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