Out text is nestled in the middle of dialog between the King and the Prophet and between a worshipper and His God.
Chapter 17 opens with the scene of David, perhaps, giving the Prophet Nathan a tour of the Palace. As they walk through the magnificent halls, I can imagine that they step out on a balcony that overlooks the city, and there in a clearing just outside the gate, a modest one room tent. As David gazes at the bellowing curtains of the tabernacle he had constructed for the Ark of the Covenant – the tangible presence of God.
• All of a sudden the marble floor beneath his feet felt cold
• The aroma from the cedar woodwork of the palace smelled musty
• The cool breeze of the day seemed to offer little comfort
David turns to his trusted friend and asks
“How did this all come to be about me?
“I live in a palace while the presence of the God of Israel dwells in a pasture”
My, how far David had come!
• It was a long way back to his early teens tending sheep in Jesse’s fields.
• The head and armor of the giant had been collecting dust for decades in Israel’s treasury.
• Long past were the days then David what captain over the 400 distressed, indebted and discontented at Adulliam.
• Faded were the memories of hatred toward him by a jealous king.
To the onlooker David had arrived! He had climbed the ladder one difficult rung at a time and now, he was on top.
But King David had a deeply ingrained truth burned into the fabric of his being….
2 Samuel 22:2-8
2 …"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; 3 The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. 4 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. 5 "When the waves of death surrounded me, The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 6 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. 7 In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry entered His ears. 8 "Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry.
His life success was due to a connection – a personal, intimate connection with God.
I believe it was that connection with God that caused David to desire to honor God in a greater way than he ever had…. To, in a way, put God on display.
When you and I really get connected to the Kingdom of God and the cause of Christ, we’ll have a similar experience as David…
Psalm 145:10-15
10 All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, And Your saints shall bless You. 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, 12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. 14 The Lord upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season.
Living for Christ becomes so little about me, about my desires, about my liberties, about my spiritual “position”, and more about His position in me: King of my heart, Lord of my life, Owner of my stuff, Purpose of my ministry, Reason for my existence.
David realized that his success wasn’t about his kingdom but about God’s. …. Not about what he had, but about what God had given him to use for the furtherance of God’s purpose.
Well, the story goes on…
Vs. 3 – that night God tells Nathan to give David a message.
“Don’t build a temple” = build a legacy.
Vs. 9-10
9 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, 10 since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. Also I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore I tell you that the Lord will build you a house.
Lit: Establish a destiny
God is about destiny and legacy.
What we build today must stand for the next generation.
Are you building a legacy in the Kingdom of God?
- Or -
Is your spiritual focus on: Your personal experience with God
Your acquisition of blessings
Are you serving something bigger than yourself?
As we get older we become concerned with leaving something behind for our family …. What are you leaving behind for your spiritual family?
God promised David a legacy a kingdom so much more far reaching than David himself. That legacy started with his son Solomon, exploded with Jesus and the birth of the Church, now it is left to you and I to carry on the message of God’s redeeming love.
Are you connected today?
Connected to the Father through His cleansing blood?
Connected to the Church through His call to witness?
Connected to the Local Body for edification of self and others?
Are you part of the CORE? Committed, Obedient, Relational, Equipped?
Become part of something bigger than yourself by becoming part of the family of God and connected to the Body of Christ.
Let’s Pray
A note from Pastor Terry,
Thanks so much for looking over this message. I trust that, in some way, you were blessed, encouraged and empowered on your own walk with Christ. Every message I prepare is bathed in prayer that God will draw, inspire, and challenge my listeners (or readers) into a more meaningful and power-filled walk with Him.
Pastors, how we need one another! We need to be encouraged, strengthened and built up in order to encourage, strengthen and build up. It’s my personal prayer that the message you’ve just reviewed has done that for you in a personal way. Use what you can of this message, toss what you can’t and above all, let God’s Spirit inspire it all!
Sometimes I feel like Peter and John at the Temple steps…”Silver and gold; I don’t have but what I do – I give to you”
Grace and peace to you, your family and the Flock you tend.
Pastor Terry
