Look At What’s On God’s Christmas To-Do List

There are only five more sleeps until Christmas! Children, I bet you can’t wait. Adults, I bet you wish there was more time so that you can finish everything on your Christmas to-do list. “Ugh. Don’t remind me, Pastor. I’m so far behind! There’s the baking to do yet, the cards to send, presents to buy…” Yeah, and don’t forget your to-do list for God! After all, Christmas is about celebrating Jesus’ birthday. What special things are you going to do to show your love for him?

Actually, what God wants you to do first is to consider what’s on his Christmas to-do list. He wrote this list a long time ago—already in the days of King David in 1,000 B.C. God described what was on his to-do list after David expressed a desire to build a temple for God. You see, by this time in his reign, David lived in a comfortable palace in Jerusalem, but the Ark of the Covenant, that visible reminder of God’s presence, was still housed in a tent. That didn’t seem right to David and so he told his pastor, the prophet Nathan, about his desire to build a temple for God. Nathan said: “Do whatever you have in your heart. God is with you!” But that night, the Lord told Nathan to deliver this message to David. (read text: 2 Sam. 7:8-16)

Isn’t it interesting to learn that what may seem to be the right thing to do because it would bring glory to God is not always God’s will? David wanted to build a grand temple for God, and his motivation seemed to be pure. He wanted to honor God, not make a name for himself. But that’s not what God wanted David to do. Building a temple would be a job for David’s son, Solomon.

While God said “no” to David’s plan, it wasn’t because God wanted to deprive David. On the contrary, God said “no” because he wanted to give David something even better! While God did not let David build a house for him, God said he would build a house for David!

Before we discuss exactly what kind of house God was going to build for David, I want you to consider how God’s “no’s” have been a blessing to you. Maybe he said “no” to that job you applied for, but you ended up getting a better job. He said “no” to your prayer for a better paycheck, but instead he gave you the gift of contentment. He said “no” to healing a loved one, but instead took that loved one home to him in heaven where no pain will ever touch them again. Rather than criticize God’s “no’s” to our requests, we will trust that his “no’s” will lead to “Oh’s!” as we marvel at the better gifts he has planned for us.

So how exactly was God’s “no” a blessing to David? The prophet Nathan said to David: “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.’ …16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” (2 Samuel 7:12-14, 16)

The house that God was going to build for David was not a structure of wood and stone; it was instead a ruling dynasty. God promised David that his son would rule on the throne after him. While God did have in mind Solomon who would succeed David, there was more to the prophecy than that because God said that David’s throne would endure forever. We heard in our Gospel reading this morning (Luke 1:32, 33) how that promise came true at the birth of Jesus who was descended from the line of David. Because Jesus was also true God, and because he is a king, this is how God established David’s throne forever.

OK. That’s nice for David, but what does it have to do with us? Well, go back to the sermon introduction. There I talked about God’s to-do list. God’s interaction with David confirms that we indeed have a gracious God—a God who does more for us than we do for him. God made that clear to David. When David expressed interest in building God a temple, God was no doubt pleased with his servant’s desire, but he also reminded David: “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.” (2 Samuel 7:8, 9)