God’s House, God’s Way
PART 1
“And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies; That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.”
(2Sam. 7:1-2)
This was an observation that sparked an inward desire to address what King David perceived as a problem. It does not appear to be the prompting of the Holy Spirit. It does not seem that King David, moved by his position and the God-given peace he enjoyed, would then begin to boast of his resources in his pursuit to build God a house. He was not seeking to respond out of obedience, nor was his heart set to be first before the nations in that he would provide a house for his God. David, by way of his own convictions, wanted something for his God, and God heard David speak this to His prophet, as well as the prophet Nathan’s response, and God answered. It is believed to be later in the king's life that he would sing a psalm of praise that included, “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart”. (See Psalm 37)
David wanted to do something for the Lord. To build the Lord a house was not an easily met desire when he was a shepherd, nor when he was servant to King Saul. Only when he was put in the position as King over Israel could he pursue this cause. Only after he had a track record with God and had the means to fulfil such a lofty desire. As a shepherd boy, David had the responsibility of tending to his father’s sheep. As a young man, his responsibility was serving King Saul as a musician or attendant to the king. As a man, he was appointed a military leader, and through marriage to the daughter of King Saul, he became a part of the royal family. Although, his responsibilities as a military leader involved organizing, preparing, and leading men into battle for the purpose of protecting and expanding Saul’s kingdom. It was no less his duty as one who had been brought up by the Lord and appointed to this position, to seek God’s will in battle. Moreover, God had chosen to identify Himself and reveal Himself through this nation of people, Israel. His name was connected to these people, and everything that happened to them or didn’t happen with them pointed back to their God. Their enemies were the enemies of God. Their victories would mean God was glorified. It was the military leaders' responsibility to seek out His counsel. Yet, here in this passage, David is in adulthood as the ruler over Israel. What was his chief responsibility as king?
Reasoning 1: The Purposes of God through David. David wanted what God wanted; in that, he was truly a man after God’s own heart (1Samual 13:14). The will of God for himself and for others, whether in judgment or in mercy, whether God responded in blessing or cursing. (See 1Sam. 17:45-47; 1Sam. 26:10-11; 1Sam. 16:5-13). David trusted God. This did not change once he had become king over Israel. He wanted others to want and worship God. After all, what does it look like for a whole nation to want and seek after God? He knew how God had used him in every phase of his life to draw Israel’s heart back to their God. Even to restore confidence in their God once again. Whether it was that the odds were against him in facing Goliath, the people's hearts would be turned to God. Or whether David went above and beyond the call of duty when sent out by Saul to get the foreskins of the Philistines, the hearts of his small army and that of the king would be made to see God’s presence with David and active in the welfare of His people (See 1Sam. 18:27). Whether it was to dance with all His might, dressed not as a king but as one who served in bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, the hearts and attention of all involved in the procession and all that looked on would be turned back to God. David’s chief responsibility as king was to do what he was created to do, that is, draw the hearts of a nation of people to their God.
Reasonings 2-4: Evangelistic Strategy, Security of Resources in Renovation, and A Humble Disposition. Jerusalem was not captured by accident. It was a central location between the northern and southern tribes of Israel. It was a neutral location not occupied by any Israelite tribe prior to David’s conquest. It was an easy-to-defend location and already fortified. David strengthened these fortifications, and in building his palace there, it would have been identifiable as the administrative and political hub of his empire. Moreover, for David to bring the Ark of the Covenant into this city with copious worship, his worship in particular being unrestrained by his position as king over Israel, would aid in Jerusalem becoming the nation's spiritual hub. To then take Israel from a portable tabernacle structure to a fixed/permanent temple where the presence of God would also remain was hopeful. Yet, to do so would show it to be a united monarchy, not just because all the tribes of Israel were under David’s rule. It was a united monarchy because one people would serve under the rule of one man, David, and all (including king David) in this permanent central location, would worship under the one true sovereign, God.
It was out of humility that King David’s desire to build a house for God was that it would represent and remind the people of God’s presence among them. Though David’s house sat higher and appeared more glorious than the former tabernacle, and though he had the title and position as king over Israel, and though he had won many victories, David understood that everything he had came from his God, and only He was worthy of worship. Yet, how would God respond?
In 2 Samuel 7:4-7, God responds to David’s well-meaning desire. God says, throughout the history of my dealings with Israel, I have never dwelt in a house, nor was it a desire of Mine that one be built for Me. He then reminds David of His dealings with David. From the time David was following after sheep, God had made David’s name great (vv. 8-9). We will end with this question: Is what we (the Church) are desiring to do for God, the same as what He desires to do in us?
Part 2 Coming Soon
