”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.“
II Samuel 7:10-11 NKJV
a. I will appoint a place for My people Israel: God promised David that under his reign, He would establish a permanent and secure Israel. God promised this first because He knew that David, being a godly shepherd, was first concerned about the welfare of his people.
b. He will make you a house: God promised David that He would build him a house in the sense of establishing a dynasty for the house of David. This was an enduring legacy for David long after his death.
i. David wanted to build God a temple. God said, “Thank you David, but no thanks. Let Me build you a house instead.” This was a greater promise than David’s offer to God because David’s “house” (dynasty) would last longer and be more glorious than the temple David wanted to build.
ii. God honored what David gave Him, even though he only gave it to God in his sincere intention. There are some things that we want to give God but are prevented from giving. In these cases, God receives the intention as the gift.
iii. God said “No” to David’s offer because David was a man of war, and God wanted a man of peace to build His temple. 1 Chronicles 22:8-10 explains this: But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight…. a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest…. He shall build a house for My name.
iv. The explanation to David recorded in 1 Chronicles 22:8 came years afterward. We can surmise that for many years David did not know the exact reason why God didn’t want him to build the temple. (Guzik)
“It would have wounded David needlessly to have been told this at the time…. Meanwhile David possessed his soul in patience, and said to himself, ‘God has a reason; I cannot understand it, but it is well.’” (Meyer)
But It Is Well!
Like David when we don’t get the answer from God that we desire it would be good to think, ‘God has a reason; I cannot understand it, but it is well.’”
Recently we had a record ice storm that damaged the electrical grid in nine counties and 94% of our county was affected. We were without electricity for 9 days and we were restored yesterday at 12:35 pm.
When we were shopping at grocery store the other day my wife was talking to an employee and she believed God allowed this storm because the people have drifted from God. There is historical biblical evidence if we study the Israelites and what happened to them when they drifted from God.
So I believe as David, ‘God has a reason; I cannot understand it, but it is well.’”
God can use disasters in our lives to draw people closer to Him.
Our church was the only place in our area that sheltered up to 200 people daily, on generator power with a kitchen that cooked and fed them three meals a day. They sleep in the gym, chapel, hallways and classrooms. Ten people came from the hospital on oxygen and required 24/7 nursing care. The church called on members for nurses and God provided.
When we help those in need during bad times, do people see Jesus in us?
Blessings
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