ARE YOU THE ONE TO BUILD ME A HOUSE?
2 Samuel 7:1-17
“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? (5)
chapter 7
1. After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him,
2. he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."
3. Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you."
4. But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:
5. "Go and tell my servant David, ’This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?
6. I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.
7. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"’
8. "Now then, tell my servant David, ’This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel.
9. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.
10. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning
11. and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. "’The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you:
12. When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.
13. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.
15. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’"
17. Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
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1. David was a man of action, always looking to the next task. It upset him that God dwelled in a tent while he lived in a palace. Building a house for God seemed such an obvious endeavor, even Nathan was happy to support David’s desire. But neither of them thought to ask God’s opinion.
2. That night God revealed his heart to them in a long testimony highlighting not what David did or would do, but all that God was doing – not only for David, but for Israel and all of humanity! While building a house for God would keep David and Israel busy, it would distract from what God was doing through David: establishing a kingdom that would bless all people for all time. Ultimately, this points to Jesus’ coming as our Messiah, our Savior King. God’s vision is an eternal kingdom where he may dwell with redeemed humanity forever!
3. Are we taking time to pray and ask God for his bigger purposes in our life? The house of God is not the temple built by Solomon, but the church (1Ti 3:15; Eph 2:19, et.al.), the body of Christ, in which we each have a role that Jesus has chosen us to fulfill (Jn 15:16). The lasting fruit is not what I do for God, but what God is doing through me.
Prayer: Father, thank you for this reminder of all you have accomplished through Jesus in my life. Help me have eyes to see your greater purposes.
One Word: God’s eternal kingdom in Jesus