds.
Grace to you, Church!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.