God's Promise to David - 2 Samuel 7: 1-17 Devo

October 25th, 2020 Devotional “God’s Promise to David” - 2 Samuel 7:1-17 Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com Monday: “Go and Do” - 2 Samuel 7: 1-3 In three short verse that begin this week’s tex we find so much going on. First, we read that David, as king, had been given rest from his enemies. Often we think of times of rest being when we come up with our best ideas. We have heard that under times of stress, we can make hasty decisions that are not the best laid plans. Yet, here, in a time of rest, David still comes up with a plan that isn’t in line with God’s will. Why? Because he didn’t seek the face and heart of God! Rest or stress - good times or hard times - we always need to seek God first. Second, David recognizes that he lives in this palace, made of beautiful cedar, while the ark of the covenant in out in a fabric tent. But that’s all he says to the prophet Nathan, before Nathan bestows his blessing on whatever David has in mind. He didn’t even fully hear him out before he said to go and do. Nathan also failed to seek to listen to the Lord. What happens when you do need seek the Lord first? How could have David and Nathan responded instead? Prayer: Lord Jesus, we want to honor you. We want to put you and your ways first. But sometimes, O Lord, in our haste, we jump ahead. Ahead of your timing. Sometimes even ahead of your plans. Forgive us, O Lord, and realign our hearts with yours. Amen. Tuesday: “Same Night” - 2 Samuel 7: 4-5 God jumps right in and tells Nathan what he thinks of this unformed plan that David is seeking to do. That same night God shows up to Nathan with a message - go and tell David, are you the one who is to build me a house to live in. Notice that while it appears to be a question - to which David may answer yes in his own heart and mind - God did not send this message to ask David, he sent him to tell David. This is a command wrapped in a question. To stop. For this is not what God has in mind. Nathan could have dismissed this word from the Lord. He could have shook it off or not shared it with David out of concern and fear. But instead, he laid before David in faith and trust, so that David can act in obedience. Has there ever been a time in your life when God told you to stop? How did you respond? Prayer: Lord, we thank you that you do not allow us to continue to stray from you, going our own way. We thank you that you called David to return, and that you call us as well. Keep reaching into our hearts, O Lord, for they are yours. Amen. Wednesday: “House” - 2 Samuel 7: 6-7 David started out with a good intention. He looked at his house, in all of its beauty and splendor, then looked at the ark and came to the conclusion that God deserved better. But he didn’t follow his thought the whole way through. He wanted to offer to God a beautiful place to dwell and live but God isn’t contained to a house of worship anymore then God was contained to the ark. In other words, David didn’t realize that God has been with the Israelites every place they have went, from the wilderness to the Promise Land, not because of the ark itself, but because God is God. Sometimes we fall into this trap as well. We think that God can only be found in a church building. Or that we need to pray to God a certain way in order for God to hear us and respond. But God cannot be contained or constrained, for God is bigger than human our ways and means. What are some ways that we, as humans, try to limit God? Prayer: Lord, we thank you that you are always with us. We know, O Lord, that this is something that we often say, but we confess, Lord, that sometimes we fail to live like it. We act as if you can only be approached in a specific location or way. Remind us, O Lord, that the earth, and everything in it, is yours. Amen. Thursday: “Took You” - 2 Samuel 7: 8-10 Just incase David missed what God was saying, God then took him to school. God reminded David that he was only King in the first place, in this house made of cedar, because God took him out of the pasture in order to lead, not David’s people, but God’s people. God has been with David from the beginning and God will continue to be with him, making both David and Israel’s name great. One of the thing that makes me uncomfortable is when people say something along the lines of “look what I have done” or “look what I have earned” or “I deserve (fill in the blank) because of what I’ve done.” While we may certainly work hard, all that we have received is God’s. Just like all that David has received is not of his own making, but a gift from God alone. Make a list of what you are grateful for. Give God thanks for all that you have received by God’s gracious hand. Prayer: Lord, we thank you that you have blessed us in ways beyond our wildest imaginations. We confess that sometimes we act as if these things are of our own making. Call us back to a place of having grateful hearts for what you have done, Precious Lord. Amen. Friday: “House” - 2 Samuel 7: 11-17 God continues, telling David that while he thought he would construct a house for God, God is actually going to make a house for David. Only this, too, will not be a physical place to live. Instead it is a house of the line and lineage of David for his descendants. Their kingdom will be forever. Now, we know that David’s earthly kingdom, in terms of ruling, did not last forever. At least not as a monarch. But this promise was fulfilled through Jesus, who rules forever at the right hand of God. David had no idea how great and lasting this house would be, nor how it would change the whole world. So it is with us. Often our minds are too small to even begin to comprehend the ways of God, yet God continues to move in ways seen and unseen! Tell of a time you thought too small when it came to the work of the Lord. What changed in your life because of this experience? Prayer: Lord, we thank you that your ways are not our ways and your thoughts are not our thoughts. We thank you for your love for us that changed the world through Jesus Christ. Let us continue to seek to be part of what you are doing in this world, all for the sake of your name. Amen. Saturday: Preparing for the Word You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “God’s Care for the Widow” - 1 Kings 17: 1-16