2 Samuel 7:8-9 I Have Been With You!

 ”Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people: God took David from the pasture to the throne.

b. I have been with you wherever you have gone: God protected David from all his enemies.

c. Have made you a great name: God made David’s name great in all the earth. (Guzik)

I Have Been With You!

”Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Being followers of Jesus doesn’t mean we won’t suffer, but He says He will never leave you or forsake you!

In the midst of our suffering with the ice storm we experienced we have been without electricity for a week now. My sister commented that I was a survivalist and a friend told me he was impressed with my preparedness. I give the credit to the Lord who has helped me see what could be. We have a generator, we have food, we have wood heat, we have propane to run the generator and the hot water (hydronic) boiler for heat and hot water and the ability to fix things.

I give God all the credit, for we a surly blessed!

Yesterday the linemen were installing new electrical poles and had two of twenty five done. We were relieved to see them working. I wondered how they would install the new poles? See the attached photo.

Please pray for people without!

Blessings 

2 Samuel 7:4-7 To Do More!

 ”But it happened that night that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’“ II Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. That night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan: Nathan’s response to David was presumptuous. He answered according to human judgment and common sense, but before he heard the word of the LORD.

i. “It is of the utmost importance that we should ever test our desires, even the highest and holiest of them, by His will. Work, excellent in itself, should never be undertaken, save at the express command of God. The passing of time will always vindicate the wisdom of the Divine will.” (Morgan)

b. Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? God seemed honored and “surprised” that David offered to build Him a house. It was as if God said to David, “You want to build Me a house? No one ever offered to do that before, and I never commanded anyone to do it.”

i. David wanted to do more than God commanded. This is a wonderful place to be in our relationship with God. Most of us are so stuck in the thinking, “How little can I do and still please the LORD?” that we never really want to do more than God commands.

ii. “Though the Lord refused to David the realisation of his wish, he did it in a most gracious manner. He did not put the idea away from him in anger or disdain, as though David had cherished an unworthy desire; but he honoured his servant even in the non-acceptance of his offer.” (Spurgeon)

c. Would you build a house: David now learned that God didn’t want him to build the temple, but David didn’t respond by doing nothing. According to 1 Chronicles 29:2-9, David gathered all the materials for building the temple so that Solomon could build a glorious house for God.

(Guzik)

i. “If you cannot have what you hoped, do not sit down in despair and allow the energies of your life to run to waste; but arise, and gird yourself to help others to achieve. If you may not build, you may gather materials for him that shall. If you may not go down the mine, you can hold the ropes.” (Meyer)

To Do More!

There’s nothing wrong with trying to do more for God if your heart is in the right place. But if He closes the door like He did with David accept it and move on to something else until you figure out where God wants you to be.

Our church motto is, meeting people where they are and moving them closer to where God wants them to be.

Have you figured out where God wants you to be?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 7:1-3 What Can I Do For God?

 ”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, 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.”“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. The LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around: This leads us to believe that the events of 2 Samuel 7 happened after the wars of conquest described in 2 Samuel 8. This section is placed before the war accounts in the text to show its greater importance.

b. I dwell in a house of cedar: Cedar wood was especially valued. This meant that David lived in an expensive, beautiful home. When he remembered that the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains, the contrast bothered him. David was troubled by the thought that he lived in a nicer house than the ark of the covenant.

i. A house of cedar: “It was a remarkable contrast to the shelter of Adullam’s cave.” (Meyer)

ii. Without saying the specific words, David told Nathan that he wanted to build a temple to replace the tabernacle. When Israel was in the wilderness more than 400 years before this, God commanded Moses to build a tent of meeting according to a specific pattern (Exodus 25:8-9). God never asked for a permanent building to replace the tent, but now David wanted to do this for God.

iii. The tent of meeting – also known as the tabernacle – was perfectly suited to Israel in the wilderness because they constantly moved. Now that Israel was securely in the land and the ark of the covenant was in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:17), David thought it would be better and more appropriate to build a temple to replace the tabernacle.

c. Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you: Nathan said this to David because it seemed good and reasonable. What could be wrong with David building a temple?

i. All that is in your heart shows that David’s heart was filled with this question: “What can I do for God?” He was so filled with gratitude and concern for God’s glory that he wanted to do something special for God. (Guzik)

“What can I do for God?”

Have you ever read the book, A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren?

It poses some serious questions to a Christian on what you can do for His kingdom. Works aren’t a requirement for salvation, but one day we will stand before God and give an account of our life. 

The Bible gives clear instructions for widows, orphans and the poor. We have several widows that live around us and with the last ice storm that took out the electric grid one of the widows asked for help which we gladly gave.

What better way is there to reflect Jesus Christ that is in us?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 6:21-23 Abase Himself Before The Lord!

 ”So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.” Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. It was before the LORD: David didn’t let Michal’s sarcastic criticism ruin his day. He simply explained the truth: “I did it for God, not for you.”

i. This is not a justification for everything in the context of worship. When David considered the context of the procession and the whole setting, his conscience was clear. He knew his dancing wasn’t inappropriate to the setting or context. Someone who acts inappropriately to the setting or context of a meeting can’t simply justify it by saying, “It was before the LORD.”

b. To appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD: “David did not say, ‘Over my people’: he acknowledged that they were not his people, but Jehovah’s people. He was only lieutenant-governor; the Lord was still the great King of Israel.” (Spurgeon)

c. And will be humble in my own sight: What David did was humbling to him. He didn’t dance to show others how spiritual he was.

i. “David would more and more abase himself before the Lord. He felt that whatever Michal’s opinion of him might be, it could not be more humbling than his own view of himself. Brother, if any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him; for you are worse than he thinks you to be.” (Spurgeon)

d. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death: Michal’s barrenness was not necessarily the result of Divine judgment. It may be that David never had marital relations with her again. Nevertheless, the principle stands: there is often barrenness in the life and ministry of the overly critical. (Guzik)

Abase Himself Before The Lord!

“What David did was humbling to him.” (Guzik)

This reminds me of a quote of the person seeking the perfect church!

“If I had never joined a church till I had found one that was perfect, I should never have joined one at all; and the moment I did join it, if I had found one, I should have spoiled it, for it would not have been a perfect church after I had become a member of it. Still, imperfect as it is, it is the dearest place on earth to us.” (Spurgeon)

People aren’t perfect and churches aren’t perfect, but if you seek perfection it would be wise to look inside yourself first.

Humbling yourself before the Lord is pleasing to Him, judging others like Michal did to David isn’t, because you are sitting on His throne.

I’ve been guilty of sitting on His throne, have you?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 6:20 Bless His Household!

 ”Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”“ II Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. David returned to bless his household: After this day of great victory, David came home to bring a blessing to his whole family.

b. How glorious was the king of Israel today: With biting sarcasm, Michal’s criticism could have ruined this whole day for David. He might have expected such an attack after such a remarkable day of victory. “Pirates look out for loaded vessels.” (Spurgeon)

c. Uncovering himself today: Michal seemed to indicate that she didn’t object to David’s dancing, but to what David wore when he set aside his royal robes and danced as a man just like the other men, celebrating in the procession. David acted as if he were just another worshipper in Israel. (Guzik)

Bless His Household!

David returned to bless his household but instead was met with a sarcastic wife who didn’t like him acting as any other worshiper in Israel!

Over the past weekend we’ve been hit with a devastating ice storm that destroyed the power grid for 94% of our county as frozen trees weighted with ice come crashing down destroying electrical power lines. Many areas throughout the state have been affected and our governor has declared a statewide emergency.

But our household is blessed because we have a generator, food, a deep water well and even though our hot water boiler is acting up we have a wood stove for heat!

So far, nothing has hit the house or barn! God is good!

Please pray for people that they survive this storm and that the Lord uses this emergency to draw people to His kingdom. 

Also pray for warmer weather to thaw out the ice in the trees. 🙏

Blessings 

2 Samuel 16-19 Window!

 ”Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. So they brought the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. She despised him in her heart: David’s wife Michal didn’t appreciate David’s exuberant worship. She felt it wasn’t dignified for the king of Israel to express his emotions before God.

i. “No doubt, there are particularly nice and dainty people who will censure God’s chosen if they live wholly to his praise, and they will call them eccentric, old-fashioned, obstinate, absurd, and I don’t know what besides. From the window of their superiority they look down upon us.” (Spurgeon)

b. They brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle: After many years – since the ark was lost in battle – the ark was returned to the tabernacle and set in the Most Holy Place. The emblem of God’s presence and glory was set in its proper place in Israel.

c. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD: The burnt offerings spoke of consecration. The peace offerings spoke of fellowship. This was a day of great consecration and fellowship with God. It was also a great day of grilling meat. (Guzik)

Window!

“From the window of their superiority they look down upon us.” (Spurgeon)”

I recall one time after we moved here that we went to church during a winter warning and it was snowing heavily. I had worn a military jacket and liner because we live in the woods and I didn’t have a better choice. After service a woman chided me for wearing that jacket. (You could insert Spurgeon’s quote here.)

Our church says, come as you are and we shouldn’t judge others for their clothing because we become Pharisaical in our way of thinking. 

It reminds me of the movie, Jesus Revolution when pastor Chuck Smith invited the hippies to his church and the Pharisaical reaction of some of the members.

Have you ever stood in the window of superiority? I’m guilty!

Blessings 

2 Samuel 6:12b-15 Party, Dancing and More Rejoicing!

 So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness: David was glad to know that the presence and glory of God could bring blessing instead of a curse. He was also glad to see that when they obeyed God they were blessed.

i. David explained to the priests why God struck out against them in their first attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem in 1 Chronicles 15:13: For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.

ii. When the worship was in the proper order it was still filled with gladness and joy. It is a mistake to feel that “real” worship must be subdued, solemn, or only in a minor key.

b. When those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep: This was elaborate, excessive, over-the-top sacrifice. This excess of sacrifice communicated atonement, consecration, and longing for fellowship.

i. 1 Chronicles 15:11-15 shows us that David specifically commanded the priests to carry the ark the right way – on their shoulders. We often think that a “new cart” or “strength” or a “friendly” manner is the way to bring the presence and glory of God. But God always wants His presence and glory to come on the shoulders of consecrated, obedient, praising men and women.

ii. It also showed that David brought the ark to Jerusalem with a big production – bigger than the first attempt. David was wise enough to know that the problem with the first attempt wasn’t that it was a big production, but that it was a big production that came from man and not God.

c. David danced before the LORD with all his might: David didn’t hold back anything in his own expression of worship. He didn’t dance out of obligation but out of heartfelt worship. He was glad to bring the ark of the LORD into Jerusalem according to God’s word.

i. This expression of David’s heart showed that he had a genuine emotional link to God. There are two great errors in this area – the error of making emotions the center of our Christian life and the error of an emotionally detached Christian life. In the Christian life, emotions must not be manipulated, and they must not be repressed.

ii. We don’t think that dancing is strange when the baseball player rounds the bases after the game-winning home run or the winning goal is scored. We don’t think it is strange when our own child scores a goal. We think nothing at hands raised at a concert or a touchdown. We should not think them strange in worship to God.

d. David was wearing a linen ephod: It is a mistake to think that David was immodest. 1 Chronicles 15:27 indicates that David was dressed just like all the priests and Levites in this procession.

i. From our knowledge of ancient and modern culture, we can surmise that David’s dance wasn’t a solo performance. He probably danced with simple rhythmic steps together with other men in the way one might see Orthodox Jewish men today dance. In this context, David’s linen ephod means he set aside his royal robes and dressed just like everyone else in the procession.

ii. We might also point out that David’s dancing was appropriate in the context. This was a parade with a marching band, a grand procession. David’s dancing fitted in. If David did this as the nation gathered on the Day of Atonement, it would be out of context and wrong. (Guzik)

Party, Dancing and More Rejoicing!

There is more joy in heaven when one sinner repents!

”In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”“

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬ ‭BSB‬‬

”“Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbors: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’ Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.”“ ‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭MSG‬‬

I look forward to going home to heaven after my time is up on this earth!

Do you?

Blessings