David wants to build the Lord a house. But the Lord builds him a house…
2 Samuel 7: God's Covenant with David
1 Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,
2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent."
3 And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you."
4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,
5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in?
6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.
7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'
8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.
9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,
15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.
16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'"
17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
David's Prayer of Gratitude
18 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?
19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD!
20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD!
21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.
22 Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods?
24 And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O LORD, became their God.
25 And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken.
26 And your name will be magnified forever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts is God over Israel,' and the house of your servant David will be established before you.
27 For you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.
28 And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.
29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever."
Things to think about…
1. Sometimes as the people of God we believe we can speak on behalf of God because we have walked with Him for many years. Such is the case here with Nathan when he is asked by David whether David should build God a house, Nathan says “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you”, 2Sam7:3. But God has other ideas for David and sends Nathan back to David with a different message. Sometimes we can be too quick with what we believe the Lord’s will is, not only for ourselves, but for others. James gives us good advice, we should ask “if it is the Lord’s will” before we do (or say) this or that in our lives, Jam 4:15.
2. Israel and Jerusalem have been the people and the place of conflict for millennia. But look at the promise from the Lord in 2 Sam 7:10. He says “I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly”. Our Lord will one day bring perfect peace to Israel and fulfill all the OT prophecies. We know the earthly fulfillment of this will be evident in Yeshua (Jesus) ruling over Israel and the world in the Millennium, but the eternal fulfillment will be evident when the New Jerusalem descends from heaven upon the New Earth. This is the house that the Lord makes through David’s greater Son.
3. The word Nathan receives from the Lord in 2Sam 7:5-7 is similar to what Stephen said to Jews before he was stoned by them, that “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?”, Acts 7:49. Stephen quotes Isaiah 66:1 in Acts 7:49, 50. God tells Nathan that there is one coming from David’s body who “shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever”, 2Sam 7:13. This of course is the Lord Jesus Christ. His kingdom will be established forever. Jesus said He would rebuild the temple in three days. He sure did, but it was not the one that was on the Temple Mount. Of that building Jesus said “not one stone would be left on another”. Christ’s body is the house that the Lord is building and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. But the Lord is not finished with a literal temple in Jerusalem? Ezekiel speaks of a temple and the Lord’s presence abiding there in Ezek 40-48. This temple has not yet been built.
4. We see that Nathan speaks about the Lord Jesus, but he also refers to Solomon who would build the house of the Lord. Jesus did not commit iniquity, 2Sam 7:14, but we know Solomon did. So here there is also a reference to Solomon establishing David’s throne. This is where we see a double meaning where there is both a literal and a prophetical fulfilment in Nathan’s words to David.
5. David understood the weight and gravity of the Lord’s word through Nathan the prophet. He says in 2Sam 7:19 “You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD!”. This House was not just for Israel, but a house and a message for all nations. Jesus is building His House and we are to be His lights in the world as labourers who build the house, over whom the gates of hell shall not prevail.
6. The same is true with David’s words regarding the nation of Israel. Note here he says that “you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever”, 2Sam7:24. God has not forgotten the land or the people of Israel. He has an electing love for these people. He is the one who called them out of Egypt. The Gentiles are the unnatural branches that have been grafted into God’s vine, but the Jews are the natural branches, and the Lord has a love for them that is continually being revealed. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and that the modern Israelis, especially in light of the present conflict, that may see the only way they can be truly part of the ‘Israel of God’ is if they embrace Israel’s Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups Wednesdays. 6:30pm every Wednesday. 5:30pm prayer. In recess for the next 2 weeks over the school holidays.
Prayer Points centre
1. Pray for healing, a number of people have not been well
2. Pray for the work we have going on with site development and TMR and the development of a project team.
3. Keep praying for PlayPatch on Fridays, pray for more families to be reached.
4. Pray for Chaplaincy and Kids Hope at Karalee State School.
5. Pray for peace over the US elections
6. The ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine.
7. Church finances to continue to grow and expenses to be more than met.
8. Pray for Kids@Church, Life groups. Young Adults.
9. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Wednesday afternoons, 5:30pm at church. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
10. Pray about the possibility and planning of a Farmers Market at Chuwar Baptist Church once a month on Saturdays. Anastasia taking the lead on this. Pray for us as we plan
11. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
12. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. People responded well to Sunday’s message.
2. New people at church
3. Praise God for our worship team. Well done Zac and Estefany
4. Tad’s health continues to improve.
5. Sally continues to amaze us with her interaction with everyone.
6. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Andrew Otte preaching on Sunday morning
2. Men’s event. Conquering the Mount. Men’s racing. Fri 11th Oct@Church from 5:30pm. 16+. $10 each. Dress in team colours Red – Holden, Blue – Ford, Gold – Chevrolet. See Tim Freeman for more details.
3. Prayer meeting 5:30pm and Life Group Wednesday 6:30pm at church.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
5. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for September...
Q. 24. What was the sin of our first parents? A. Eating the forbidden fruit.
Bible References – Gen.2:16&17; Gen3:6.
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” Jer 33:3
