Today’s Reading:  2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17 and Psalm 132

Now David built several buildings in the city of David, including a palace to live in.  Then he said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant is out there under a tent!”

Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.” – 2 Samuel 7:2-3

David’s desire was to BUILD A HOUSE FOR THE LORD but that was not God’s plan for David.  God loved the heart with which David served Him and He told David of His plans to BUILD A HOUSE FOR DAVID  – a dynasty of kings.

“I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel.  I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes.  Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!…

“Furthermore, I declare that the Lord will BUILD A HOUSE FOR YOU – a dynasty of kings!  For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong.  He is the one who will BUILD A HOUSE – a temple – FOR ME.  And I will secure his throne forever.  I will be his father and he will be my son.  I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you.  I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.” – 1 Chronicles 17:7-14

David recognized the magnitude of God’s blessing and was humbled at God’s words.  He did not think too much of himself, but saw that God’s favor was a gift from God – something any man would be unworthy of.  The gift was out of the righteousness of God, not David’s own righteousness.  

His response could have been – This is exactly what I deserve for look at all I have done for God.  Instead his focus was on all God had done for him as he recognized God’s unmerited favor.  He could have reacted in disappointment that God’s plan would not grant the desire of David’s heart to build a temple, but he instead reacted in gratitude for what God would choose to bless him with.

“Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?  And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty!  You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God!

“What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me?  You know what your servant is really like.  For the sake of your servant, O Lord, and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known.

“O Lord, there is no one like you.  We have never even heard of another God like you!…” 1 Chron. 17:16b-20

“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord!  There is no one like you…YOU made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt.  YOU performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way.  YOU made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God.

“And now, O Lord God, I am your servant;…You are God, O sovereign Lord.  Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant.  And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you.  For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!” – 2 Samuel 7:22-29

Lord, we humbly recognize your unmerited favor in our lives.  You are so good, O Lord, and we do not deserve all the blessings you pour into our lives.  We are your servants, O God.  Help us to accept your answer and give you all the praise even when we do not receive the desires of our heart.  We are praying for you to use us as YOU desire.  Your words are truth and we believe that all You have promised is true.  

How great you are, O Sovereign Lord!  There is no one like you!

When I look at the night sky and see your fingers –

the moon and the stars you set in place –

what are mere mortals that you should think about them,

human beings that you should care for them?

Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.

You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority –

the flocks and herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky,

the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! – Psalm 8:3-9