David And The Covenant Of God Series

Then David built a beautiful palace for himself. We can almost picture David sitting in the cool of the evening on his porch surveying Jerusalem and his palace and the happy palace attendants. Then the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you” (7:2-3). This is the first time we are introduced to Nathan the prophet. Nathan was to David what Samuel was to Saul. He was God’s prophet speaking God’s word to the king.

You remember that the ark of God represented the visible presence of God in the midst of his people. It was an extremely important piece of furniture that Saul had neglected for decades. But as soon as David became king, he wanted the ark of God placed in Jerusalem, which was to be the political and spiritual capitol of the people of God. So, Nathan affirmed the heart’s desire of David, who wanted to build a permanent edifice to house the ark of God.

The lesson here is that God is sovereign. David was a teenager when God promised that he would become king. David experienced many difficulties as he served Saul. I believe Saul tried to kill David sixteen times, and that is apart from the times that David was in danger on the field of battle. Eventually, however, “the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies.” To be sure, difficulties still lay ahead for David. Some of them were of his own making but others were not. Nevertheless, in this time of respite, the Lord had fulfilled his promises to David.

I read about an old Jewish story that once upon a time there was a four-year-old boy named Mortakai who refused to attend school and study Hebrew. Whenever his parents tried to immerse his mind in the Torah [or the Word of God], he would sneak away and play on the swing set. Every form of persuasion failed. Mortakai remained stubborn and defiant. The exasperated parents even brought him to a famous psychiatrist, but that also proved futile. Nothing changed the young boy’s heart, which seemed to grow more distant, lonely, and hardened every week.

Finally, in utter desperation, Mortakai’s parents brought him to the local rabbi, a warm and wise spiritual guide. As the parents explained their plight, pouring out their frustration and despair, the rabbi listened intently. Without saying a word, he gently picked up Mortakai, took him in his arms and held him close to his chest. The rabbi held Mortakai close enough and tight enough so the young boy could feel the safe, rhythmic beating of the rabbi’s heart. Then, still without a word, he gently handed the child back to his parents. From that point on, Mortakai listened to his parents, studied the Torah and, when it was appropriate, he also slipped away to play on the swing set.

David believed that God is sovereign. He clung to God so that he could sense the safe, sovereign heartbeat of God.

How about you? Do you believe that God is sovereign? Are you experiencing God’s rest in your daily life?