A Godly Dream vs an Earthly Dream

Experiencing David’s Challenges

Asdova/a3i|n Dysilk ;e A,qarha3in

2 Samuel 7:1-17

In the coming weeks I will be giving a new series of sermons hoping for us to experience the challenges that David faced. This last two years I have been attending a class where we translate 1^st Samuel. I am enjoying reading the Bible in its original language. Moreover, I am learning with my classmates to dig in the text, to find the message, and to apply it in our lives.

God is in the center of this book. It is very interesting that the events of the book of 1^st Samuel are reflected in certain Psalms that David wrote. It is interesting how God chose a man like David to be His servant. David who was young, ruddy, literally red skinned, handsome but boyish was not the type of a typical king (1 Samuel 17:42).

David grew up in a home where his voice was not heard. His brothers did not like him (1 Sam 17:28,29). He was not even invited for a feast prepared by his family (1 Samuel 16:11).

Yet this young inexperienced boy became the king; more than that, he became the voice of God. The book of Psalm is a book of worship and prayer. It is as personal as a journal. In that book one can find both the pain of sin and the joy of restoration, defeat and victory, judgment and mercy meaning the loyal-love of God.

More than half of the psalms were written by David. And the other half were written by priests and musicians whom David appointed to continue what he had started.

Therefore, when we read the books of 1^st and 2^nd Samuel and the book of Psalms we see how God uses this simple boy David to be His voice in the battlefield, in the wilderness and the caves, as well as at the palace.

Today’s message is a very simple yet very deep and essential one. It is extremely important that whatever we do be done according to God’s will. In the Lord’s Prayer we ask: “Let your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The daily seeking of His will is our duty.

David had the desire to build a temple for the Lord. In his heart, he carried this feeling that while he resided in a luxurious palace built with the cedars of Lebanon, the ark of God remained in a simple tent. David dreamed that by building a temple, he would honor God. Prophet Nathan was pleased and thought this was a great idea (7:1-3). After all, God should be in a Temple. “This is a good project after many years of war,” was Nathan’s opinion.

When you look at our history, Armenians love to build churches. Wherever we go in the world, we love to build a “temple” for God. From Singapore, to Calcutta, and all over the world we loved to build churches. In Ainjar, when the Moussa Dagh refugees arrived in 1939, the first thing they did before they even settled was to build a place of worship for the Lord.

Here comes the unexpected answer from God. An answer that is so essential for David and his dynasty. An answer that is so effective not only for the Israelites, but after thousands of years for us, who love God and worship Him. God’s response will become the driving force of salvation history, the coming of the Messiah, and the Good News of eternal salvation. The text marks the theological center of the books of Samuel.

We will continue in English.