The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 7:1-2,
"After the king [David] was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, 'Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.'"
David desired to build a temple for the Lord, a place for the ark of the covenant.
However, the Lord told David he was not fit to build it. We read in 1 Chronicles 22:7-10, "David said to Solomon: 'My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the Lord my God. But 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. But 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. He is the one who will build a house for my Name."'"
David was a great man of faith and was acknowledged by God. However, David's faith did not preclude the consequences of choices he made. David had shed a lot of blood, at times even killing every person who lived in various towns in enemy territory. "When Achish asked, 'Where did you go raiding today?' David would say, 'Against the Negev of Judah' or 'Against the Negev of Jerahmeel' or 'Against the Negev of the Kenites.' He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, 'They might inform on us and say, "This is what David did."' And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory."
David was a great man of faith, and as such, he wanted to build a temple for the Lord - but the Lord refused him.
Likewise, in a sobering thought, we may find the things we do as believers bring consequences as well. While believers will not be judged for their sins, they may find they are not exempted from the consequences of those sins in this life.
However, notice something simply amazing: David wanted to build a house for God, and although God refused him, God told David he would build a house for him! "The Lord declares to you [David] that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom."
"After the king [David] was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, 'Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.'"
David desired to build a temple for the Lord, a place for the ark of the covenant.
However, the Lord told David he was not fit to build it. We read in 1 Chronicles 22:7-10, "David said to Solomon: 'My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the Lord my God. But 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. But 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. He is the one who will build a house for my Name."'"
David was a great man of faith and was acknowledged by God. However, David's faith did not preclude the consequences of choices he made. David had shed a lot of blood, at times even killing every person who lived in various towns in enemy territory. "When Achish asked, 'Where did you go raiding today?' David would say, 'Against the Negev of Judah' or 'Against the Negev of Jerahmeel' or 'Against the Negev of the Kenites.' He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, 'They might inform on us and say, "This is what David did."' And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory."
David was a great man of faith, and as such, he wanted to build a temple for the Lord - but the Lord refused him.
Likewise, in a sobering thought, we may find the things we do as believers bring consequences as well. While believers will not be judged for their sins, they may find they are not exempted from the consequences of those sins in this life.
However, notice something simply amazing: David wanted to build a house for God, and although God refused him, God told David he would build a house for him! "The Lord declares to you [David] that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom."
And, so, like David, even though believers may have to reap the consequences of poor decisions in this life, nevertheless, they will experience the ultimate blessings God has for those who are his- the wonderful riches of a lavish inheritance God has bestowed on all believers awaits us!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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