Last week we saw how David moved the Ark of the Lord back to Jerusalem.
• He was careless at the first round, but did it right the second time. He heeded God’s Word and followed God’s way.
• We honour God’s presence with reverence and a holy fear. We COME CLEAN with God and DRAW NEAR with pure hearts.
Although the Ark of God has been brought back, it lies under a tent. David lives in the palace of cedar. He wanted to build a house for God.
• Let’s read this interesting exchange between David and God in 2 Sam 7.
• While David wants to build God a house, God says that He wants to build David a house – an everlasting one.
Read 2 Sam 7:1-7.
David had in mind a proper building to house the Ark of God.
• This is a good thing and a noble one. Prophet Nathan agrees with him.
• It is a picture of what a man would want to do for God. Not necessarily wrong, but not the most important part.
That very night, God spoke to Prophet Nathan to clarify what is most important. God reveals His will.
• God says what He is NOT LOOKING FOR, and then what He is really LOOKING FOR.
He is not seeking for a PLACE to dwell in. He wants to be with His people.
• “I have been on the move with My people. Wherever they went, I was there with them. And I have been with you wherever you have gone.”
• That’s God’s desire and His delight – not to dwell in a PLACE but with His PEOPLE.
Since David has offered, God will still allow the HOUSE of God to be built, but not through David. His son Solomon will build the Temple of God (verse 13).
• 1 Chron 22 reveals more why God did not want David to build it:
• 1 Chron 22:7-10 7David said to Solomon: "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. 8But this word of the LORD came to me: `You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. 9But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. 10He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'
• A man of peace to construct the temple, not a man of war. His house was to be “a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7).
But it is not the Temple of God that signifies His presence. His presence is always with His people. It is God’s will then and it is God’s will today.
• Remember the Samaritan woman at the well who told Jesus that she as Samaritans worships in Samaria and Jewish believers worship in Jerusalem?
• And Jesus replied her: "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem… 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:21, 23-24)
In 18th Century Russian Empire, there was a capable official named Grigory Potemkin, who was the favourite of the Russian Empress Catherine the Great.
Once the Empress wanted to visit the villages and announced her travel plan. Wanting to impress the queen, Potemkin went ahead to build fake buildings along the river banks. He hired peasants and dressed them up in nice clean clothes, and lined them on the route that the queen would take.
The only problem is everything is just a facade and front, without substance. Nothing inside those walls. The term "Potemkin Village" is now used to depict anything that deceive others into thinking that a situation is better than it really is.
It’s not about the building, it is God’s presence with His people. That’s what really matters.
• This is God’s desire – to be with you. Don’t ignore Him, don’t hide from Him like Adam and Eve, and don’t reject Him and don’t leave Him aside.
God went on to tell David what He is LOOKING FOR - 2 Sam 7:8-17.
God has a plan for making David king and establishing the nation Israel. It doesn’t end with David, it doesn’t end with Israel.
• God says He will build David a house and a Kingdom that will last beyond him.
• It goes even beyond his son Solomon. God is looking at the ultimate Son of David, Jesus Christ. God has a plan for the salvation of the world.
It’s good to remind ourselves that it’s not about you. It’s not about you living the good life in the palace of cedar, and enjoying the life of a royalty.
Did you notice something here? God addresses David as MY SERVANT.
• Can you imagine this? Everyone calls him KING but God calls him MY SERVANT.
• He is always His servant. We are always His servants.
• The King can have the highest authority in the land, but in relation to God, he is always a servant. Even the King lives to serve God’s purpose.
• God is saying to David: “I put you where you are. I gave you what you have. I have a purpose for doing so.”
Don’t be carried away by our importance. Don’t make God serve you. Even Jesus did not come to be served. We are no greater than Jesus.
• We are given position, prestige, power, and possessions, not for our own enjoyment and glory but for the purposes of God.
Remember Esther. She was made queen of Persia and not long after, the Jewish race was threatened with extinction.
• Esther’s uncle Mordecai said, “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:4)
• You think you are here because of your beauty and wisdom and abilities? God has positioned you for a time like this, to rescue your people.
• So whatever title, position, prestige, or blessings that we’ve received, hold them lightly. They were given to us so that we can SERVE God.
• We are servants of God and we are stewards of God’s gifts.
God is building David a house and establishing the throne of his Kingdom FOREVER.
• The Lord says (7:13), Solomon “will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom FOREVER.” 7:16 “Your house and your kingdom will endure FOREVER before Me; your throne will be established FOREVER.'"
• From the descendants of David will come one special Son - the Son of David, Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.
• He will accomplish what He is born to do and will be enthroned forever. Therefore this Kingdom will not end.
That’s what God is looking for. This is what He is looking forward to, He tells David.
• “I’m not thinking about a house of cedar. I’m thinking of an eternal house. I am not seeking to dwell in a place, but in the hearts of everyone who trust in My Son, Jesus.”
• When God talks to David, He has already in mind the salvation of the world.
• He is thinking about you - “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)
• This “house” is redeemed PEOPLE of God, the FAMILY of God, the Body of Christ.
When we are reconciled with God, the Lord dwells in our hearts. Paul says:
• 1 Cor 6:19 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”
• 2 Cor 6:16 “For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
Ultimately God is not looking for a physical Temple, but the Temple of the Holy Spirit. He wants to dwell with us!
• This is the heart of God. He wants to be reconciled with you and to be with you.
• So trust in His presence, no matter what kind of circumstances we find ourselves in. Acknowledge Him. Honour Him. Fear Him. Serve Him.
David talks about what he wants to do for God, and God in turn tells Him what He wants to do for man.
• David’s plan is a physical house, God’s plan is a spiritual house, the people of God.
• David’s plan is temporary and confined. God’s plan is eternal and without walls, for all people.
God says David will die (7:12). He says even Solomon is imperfect.
• 7:14 “When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men.”
• But all these imperfections will not change God’s love for man and thwart His plan to save mankind.
• Jesus, the Son of David, will come and He did. John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…” Again He dwells among His people!
COMMUNION
Luke 1:30-33 30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
It’s a fulfilment of God’s promise to David.
Building the Temple requires bricks and stones. Building this Kingdom requires flesh and blood (of Jesus) – the incarnation of Jesus and His death on the cross.
• This is the heart of God. This is the covenant He made with David. God is determine to provide us a Saviour in Jesus.
As we remember Him today in Holy Communion, let us respond in these two ways:
1. SUBMIT to the King – he is the King of kings, enthroned forever.
2. SERVE the King – we are HIS SERVANTS. We serve His purposes on earth.
