A Godly Dream vs an Earthly Dream (2)

Experiencing David’s Challenges

Asdova/a3i|n Dysilk ;e A,qarha3in

“or2a-ov;ivnnyr Tavi;i Hyd

2 Samuel 7:1-17

David had the desire to build a temple for the Lord.

Here comes the unexpected answer from God.

2. God refuses David’s wish and dream: (7:4-7)

“But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 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. 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?”’

“David, thanks for the offer, but what are you doing? I have been with you guys for a long time. I was with you from days of Abraham all the way to the days of Egypt and on. I moved with you guys from one place to the other. Did I stop working in you because I did not have a ‘house of cedar’ to dwell?”

God’s answer is so important to all of us who love to worship and sing in churches. God is challenging David that he is not interested in a temple built for Him. “I am who I AM”. God is saying, “I do not need a place to dwell. I am the God of freedom and mobility.”

3. God reminds David who he is

When God refuses the plans we make on our own, He surely has better plans for us.

He chose David the simple shepherd boy and raised him up to build a dynasty.

“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. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you...” (7:8-11a)

“Let me remind you David who you were and what you have become. You were a simple shepherd following the sheep. I made you a king where the flock of Israel is following you. You became a king because of my GRACE. And do not worry, you will have a land for your people, and I will give you rest from your enemies. Yet…”

4. God had a different building plan for David and to all humanity

“The Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 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. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”(7:11b-13)

God is not against building literally a house for Him. God later gave permission to David’s son Solomon to build a temple in Jerusalem.

God redesigned what David had in his mind.

Who is the builder?

God is saying, “I will build and not you.”

One of my favorite verses:

“Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalm 127:1) (this psalm is most likely written by Solomon)

David likes to build a house with wood and rocks.

God wants to build a house with sons and daughters, a human dynasty, and eventually with His son Jesus Christ who will build our broken lives.

Humans can build things, places and structures.

God can build a structure that is everlasting. Christ became the cornerstone and the living stone, all the structure was built on Him. And we became his temple’s living stones. (Let me remind you Ephesians 2:19-22)

5. Building an intimate relationship forever (7:14-17)

“I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son…”

There is an intimate relationship between God and David, like a father and son. The ultimate evidence of this relationship became to us through Christ. Jesus declared many time how intimate relationship he has with the father. Jesus said,

“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. “ (John 5:19-20)

God calls David His son and makes a covenant with him. The structure of David’s dynasty is built on the intimate relationship with God like that of a father and a son.

What kind of a relationship?

These are relationships of love and trust, relationships of steadfast-love, relationships of tough love and discipline, relationship of seeking His will and not our own.

The Monday night Bible study group is studying the prayers of Jesus. Seeking His will in our prayer is essential, and prayer is relationship. Over and over we find this theme in parables and Jesus’ prayers.

How long this building can stay?

“Your kingdom will endure forever…”

My friend pastor Brian Morgan said: “It is when our earthly dreams die that our souls become most sensitive to what is eternal.”

What is your dream this morning?

We all have some kind of a dream. It is great to have dreams. But sometimes some doors close and we cannot pursue our dream!

How about seeking if that dream is what God wants for your life?

Building a house for the Lord is a noble thing, but somehow God taught David a very important lesson, that God would build something greater than the building. David’s obedience to God brought forth a dynasty from which Jesus was born.

I like to end my sermon with the words of David:

“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.” (2 Sam7:22)

Let us approach the table with prayer and confession. Let us come to the Lord. Bring yourself to Him. Bring your dreams to him. Seek Him; He is there waiting for you.

Amen