Success - Focus on God's Purpose - 2 Samuel 7 - August 8, 2010

Bible Study – Success – Focus on God’s Purpose – August 8, 2010

This is lesson two (2) in our series of study entitled “Focus on God’s Purposes.”

Our scripture is 2 Samuel 7:1-7, 11b-16, 18-21.

Our series focuses on success. Success to the world is accumulating wealth. Serving GOD can lead to material wealth but the overwhelming wealth a person accumulates by obediently serving GOD is the personal, intimate relationship he/she builds with GOD. Our focus is on the Spiritual success while obediently serving our LORD.


Studying the life of David reveals the nature of GOD toward those who obediently serve HIM.


In our study, we will see that even though GOD called David, he was disqualified to build the temple. GOD called David at a young age. David was a warrior - He killed Goliath and led soldiers into battle many times. As a result, when David had secured Israel after he was made king, he wanted to build a temple for GOD. GOD said no because he had shed so much blood in battle. Yet, we know David’s being a warrior was all part of GOD’S plan but it prevented him from building a place to house the Ark. GOD had something better and everlasting in mind for David.


We will see that when a Christian sees a need it does not necessarily mean he/she has been called to meet that need. This point is brought out in our next scripture. David saw that GOD needed a house.


Let’s read 2 Samuel 7:1-7:


The LORD’s Covenant with David


1 When the king had settled into his palace[1] and the LORD had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains.”[2]3 So Nathan told the king, “Go and do all that is on your heart, for the LORD is with you.”[3]4 But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: 5 “Go to My servant David and say, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you to build a house for Me to live in? 6 From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today I have not lived in a house; instead, I have been moving around with the tabernacle tent.[4] 7 In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked anyone among the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel: Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’


King David wanted to do a very noble thing for GOD. David realized that he lived in a fine house built of cedar but GOD, as represented by the Ark, was housed in a tent. He wanted to do something special for GOD. He wanted to build GOD a house.


David had fought to secure peace for Israel. David settled into his place made from cedar and was enjoying this long deserved peace. He considered all that GOD had done for him over the years. So he had an idea. He would do something for GOD. After all, the Ark, which represented the presence of GOD, was housed in a tent. David discussed his idea with Nathan the Prophet. Nathan agreed with David to build a place for GOD. Both are knee jerk reactions to a good idea.


This is the first time the prophet Nathan appeared in the Bible. Nathan, later on, as you recall, had to confront David after his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband.


That night the Word of the LORD came to Nathan. How GOD spoke to Nathan we do not know. It could have been audible or in a dream. The point being Nathan got the Word from GOD for David, “Are you to build a house for ME to live in?” GOD was asking David to examine his own heart and consider why he should or should not build a house for GOD, when HE had not led him to do so.


GOD made it clear that HE had never dwelled in a house since the time HE delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. HE had never asked anyone to build HIM a house. The Ark represented HIS presence where ever the Israelites dwelled. The Ark would still represent the presence of GOD. It was not GOD’S plan for David to build a temple for good reason as revealed in 1 Chronicles 22:6-8:


6 Then he summoned his son Solomon and instructed him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel. 7 “My son,” David said to Solomon, “It was in my heart to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, 8 but the word of the LORD came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and waged great wars. You are not to build a house for My name because you have shed so much blood on the ground before Me.


King Solomon would be GOD’S choice to build the temple, although David began gathering materials to build the temple. These materials were used when the temple was built.


GOD denied David the opportunity to build a physical temple that would one day be destroyed. HE had a better plan for the lineage of David as revealed in our next scripture.


Let’s read 2 Samuel 7:11b-16:


“ ‘The LORD declares to you: The LORD Himself will make a house for you. 12 When your time comes and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He will build a house for My name,[8] and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me.[9] When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a human rod and with blows from others. 15 But My faithful love will never leave him[10] as I removed it from Saul; I removed him from your way.[11] 16 Your house and kingdom will endure before Me[12] forever, and your throne will be established forever.’ ”[13]


GOD, through the Prophet Nathan, told David that HE would make a house for him through a future descendant. David knew GOD and understood GOD. When he was told these things, he knew GOD had a great thing in store for his ancestry. This scripture is referred to as GOD’S covenant with David, although the word covenant was not used. The idea of a covenant was implied.


We have the advantage of seeing the promise GOD revealed in the Old Testament scriptures of the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of CHRIST. GOD referred to a descendant of David who would be a permanent king. We know that GOD was referring to JESUS. Based upon this promise, we can also see why the Israelites were looking for a physical king to rule Israel and it was hard for them to make the connection that JESUS was the promised Messiah. They needed to read and study all of GOD’S Word to make the connection. The scribes and Pharisees had the ability to discern that JESUS was the promised Messiah according to the scriptures but HE did not fit their concept of the Promised Messiah.


Many people miss having an intimate loving relationship through CHRIST because Christianity does not match their concept of a Christian. Many view those of us who call ourselves Christians and do not see the love of CHRIST in us. Do not let others who fail to obediently serve CHRIST keep you from knowing the real CHRIST personally. Eternity is never ending. CHRIST died for you so that you will have eternal life, if you accept HIM as your SAVIOR. CHRIST in you, through the miracle of rebirth, means that you will live eternally with HIM in heaven when your earth suit dies.


The gospels of Matthew and Luke give us the lineage of JESUS back to King David. Here are two (2) additional scripture references that make the connection:


Matthew 22:41-45:


The Question about the Messiah


41 While the Pharisees were together, Jesus questioned them, 42 “What do you think about the • Messiah? Whose Son is He?” “David’s,” they told Him. 43 He asked them, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit,[17]calls Him ‘Lord’: 44 The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet’?[18] [19]45 “If David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how then can the Messiah be his Son?” 46 No one was able to answer Him at all,[20] and from that day no one dared to question Him any more.


Romans 1:1-4:


1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle[1] and singled out for God’s good news— 2 which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures— 3 concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David[2] according to the flesh 4 and was established as the powerful Son of God by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness.[3]


In verse 14, GOD stated that HE would discipline those in his lineage that did wrong. HE did this throughout the history leading to the birth of JESUS.


Our scripture took place about 1,000 B.C. and in 586 B.C. the Israelites, due to sin, fell into the hands of the idol-worshipping Babylonians. Israel no longer had a king. About 445 B.C. the Israelites returned to Jerusalem to rebuild it. GOD punished Israel for their sin and placed them in exile until they had the desire to serve GOD. GOD allowed them to return to Jerusalem. GOD preserved David’s lineage to preserve HIS revelation to David. This reveals the sovereignty of GOD. HIS promises are kept and revealed and fulfilled in CHRIST. A lot of things happened historically over the years until CHRIST came to earth in human form. GOD was in control and HE is still in control today.


Consider your own lineage. Since the beginning of time many opportunities have come and gone for one of your ancestors from which your existence depended, to die. Yet, here you are. Your own existence is a miracle. GOD preserved your existence for a purpose. GOD loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. If you are not already a child of HIS through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth, today is your opportunity to ask CHRIST to forgive you of your sins, believe that HE died for you on the cross, was resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven. Salvation from sin and death through the shed blood of CHRIST is the beginning of building a Spiritual relationship with CHRIST through the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT.


2 Samuel 7:18-21:


David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving


18 Then King David went in, sat in the LORD’s presence, and said, “Who am I, Lord GOD, and what is my house that You have brought me this far? 19 What You have done so far[15] was a little thing to You, Lord GOD, for You have also spoken about Your servant’s house in the distant future. And this is a revelation[16] for mankind, Lord GOD. 20 What more can David say to You? You know Your servant, Lord GOD. 21 Because of Your word and according to Your will, You have revealed all these great things to Your servant.


The Prophet Nathan revealed GOD’S plan to David. David knew that GOD had a great plan for his descendants other than him building a temporary building. GOD had plans to honor David’s lineage by establishing a permanent kingdom ruled by a permanent King.


This overwhelmed David and he had to go and sit before GOD and praise HIM for all HE had done for him over the years. David realized he was a sinner and it was GOD’S grace that made all that he was told to be possible. All Christians live under the grace of GOD every day. We are sinners saved by grace.


Consider this – David and Bathsheba gave birth to Solomon which was the lineage of JESUS. GOD forgives when we repent. David repented of his sins and we see that GOD does not condemn our family line because of our mistakes. When HE forgives HE forgets. If you have committed grievous or any sins, confess them, ask GOD, through CHRIST to forgive you. HE will make you whiter than snow and you will become the righteousness of GOD through the shed blood of CHRIST.


Spiritual success is obediently serving GOD as HE directs. Christians need to pause and ask themselves and GOD, “Am I following your will or am I trying to fit YOU into my plans?” As we began, seeing a need does not always mean that you are the person to meet that need. GOD may want someone else to provide the need, just as GOD called Solomon to build the temple. GOD’S timing is always perfect.