Today's Reading - 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17
Background
There are four great covenants in the Old Testament. The Noahic covenant was made after the flood, when God set the rainbow as a sign of his promise not to flood the earth in his wrath ever again. The Abrahamic covenant gave Israel the land, promised them descendants, and insured God's blessings until the end of time. The Mosaic covenant, based on the Ten Commandments, obligated Israel to follow God's law to receive his daily blessings. And now, the Davidic Covenant established the descendants of David (including the ultimate descendant, Jesus) as the rulers of Israel forever.
Devotional - Turning the Tables
David had a heart for God and God rewarded that in a wonderful way.
David had taken the city of Jebusites, the city we now know as Jerusalem, and something was bothering him. He had built himself a nice palace and was living the good life, but the House of the Lord was just a tent. David had a heart for the glory of God!
God had never expressed a desire for a fancy temple, but it was in David's heart to do so. He could not feel good living in luxury and unless he worked to build a house for God. So, he consulted the prophet Nathan who agreed with him. It was a great idea. Nathan assured him that God was on his side and that he should do what was in his heart.
But God had another idea. Evidently, Nathan had assumed God's blessing, because during the night God spoke to him, loud and clear. He reminded him that he had been perfectly content with his glory dwelling in a tent. The glory of God was what mattered, not the shell in which it was displayed.
That is when God turned the tables on David, in 2 Samuel 7:11 (and 1 Chronicles 17:10). God told him that he was not going to build God's house but that God was going to establish the house and lineage of David. Because David's heart had been to bless God, God was going to bless David. Verses 12-14 establish what is known as the Davidic covenant. God established the house of David as an eternal line of kings. This was a physical promise that culminated in the birth of a baby in Bethlehem who was hailed by angels as the Savior, Christ the Lord.
David sought to bless God and God turned the tables on him, blessing him instead. We do not generally receive the same kind of specific and temporal promises David did, but when we give our lives to seeking to bless God, God pours out blessings on us. Every hear the old saw, "You can't out-give God?" This passage teaches us that you can't out-bless God!
When, like David, you devote yourself to him, when you give yourself to serving his glory with your body, soul, and spirit, you will receive greater blessings than you can imagine - blessings that are eternal and spiritual.
God had never expressed a desire for a fancy temple, but it was in David's heart to do so. He could not feel good living in luxury and unless he worked to build a house for God. So, he consulted the prophet Nathan who agreed with him. It was a great idea. Nathan assured him that God was on his side and that he should do what was in his heart.
But God had another idea. Evidently, Nathan had assumed God's blessing, because during the night God spoke to him, loud and clear. He reminded him that he had been perfectly content with his glory dwelling in a tent. The glory of God was what mattered, not the shell in which it was displayed.
That is when God turned the tables on David, in 2 Samuel 7:11 (and 1 Chronicles 17:10). God told him that he was not going to build God's house but that God was going to establish the house and lineage of David. Because David's heart had been to bless God, God was going to bless David. Verses 12-14 establish what is known as the Davidic covenant. God established the house of David as an eternal line of kings. This was a physical promise that culminated in the birth of a baby in Bethlehem who was hailed by angels as the Savior, Christ the Lord.
David sought to bless God and God turned the tables on him, blessing him instead. We do not generally receive the same kind of specific and temporal promises David did, but when we give our lives to seeking to bless God, God pours out blessings on us. Every hear the old saw, "You can't out-give God?" This passage teaches us that you can't out-bless God!
When, like David, you devote yourself to him, when you give yourself to serving his glory with your body, soul, and spirit, you will receive greater blessings than you can imagine - blessings that are eternal and spiritual.
Father, may I be like David, who lived for your glory above all things. He sought first your kingdom and your glory, and all these things were added to him - just as Jesus said.
Think and Pray
Do you, like David, live your life for the glory and honor of God in heaven?
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