Mar. 21, 2021. II Samuel 7:1-17

Posted byJohn Sanzone

Please click here for the audio and click here for video portions of this message.

A VERY GOOD BAD IDEA.  II Samuel 7:1-17.  3/21/2021.  #16.

II Samuel 7:1-17 [New King James Version]

1 Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” 3 Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” 4 But it happened that night that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? 6 For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes 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 shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 10 Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, 11 since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house. 12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will 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 his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” 17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

  1. A kingdom at rest
    1. God had given David rest from all his enemies
      1. Saul had been deposed
      1. David had soundly defeated the Philistines twice
      1. The surrounding nations were at peace with David
    1. God had blessed David materially and socially
      1. David lived in a palace of cedar
      1. David had numerous wives, concubines, servants, soldiers, and material possessions
      1. David, who was hunted, now was popular
      1. David was at peace
  2. A grand idea
    1. David decides that since God had done so much for him,
    1. that he was going to do something for God
    1. David had just brought the Arc of the Covenant back to the
    1. Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle after a century’s absence
    1. The tabernacle had moved from place to place with Israel
    1. for over 4 centuries.
      1. There were specific procedures connected with moving the tabernacle
      1. David thought that it needed a permanent home
    1. David imagined a temple of stone and cedar, like his palace
      1. This would be David’s ultimate gift to God and the crowning achievement of his reign
      1. David probably had a design in mind and the temple would be permanently near his palace
    1. David consults the prophet Nathan as to his plans
      1. Nathan uses the logic that since God had blessed David, God would be pleased with a temple by him
      1. Neither David not Nathan asks God’s will on the idea of building a temple
    1. Many “great” ideas are not God’s ideas
      1. Joshua attacking Ai, Joshua making a covenant with Gibeon, Paul going to Jerusalem, Paul being released from his thorn, Abram fleeing to Egypt to escape the drought, Jehoshaphat allying with Ahab, Hezekiah showing the Bab. his wealth
      1. If God does not approve, a good idea is bad
  3. A grand idea rejected
    1. God comes to Nathan at night and tells him to return to
    1. David to tell him that he could not build a temple
    1. God lists several reason why David was not to build it
      1. God had dwelled in the tabernacle for 450 years
      1. God had never asked for a permanent home
      1. I Chronicles 28:3 David has a bloody man of war
    1. God would have David’s son build the temple
      1. David’s line would be established on throne
      1. I Chronicles 17:11-14 the Davidic Covenant establishes David’s line forever on the throne, leading to the Messiah (Matthew 21:9)
    1. David’s desire to build the temple was not for him to do
      1. God chooses who is to do what task (Rm. 12:4-6)
      1. John 21 Peter was not to know what John was to do
      1. Each person fits where God chooses, not us (to choose our own well intentioned will is to fail)
    1. A prophet or apostle speaks infallibly only when God
    1. moves him to speak (Nathan and temple, Paul in 1 Corinthians 7)