2Samuel chapter 7

 

Memory verse: 2Samuel 7:29

 

David decides to build a temple for the ark. Nathan prophesies to David.

 

Day 1 – our plans versus God’s plans

Verses 1-3

David wanted to build a temple to house the ark of God. There was nothing wrong with this intention (1Kings 8:17-18). It was an expression of David’s love and respect for God. David thought it was inappropriate or him to live in a nice house when the ark was in a tent. Even the prophet Nathan thought this was good, and told David the Lord was with him. However, God did not authorize David to do this. It may seem like God would be pleased with our plans, but He sees the whole eternal picture. We must always check our plans against God’s will (James 4:13:15). It may seem that our motive is right, and it may well be. Good intentions don’t always equal the will of God. A true test of our submission to God and our spiritual maturity is how we respond when God says no. If He cannot tell us no, He cannot be our Lord. Life’s biggest question is who is in charge, God or us? If we trust that He loves us, He knows best, and that His plan is better than ours, we should receive His no with that understanding. We cannot trust what seems right to us (Proverbs 3:5-7, Isaiah 58:13-14, Jeremiah 17:5-10). That was the issue in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-5), and it is still the issue today.

 

Day 2 – God doesn’t need our “house”

Verses 4-7

God tells Nathan to go back to David and tell him that He was fine with the tent the ark was in. After all, it was His idea. God said He never commanded anyone in the approximately 500 years since He brought Israel out of Egypt to build Him a house. It wasn’t God that needed a house to be built. It was something man wanted to do. God cannot be contained in a building (1Kings 8:27, Psalm 139:7-10. Isaiah 66:1). Man is always looking for some tangible way to relate to God. In Deuteronomy chapter 4, Moses reminds God’s people that when they met with God at Mt. Sinai, there was no tangible way to relate to Him other than His voice. He is invisible (1Timothy 1:17, Hebrews 11:27). He is a Spirit (John 4:24). He does not need anything from us (1Chronicles 29:14-16, Psalm 50:7-14). Everything He commands us is for our own good. He does not need our religious efforts to “build Him a house”. He wants our faith and obedience because He loves us (Deuteronomy 10:12, 1Samuel 15:22, Hosea 6:6, Micah 6:8, Matthew 9:13, Matthew 12:7).

 

Day 3 – eye hath not seen (Isaiah 64:4, 1Corinthians 2:9)

Verses 8-11

God reminded David that He was the one who raised him up from obscurity to be the king, provided His people with a permanent homeland, delivered them from their enemies, and gave them rest. God said that He would make David a house. We can never match God. When we are willing to give to God, He can always bless us in greater proportion. When we tithe, God opens the windows of heaven on us (Malachi 3:8-10). When we let go and give, we open our hands to receive much more (Luke 6:38, Mark 10:39-41, John 12:25), not only in this life but in eternity. A dollar bill is literally just a piece of paper. It has no actual value, and is not backed by any actual substance such as gold. When we give it to God, we place it in the bank of heaven where it will become something of eternal value that can never be taken away (Matthew 6:19-21). We cannot even imagine what the spiritual, eternal home God is building us is going to be like (John 14:1-3). We only relate by the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is our downpayment or foretaste (1Corinthians 2:9-10, 2Corinthians 1:22, 2Corinthians 5:5, Ephesians 1:14, Hebrews 6:5).

 

Day 4 – a blessed posterity and legacy

Verses 12-16

God promised David He would set up his son in a kingdom that would last forever. His son would build the house of God. He would be God’s son. God would never take His mercy from him. When God visited Abraham with two angels to talk about their covenant, He said he knew Abraham would teach his family to keep the way of the Lord, so He could fulfill His promise to them (Genesis 18:17-19). There is power in parents raising their children to keep God’s commandments. They not only bless themselves, but they set up their posterity to be blessed. God was not only promising David that Solomon his son would be blessed. This promise clearly had consequences long into the future. It also had prophetic implication about Christ, the Son of David  (Matthew 1:1, Matthew 9:27, Matthew 12:23, Matthew 15:22, Matthew 20:30-31, Matthew 21:9 & 15, Matthew 22:42, Romans 1:3-4). However, He was only the Son of David according to the flesh. His main identity is as the Son of God (Matthew 22:41-46, Romans 1:3-4). His is the everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:27). God not only promised to bless David’s descendants, but He promised David a lasting legacy. The house of David was not a residence. It was the legacy of David (1Samuel 20:16, 2Samuel 3:1 & 6, 1 Kings 12:19-20 & 26, 1Kings 13:2, 1Kings 14:8, 2Kings 17:21 & 24, 2 Chronicles 8:11, 2Chronicles 10:19, 2Chronicles 21:7, Psalm 122:5, Isaiah 7:2 & 13, Isaiah 22:22, Jeremiah 21:12, Zechariah 12:7-8 & 10 & 12, Zechariah 13:1, Lk 1:27). It was not to end with Christ himself, but it is to continue through the new testament kingdom of God – the church.

 

Day 5 – pray the promises

Verses 18-29

After Nathan prophesied to David, he went into the tabernacle and prayed. He recited back to God everything He had just promised him. There was no need to remind God. He does not forget His own Word. Reciting God’s promises to Him is a powerful tool. It establishes the basis on which we are praying such great things. It strengthens our faith when he hear again God’s word (Romans 10:17). It lets God know we remember what He told us. It gives us direction in prayer. You can be sure you are praying the will of God when you are praying His word. God wants us to hold Him to His word (Isaiah 45:11, Malachi 3:10, Hebrews 4:16). How much easier is it to have importunity when we are simply asking God to do what He said he would (Luke 11:8). We can take the kingdom by force with the sword of the Spirit (Matthew 11:12, Hebrews 4:12). Many powerful prayers in the Bible used this (Exodus 32-33, Daniel 9, Nehemiah 1). So can we.