This pic makes me want to go visit North Carolina again! 

2 Samuel 7

David is feeling guilty. Here’s the context: about a decade into his reign, he was in a place of relative rest. Verse 1 says, “Now it came about when the king lived in his house (a palace), and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies…”. Things were good for David. David had time to reflect. God had been good to him so He wanted to do something for God. We can relate to that, right? When things are good for us, we are thankful and grateful. So, he told Nathan, the prophet, I live in a beautiful house and God dwells in a tent (the ark of the covenant). Maybe I should build Him a beautiful house like mine?

Don’t build Me a house!

God spoke to David through the profit Nathan. The words God spoke are considered the Davidic Covenant. Basically, God told David “I don’t need you to build me a house; It doesn’t work like that.” God doesn’t do something for us and then we do something for Him. Yes, our human relationships ARE like that; filled with mutual obligations, this for that, friendships based on ‘hey, I owe you one.’ But it’s not like that with God. God doesn’t give to get. God gives us rest and blessings AND He gives us difficulties and pain. Either way, it is for His purposes (which we don’t always fully see in the present; especially when he uses pain) and either way, He seeks the same response from us of love, humility and dependence on Him. Our response to God should be consistent, whether we are in a state of peace or conflict. Instead, His rest and blessings may cause us guilt and we want to do something “good” in return. On the other hand, when God gives us difficulties and pain, we are confused and ask, “WHY?, WHY?, WHY?” And, we often harbor resentment toward God, (hard to admit but often true). But really in all situations, good or bad, we should respond consistently with love, humility and dependence on Him. 

Steady as she goes
Anyway, so God speaks through Nathan and tells David that He doesn’t need a physical house from him. Instead, He says, through you David, I am going to raise up a descendant, Jesus, who is going build a house. Verse 12, 13 says “I will raise up your descendent after you, who will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”  God is telling David, I have blessed you for my purposes. I have chosen you and you don’t need to respond by saying you are going to do something for me. Instead be humble, love me and be dependent on me.

More on the Davidic Covenant next time. Lord, teach me through this lesson to be more consistent in my response to the ebbs and flow of blessings and trials. Seems my life is filled with both and I feel very different depending on which I am dealing with. Grant me a steady inner life, a steady heart. Help me in all situations to love you, be humble and dependent upon You. Amen.