May 16, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

A Home for Resting

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Opening Prayer

Lord, You have given me so much for which to be thankful. Help me to reflect appreciatively on Your many blessings.

Read 2 Samuel 7:1-17

[1] 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.” [3] Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you.” [4] But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying: [5] “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? [6] I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. [7] Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”‘ [8] “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. [9] I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. [10] And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning [11] and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. “‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: [12] 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. [13] He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. [14] I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. [15] But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. [16] Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'” [17] Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Family is a haven in a heartless world” (Christopher Lasch, 1932-94). It is wonderful when this is true.

David yearned for a place to rest, a home after years of running from Saul. Living the life of a vagabond, and fighting mercenary battles for other nations, left David weary. But God gave David rest from his enemies and allowed him to build a royal palace, a home, his place of solace.

Thankful for his royal house of cedar, David asked the prophet Nathan for permission to build God a house, that is, a temple. After all, David lived in a beautiful house of cedar, but God still resided in a tent. Much to David’s surprise, God told Nathan to tell David that David must not build him a house. But in a stroke of merciful irony, God declared that he would build David a house.

David already had a house, that is, a royal palace. But Nathan explained to David that the Lord was promising him children, specifically a son to rule on the throne of Israel forever. This promise must have seemed impossible. After all, Michal, David’s royal wife and Saul’s daughter, could not bear children. And how could one of David’s descendants, a human being subject to death, reign forever? Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. Wouldn’t the same happen to Israel someday? This prophecy pointed to a king unlike any man, a Messiah.

David loved being near God. In response to the fantastic prophecy, David went in to worship before the Lord, who still resided in his tent made of black goat’s hair (18). Perhaps David reflected on this landmark moment when he once said, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psa. 23:6). David’s desire was to be near God and to find rest with his family. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?

Apply

In what way today is David’s house “established forever” (16; cf. Isa. 9:6-7; Luke 1:32-33)?

Closing prayer

Lord, I do not often sit before You considering Your goodness in my life (18). Help me to do that now.

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