2 Samuel 7-10 The King Humbled By God's Grace

One day it hit David that he was living in luxury, while God was “living”, by His presence at the Ark in the tabernacle tent in relative squalor.  When David told his trusted spiritual advisor Nathan about his concerns, Nathan told him to go and do what he really wanted to do because God was with him.  Yet that night God told Nathan that David would not build him a Temple.  So was Nathan wrong in his response, or rash in appearing to be a yes-man to David?  My commentary said, “When Nathan told David to do what was in his heart, he wasn’t affirming that David’s desires were actually God’s will.  Rather, he was encouraging the king to pursue his desires and see what the Lord wanted him to do.”  Rather than spending his time building a Temple, David was to find out that God would rather have him continue shepherding the people and setting a godly example.

 

God then told David His plans for David’s future family, including the Messiah.  It was all too amazing, and David didn’t know what to say.  God had brought him from a boy shepherd to the kingship, and as if that weren’t enough, God had also said David’s future descendant would rule forever as Messiah!  David realized his unworthiness, and could only say, “Lord God, who am I?”

 

Later in chapter 9, David began to share God’s kindness, and that included remembering his deceased best friend Jonathan, and for Jonathan’s sake he sought out any heirs he might have in order to share God’s kindness with them.  My commentary said, “So it is with God’s children:  they are called and saved, not because they deserve anything from God, but for the sake of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  God in His grace gives us what we don’t deserve, and in His mercy DOESN’T give us what we do deserve.”

 

David brought the crippled 21-year-old son of his best friend into his home, unofficially adopting him and making him part of his family.  God does that for us, too, and so should we continue to do the same.

 

Father, like David, I marvel at what You’ve done in my life.  I so don’t deserve Your kindness and love.  Like a spiritual cripple, I was most unlovely, yet You brought me back to You and treated me as family, and through what You did for me, You led me to do the same for my boys!  You are such an awesome God!

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford