Have you ever felt as if you wanted to do something for Jesus? Have you ever been overwhelmed by all God has done for you and wanted to do something significant for him in return? Have you ever wanted to devote yourself more fully to him?
- So did David.1 Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 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.” 3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”
- 1 Rest: God had blessed and prospered David.
- 2 Said to Nathan the prophet: David’s beloved prophet, part of his ministry team.
- 2 House of cedar vs. a tent: David could not help but notice the contrast.
- Note: David responded to his prosperity with the worship of God.
- Another king, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, responded to his success in a completely different manner:
- Daniel 4:29–30 (ESV) — 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
- Another king, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, responded to his success in a completely different manner:
- Note: David responded to his prosperity with the worship of God.
- 3 Do all that is in your heart: Nathan perceived the thing David wanted to do was a thing of beauty, so, assuming God was with David in this endeavor, he released David to do all that was in his heart.
4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, 5A “Go and tell my servant David,
- 4-5 Nathan / Go and tell my servant David: God prepared Nathan for a future time he’d have to confront David.
5B ‘Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ’
- The tabernacle was ordained by God himself. He had not asked for a permanent structure or complained about the fact his ark was in a tent.
- So God said ‘no!’ to David’s desire.
1 A pull exists within God-hearted people (7:1-7)
- Our thankfulness to Christ drives us to want to do for God.
- The grace of God has appeared (Titus 2:11-14).
- 1 Grace brought salvation.
- 2 Grace trains us to live holy lives.
- 3 Grace causes us to anticipate Jesus’ glorious return.
- 4 Grace makes us a people zealous for good works.
- Grace will pull you towards zeal for good works.
- A life of good works is part of our call as Christians.
- Gospel: Jesus came, lived, died, and rose. You are to believe him for the forgiveness of sin, and then follow him with you whole heart and life.
- The grace of God has appeared (Titus 2:11-14).
- But sometimes a pull towards a specific good work is not from God.
- David was not called to build the temple.
- Though we want to live purposeful, meaningful, impactful lives, we aren’t called to do it all.
- I make this point carefully, knowing the tendency in humanity is not to want to do too much good, but to do no good at all.
8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11A from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.
- 8-11 God made promises to David (the big promise is coming, but notice these first promises).
- 1 David would become Prince over…Israel.
- 2 David would receive a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
- We are, after all, studying the life of this man, while it is likely every one of us will be forgotten within a few generations.
- 3 Israel would be given a place where they would find rest and be disturbed no more.
2 The plan of God is to outgive his people (7:4-11A).
- David wanted to give to God, but God would give to David.
- How does God outgive his people?
- 1 By giving first.
- Job 41:11 (ESV) — 11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.
- 1 John 4:19 (ESV) — 19 We love because he first loved us.
- David responded to God’s favor and love.
- 2 By giving again.
- Luke 6:37–38 (ESV) — 37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
- 3 By giving more.
- The cross.
- Paul, concluding his exhortation for the Corinthian church financially give to the Jerusalem church said: 2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV) — 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
- 4 By giving last.
- The consummation of all things.
- Glorification.
- What do you have that you did not receive? (1 Corinthians 4:7).
- 1 By giving first.
- At various junctures in the Christian life, we must remember that outgiving nature of God.
- David was forty years old at this point. His original calling was a memory. Perhaps he thought he could even up with God.
11B Moreover [WOW!], the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
- A blending of promises regarding Jesus Christ (primarily), but also Solomon (secondarily).
- A good example of an Old Testament passage in which some elements find fulfillment in the immediate future, while others would be fulfilled in the distant future.
- JESUS:
- 13 He shall build a house for my name: Solomon, but Jesus also builds a house.
- 12-13 I will establish his kingdom / I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever:
- Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV) — 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
- 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son:
- Matthew 3:17 (ESV) — 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
- Luke 9:35 (ESV) — 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”
- John 12:28 (ESV) — 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
- 14 When he commits iniquity (which Jesus did not, but instead took the punishment as if he had) I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men:
- Isaiah 53:6 (ESV) — 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
- 16 Your house / kingdom /throne shall be established forever:
- Peter, after quoting David Psalm 16 statement, “You will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption,” said:
- Acts 2:30–32 (ESV) — 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
- Peter, after quoting David Psalm 16 statement, “You will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption,” said:
- We call this moment the DAVIDIC COVENANT.
- God had promised the Savior would come from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Judah…and now David!
- Both Mary (Luke) and Joseph (Matthew) were in David’s line.
3 The promise of God is to give us an eternal king and kingdom (7:11B-17).
- David was promised that the Messiah King would come from his line.
- We are put into the line of the Messiah King.
- Theme of Daniel — Daniel 4:3 (ESV) — 3 …His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
- For many dark years, there was no king from David.
- They hoped in Zerubbabel. - Rome darkened their hope. - Then Jesus came…and Jerusalem was destroyed. - Jesus is the King we’ve looked for!