What Do You Desire to Do?

2 Samuel 7:1-29

David has settled in as true king of Israel. He has molded the nation together as one, he has captured a city for Israel?s capital, and he has returned the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Firm in his position, David now has a desire to build a house for Yahweh. When other kings boasted about their great power or gathered more wives and property, David was thinking about the Lord, and how to nurture the relationship his nation had with Yahweh.

In chapter 7 we also see a very important thing take place: God?s promises to David that his kingdom will never end. God makes a covenant with David and promises to ?establish the throne of his kingdom forever? a clear indication of the promise of the Messiah.

1 ? 3

As we saw in chapter 5, Hiram, king of Tyre, provided David with building materials to construct a pretty cool palace in Jerusalem. As is David?s heart, he starts thinking??why should I live in a palace when Yahweh is living in a tent??

To get an idea of his motivation, look at Psalm 132:1-5.

I don?t think that he really thought God was literally living there, but it shows his position in relation to God. Perhaps he just wanted to honor God, and perhaps set an example. Saul was always trying to make himself more important. David is always trying to make God more important. I think that?s good motivation. It?s interesting that Nathan trusts in David?s heart and answers ?go for it?. But God that same night casts an interesting and wonderful light on that desire. (This is the first time, but not the last, that we see Nathan).

4 ? 17

As Nathan falls asleep that night God starts speaking. What the Lord tells Nathan to tell David is nothing short of a new covenant that affects everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.

It is known as the Davidic Covenant, even though the word ?covenant? is not used.

At first it sounds like God is not happy with David?s desire, but that is not really what?s happening. Nineteen times in verses 4 through 17 God uses the personal pronoun ?I?. It?s like God is saying ?your heart might be right in wanting to do this for Me but in reality you can and will do nothing?I will do it all and so much more than ?you could ask for think? (Eph 3:20) that it will totally blow your mind, David!?

What David wants to do in building a Temple eventually looks like just like a little kid doing a simple stick figure to put up on the refrigerator compared to the masterpiece God is designing for the whole universe!

(5-7) First God says ?I never asked anyone to do this.? We might want to please God, but we are unable to in our own strength. God had commanded Moses to build a Tabernacle and God was content to travel as a pilgrim with His people. But it wasn?t wrong for David to want to build a house for the Lord.

Turn to 1 Kings 8:12-21. Solomon, at the dedication of the Temple, reveals how God felt towards David: ?you did well that it was in your heart.? But it was not for David to build this house. Why? 1 Chronicles 22 reveals that it was because David ?have shed so much blood before me on the earth.? (1 Chronicles 22:8). God chose Solomon, ?a man of rest? to build it. The shedding of blood was incompatible with worship, so Solomon, whose name is related to shalom (?peace?) would build it.

I suppose the reason for that might be that the Temple was to focus on the sacrifice of The Lamb of God and the voluntary shedding of His blood to make a way in the heavenly Temple for us to approach the Holy of Holies. God makes war on His enemies, but to us He makes peace through Jesus Christ.

(8-9) Second God tells David that he was a nothing shepherd in a nothing family until God reached in and grabbed him. We might want to serve God but unless He chooses us (John 15:16) and enables us (Acts 2) we are unable to do it.

God I think reminds David of his beginnings because He really wants David to continue to be a good shepherd over the flock of God: Israel.

So then God tells David exactly what He has done and what He is going to do:

(9-13) ?I have been with you?, ?I have cut off your enemies?, ?I will make you a great name?, ?I will appoint a place?, ?I will give you rest?, I will ?make you a house?, ?I will raise up offspring after you?, ?I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.? Wow. How?d you like someone to make those promises to you?

Well, they are for you as well, fulfilled by David?s son, Jesus.

Hebrews 13:5 ?I will never leave you nor forsake you.?

Romans 8:37 ?We are more than conquerors through him who loved us?

2 Thessalonians 1:12 ?so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be gloried in you.?

Hebrews 4:9 ?so there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God?

John 14:2 ?In my Father?s house are many rooms ? I go to prepare a place for you?

John 1:12 ?To them he gave the right to be called children of God?

Revelation 11: 15 ?And he shall reign forever and ever?

(14-15) God knew Solomon would blow it and he tells David that the hand of man will discipline him. That is what happened. Israel fell into idolatry soon after Solomon?s reign began and God ?spanked? them pretty hard by yanking them out of the land through the hand of Babylon. But God promised through it all that His love would be ?steadfast?. David?s line ended with Zedekiah in 586 BC but his descendants came down to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings who always has the Father?s love and bestows that love on us who trust in Him.

So after all of this David is pretty blown away. And notice his reaction and his prayer, which is recorded here and in 1 Chronicles 17.

18 ? 29

First David acknowledges that he is nothing and doesn?t deserve it, just as we do not deserve the grace of God. Then he says ?even what you have promised me is nothing compared to what you are going to do. This ought to say something special to the entire human race.? And indeed it does. As all are blessed who trust in the name of David?s son Jesus Christ.

So through verse 22 David just exalts the power and majesty of the Lord in a wonderful way ? and then in verses 23 and 24 he marvels that God would do these things for Israel?choosing this nation to bear the name of Yahweh. It?s too bad they didn?t take that to heart later on and be a herald for the name of Jesus, but that?s another story!

So then in verses 25 ? 27 he agrees with God in these promises and says ?Yes, Lord, do it!? It?s like he is saying ?I want to be a part of this great thing you are doing God, count me in!? (see verse 26).

Then in 28 and 29 he acknowledges that what God has spoken He will perform.

Lessons

When you begin to come into your own is your response to feather your own nest, or continually look at ways to make the Lord more important. John 3:30 ?He must increase, but I must decrease.?

What is on your heart to do for the Lord? It may be that if you bring it to Him He may surprise you in doing much more than you expect.

Notice that it is all God working. God will build a house, God has redeemed the people. We desire to know Him, but He makes it possible from beginning to end.

How often are we blown away by the grace and mercy of God? We haven?t done anything but He has done it all and sometimes we just need to sit down and say ?who am I that you would do all these things for me??

Through it all it should be as David said in verse 26 ?And your name will be magnified forever?!

David said in verse 27 ?Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.? How often do we as Christians have the audacity to pray along with the promises God has made to us?