David desires to build the Lord a house. The Lord however says that He is building David’s house. The Lord’s building program is always better than ours.
1 Chronicles 17: The LORD's Covenant with David
1 Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, "Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent."
2 And Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you."
3 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,
4 "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in.
5 For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling.
6 In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'
7 Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel,
8 and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
9 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly,
10 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the LORD will build you a house.
11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.
13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you,
14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.'"
15 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
David's Prayer
16 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?
17 And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God. You have also spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, O LORD God!
18 And what more can David say to you for honouring your servant? For you know your servant.
19 For your servant's sake, O LORD, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.
20 There is none like you, O LORD, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
21 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and awesome things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt?
22 And you made your people Israel to be your people forever, and you, O LORD, became their God.
23 And now, O LORD, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have spoken,
24 and your name will be established and magnified forever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel's God,' and the house of your servant David will be established before you.
25 For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you.
26 And now, O LORD, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.
27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you, for it is you, O LORD, who have blessed, and it is blessed forever."
1 Chronicles 18: David Defeats His Enemies
1 After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.
3 David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah-Hamath, as he went to set up his monument at the river Euphrates.
4 And David took from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough for 100 chariots.
5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians.
6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
7 And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 And from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze. With it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze.
9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah,
10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him; for Hadadezer had often been at war with Tou. And he sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze.
11 These also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.
12 And Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
13 Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
David's Administration
14 So David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and equity to all his people.
15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
16 and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; and Shavsha was secretary;
17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were the chief officials in the service of the king.
Things to think about…
1. David had thought that because he was blessed with material blessings that it was right that the Lord should have a permanent presence in Israel in the form of a temple, 1Chr 17:1. God had not commanded it however, nor was it part of Israel’s history. The tabernacle was never in one spot during Israel’s wilderness wanderings. Nathan has his thinking adjusted by the Lord and as a result realigns David’s thinking on the subject. When we start a ministry or a building program, it is essential that the Lord is directing the initiative. What is required to facilitate a process where the Lord’s leading is clearly being followed? What fruit/evidence should we expect to see to ensure that this is occurring? We know David’s greater Son Jesus is the One who builds the house that lasts for eternity. Solomon – a man of peace would be a type of Christ, he would build the first temple in Jerusalem. This is where the Lord set up His kingdom in Christ, in the Millennium and into eternity with us as the New Jerusalem.
2. The best building project is the one the Lord is building within us! The Lord says to David that ‘He is building his house’. Solomon would in fact build the temple, but the Lord was building David’s house that would find its full expression, not through Solomon, but through Christ. David acknowledges that the Lord’s building program is far better than his, 1Chr 17:23-27. The challenge of course is for us to remain in that place of trust and obedience.
3. In 1Chr 18:1-13 David defeats all those final nations that could never be defeated in Saul’s time. These included the Philistines, Edomites, Moabites and Ammonites. These nations had finally lost their power and influence over Israel. What areas do you believe are still strongholds over you personally? What areas are strongholds that are holding back the church? The Lord promised to build David a house and give him a legacy. This was certainly the case with all the nations subdued under him. Jesus has subdued the greatest enemies of sin and death and will one day reign on the earth. All the nations will bow down to Him.
4. We see gold, silver and bronze has been taken from these conquered nations, 1Chr 18:10. The wages of the unrighteous have been stored up for the righteous, Prov 13:22. The future temple building project under Solomon would use all this worldly wealth. What modern context do you think could apply for the extension of God’s kingdom with respect to the use of worldly wealth? Jesus talks about using unrighteous wealth (money) to extend the kingdom, Luke 16:9. What do you think He means?
5. While David struggled with his sister Zeruiah’s sons, Joab, Abishai and Asahel, these men established the kingdom for David. They were warriors and unlike David had very little emotional attachment when a decisive action needed to be taken. David struggled with them many times, but Israel was blessed by these men. In the same way the Apostles were different men. The Apostle Paul was certainly a driven man and without him the early church would not have been established across the known world. Paul was a spiritual warrior. Jesus said to the Apostle Peter those “all who draw the sword will die by the sword”, Mt 26:52. This was certainly the case for Joab, Asahel and Abishai. A lesson Peter desperately needed to learn. But for our war Paul say “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds”, 2 Cor 10:4. Amen. Pray we take the strongholds of our day in Jesus’ name.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon title was “Adam to Abraham” - from 1 Chr 1:1-27.
1. This genealogy lists the men from Adam – the first man to Abraham. If the timelines that are listed in Genesis are taken literally we get an earth that is about 6000 years old. Do you believe this, why, why not?
2. Understanding our true history and identity is important. Jay gave some examples on Sunday of adopted children wanting to know their parents and a Jewish mother and son being united after the war. But is there a deeper meaning for the need of all humanity to know about their history. Discuss with respect to the creation/evolution debate.
3. Jesus came from this line of Abraham. We celebrate His birth this time of year. Discuss the importance of truth with respect to Christ’s life and message
4. Pray for safety and rest over the holiday period. Pray for people to be able to see families as borders re-open.
Prayer Points
1. People would join us over Christmas.
2. Christmas season – joy and unity promoted in Christ.
3. Growth in our Cell groups, kids and youth ministries in 2022
4. Pray for testimonies that people will be giving. Please consider when you would like to give yours.
5. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
6. Witness over the Christmas season.
7. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Visitors on Sunday. Pray they are encouraged ion the church.
2. Appreciation to all involved in ministry. Joy in our service. Thankyou for your service.
3. Word of God being blessed at CBC.
4. Men’s fishing trip blessed by fantastic weather and fellowship.
Announcements
1. Morning tea – Pre - Christmas get together next Sunday.
2. Christmas Day service – Sat 25th Dec – 9:00am
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
