Responding To God’s Promises Series

Augustine in his confession, writes about as a young man he was intending to travel to Rome. His mother was against it and prayed against it. She prayed earnestly that he might be prevented from going. Her reason being that she feared what effect the temptation of sin in the depravity of that big city would have on her son.

Augustine went to Rome and heard the preaching of Ambrose and was converted to Christianity. Her prayer was answered he said, not in outward form, but in inward heart. She prayed that he might be saved from the weight of sin.

There are times we pray, and God gives even more than we ask. When I was newly married, I had my Quiet times and prayers in 15 journals. There were 3,500 recorded quiet times with my prayer requests. My wife Lenora read them. There were many unanswered prayers. By unanswered prayer I mean when we do not get what we ask for.

What at first, we might call unanswered prayer when we do not get what we ask for we sometimes get a greater answer. We sometimes get more than we asked for. Like Augustine’s mother praying for spiritual deliverance of her son.

David had on his heart to build a temple for God. David lived in a beautiful palace of cedar and God’s ark dwelled in a tabernacle, a tent.

After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” (2 Samuel 7:1)

David felt building God’s house was a good idea. Nathan the prophet felt the same way. He said since the Lord God is with you build God’s house. But God gave David a great promise for the future. Little did David know that promise went beyond what he could ask or imagine.

But your family and your kingdom will continue always before me. Your throne will last forever. (2 Samuel 7:16)

What God had for David was not what David had asked for. David wanted to build a house for God. God’s response was that David’s son would build the temple.

He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (2 Samuel 7:13)

Of course, now we know which son it would be. Solomon would sit on the throne and build the temple that David wanted to build. God promises David that God himself will establish his house.

David’s name would be great like the names of the greatest men of earth. All this from the humble beginning of a shepherd boy. It is no wonder that David is called a man after God’s own heart. Look at his reaction. He sat before the Lord.

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign LORD, is for a mere human! (2 Samuel 7:18-19)

David had the response of a man after God’s own heart. He did not get what he wanted which was to build the house for God, but David trusted God. God was giving him something much greater than what he wanted to do. Many of us might have had resentment for not getting our desire to build the temple.

David was not wanting the Lord to bless what he was doing. David wanted to do what the Lord was blessing. He was willing to wait for the next generation to do what he wanted. David desired to do things in God’s timing.

David did not argue with God and say, “Lord I said I wanted to build a temple. I never said I wanted my son to build the temple. How can my name be great unless I build the temple?” No, David did not respond this way.

David looked past what God was intending for someone else and praised God for how he was being blessed. Instead of asking why can I not build your house Lord, David responded in faith and worshipped God for His promise of the future.

David contrasts his own humility and utter dependence on God with the sovereignty of God. David recognizes God for who he is the exalted Almighty God. When David addresses God as Sovereign Lord he recognizes that God has absolute rule and God is the true King.

When David sits in devotion before God, he realizes how big his God is. We all need to sit before God and consider how big God is. We need to acknowledge our total dependence on God. This will revolutionize our spiritual life.