12-24-11 "Promises; God's Pathway to Perspective" 1 Chronicles 17:1-27

The passage I read was 1 Chronicles 17:1-27

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+17%3A1-27&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

¹⁶ Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said:

   “Who am I, LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

As I reflect:

In verse 1 David makes a comparison of the Lord’s house as inadequate compared to his own.  The Lord now dwells in our hearts and often I feel the same as David did.  It’s not a good enough dwelling place for the Lord.  His dwelling should be immaculate and splendid in every way.  I simply don’t fit the bill. 

Nathan hastily replied to David to go whatever he had in mind and perhaps I would have hastily advised him the same thing seeing only with my human eyes and without the wisdom of God.  Thankfully when we make those mistakes today, God still steps in just as He did then to make corrections.  So Nathan gets corrected and is told to deliver a promise from God that is:

A permanent and unmovable Israel.

Make his name great.

He will build a house for David – as in a dynasty.  Establishing David’s throne forever.

So here what happened was that David wanted to build a better dwelling for the Lord than just a tent.  I hope that this also is our heart, not only regarding the dwelling place of the Lord, but in all things that we have heart that desires to please God.  I hope that we too don’t merely find satisfaction in attempting to obey the ten commandments, but rather that we strive to do far more than is asked of us, just as a child does when desiring to please their parent. 

But God said “no”.  And instead offered to build David’s “house” up.  Speaking of his lineage in a place of kingship over Israel.  This was an important part of the promise as lineage mattered greatly in those generations of history up to and including the line of Abraham to Jesse; Jesse to David; and David to Jesus.  Lineage and genealogy were once far more important that most count them today.  But perhaps even greater than the Lord’s promises to David were the examples David gave us in his responses to those promises. 

When we receive promises from God, it can be tempting for us to become prideful in some ways because we feel special and counted differently than the rest of the world.  We as Christians sometimes become boastful not in the Lord, but in our great services to Him.  This is a huge mistake and should be watched very carefully in one’s life that we not fall prey to such sin.  Instead, let us respond humbly to god’s great offers in our lives, just as David here responds humbly in a thankful prayer that lifts up the name of the Lord.  David doesn’t become boastful in anything other than God and has no selfish pride to where as a badge at the Joy the Lord has offered him.  Nor does David become angry or upset in any way according to the passage considering that the Lord told him “no”. 

This is also an issue with Christians today.  We take passages out of context and quote “ask and you shall receive” and then expect God to honor and give.  This is an incorrect approach to the matter.  It is not our will, but God will that we ought to seek.  When we ask, we ought to have the heart and mindset of finding out first what God’s will is and then ask that we might be used in that will.  Here David determines that it is not God’s will that he built the Lord’s temple, but that doesn’t mean that he need be upset or throw his hands down to his side in idle nature with resentment.  He hears the Lord’s will that his successor will build the house and thusly he applies his efforts to assist that successor by accumulating the materials required for the build.  Just because we are told the position we sought to serve God isn’t meant for us doesn’t mean we can’t then serve the person that position is meant for.  Don’t resent God’s will, for He chose you for just the specific position He has called you to and that position is just as needed and appreciated for your answering to that calling.  David chooses to support the person who was called to build the temple. 

“If you cannot have what you hoped, do not sit down in despair and allow the energies of your life to run to waste; but arise, and gird yourself to help others to achieve. If you may not build, you may gather materials for him that shall. If you may not go down the mine, you can hold the ropes.” (Meyer)

What David didn’t know what that which was revealed in 1 Chronicles 22:8-10.  It was said that the reason God didn’t want him to build the temple was because David was a man of war who shed much blood and God wanted His temple built by a man of peace (such as Solomon).  It is not rare that you and I don’t know why God denies our requests or tells us to do what we didn’t expect for Him to tell us to do.  It is however of great importance that we trust Him with his decisions knowing that He is infinitely wiser than us and knows the purpose behind His choices.  David also didn’t at the time see the importance of the Lord first establishing His spiritual dwelling in the promise to David before the physical dwelling that would be a temple.  Again though, David didn’t question God on this manner, but rather was obedient and continued to serve in every way that he could, trusting God fully. 

Let us take note of the many example David gave us from this passage.  Let us trust in God in His promises and not question His will when it may differ from our own.  Rather let us align ourselves to His will and serve in the ways that He ask of us.  I will close with this;

I have heard it said “Lord bless what I am doing.” But I tell you, ask not for the Lord to bless what you are doing, but instead ask where you may serve that the Lord intends to bless.

My response to the Lord:

My King of Kings, at your feet I kneel humbly offering myself as your servant.  Even here I feel unworthy to kneel and I am so very thankful that due to the covering of your Son I am considered a son who can approach and speak with you.  Thank you Lord.  I have before asked you on multiple occasions to guide me to do your will and to correct me if my will differs for any reason.  You have always been faithful to lead me when I pray this.  As of recent, I have asked you every morning to guide the steps of my days that I may live in a way that honors and glorifies you.  I thank you for being faithful to guide me and knowing that I in my flesh am still a man of weakness and sinful failures I ask that you continue the work begun in me and guide me ever more to respond obediently to your words and serve wherever and however you would have me serve.  My God I am not fearful of this world, but one thing I do fear is to miss your calling no matter how big or how small due to my own selfishness or human mind.  Help me to keep my eyes, heart, mind, and soul strongly positioned on your rock and focused on You.  In Jesus’ name.