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When seeking God’s discernment on any matter, one needs to consider that the answer may not be as we desire. That’s the true nature of following and honoring God: that it is He who leads not our hopes, dreams, expectations, etc.
For this post, let’s consider scriptural accounts: David’s desire to construct a temple, and Joseph & Mary. Bible passages are from the Berean Standard Bible and images from Night Cafe Studio and Canva Pro.
The light of the sun melts away the fog of early morning. Stock image from Canva Pro.
When God says no to a desire or hope,our devotion and faithfulness are being tested. How we respond is important to our witness and faith journey. May God’s Word and truths encourage you in your moments of difficulty!
David & his desire
David desires to build God a temple as David has settled into his great palace. 2 Samuel chapter 7 and 1 Chronicles 17 explains.
2 Samuel 7: emphasis mine
1After the king had settled into his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
3And Nathan replied to the king, “Go and do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”
At first the prophet Nathan agrees with David’s desire and plan, but God has a different plan. The Ark of the Covenant is God’s place in the tabernacle. David desires for God to have a house that honors Him. Nathan makes the mistake of speaking prior to consulting God. Ever done that yourself?
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
God Speaks to Nathan
4But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5“Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build for Me a house to dwell in? 6For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt until this day, but I have moved about with a tent as My dwelling. 7In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders I appointed to shepherd My people Israel, ‘Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’
God asks questions. It’s obvious in this text that David desires to honor God with a temple. Why is this? David is living in a cedar palace while God’s dwelling is a tabernacle or tent. David wants to build God a temple.
This is a painful truth in walking with God. Even when our desire(s) and ideas are to honor and please God-that doesn’t mean that those desires/plans are inline with God’s plan/will. Charles Spurgeon explains:
“Though the Lord refused to David the realisation of his wish, he did it in a most gracious manner. He did not put the idea away from him in anger or disdain, as though David had cherished an unworthy desire; but he honoured his servant even in the non-acceptance of his offer.”
Source: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-samuel-7/ accessed 1/29/24
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
God’s Word is full of promises and examples to light the way for us to walk with Him! Holy Spirit speaks these truths into our lives to encourage and guide us.
God’s Promises to David
To help you with this text, I am emphasizing God’s promises:
2 Samuel 7:8-15
8Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel. 9I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make for you a name like the greatest in the land.
Promise 1: Just as God has chosen and called David from a teen shepherd to become a ruler, been present with David, protected him from his enemies–God will make a name. Consider that thousands of years later, I am writing about an ancient shepherd king who would be the archetype for a man after God’s own heart! Also important to recall is that God made the same promise to Abraham in His covenant with Abraham. God is making a covenant with David and His descendants!
10And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and be disturbed no more. No longer will the sons of wickedness oppress them as they did at the beginning 11and have done since the day I appointed judges over My people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD declares to you that He Himself will establish a house for you.
Promise 2: God establishes His people in the Promised Land and gives them peace. This comes to fruition during the reign of King Solomon.
12And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.
15But My loving devotion will never be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I moved out of your way. 16Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever.”
Promise 3: God will establish a house for David–David wanted to build a house for God and God promises something far better than allowing David to build a temple. Jesus comes from the line of King David. God promises that He will discipline and establish David’s house for all eternity.
For more details on these promises check out this excellent verse by verse commentary:
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-samuel-7/
This article explains why God doesn’t want David to build the temple:
https://www.gotquestions.org/David-temple.html
God reminds of His Light and Glory as we worship Him in times of disappointment and rejection. The light in this image is God’s presence streaming into His house. Night Cafe Studio
Worshiping God
God gives David something far greater than the joy of building a temple for Him! How does David respond? David praises God! Check out his prayer of praise and worship
https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_samuel/7.htm
David goes before God’s presence v18. and acknowledges what God has done for him and the people of Israel. Can you go before God with a heart full of praise and thankfulness when He denies your desires? What if God has something much greater than our desires? God is more generous and gracious that even our best desires for Him!
David acknowledges God’s nature and past works of deliverance and mercy for His people. David also begins making preparations for the temple to be built later. Often when we are disappointed and feeling rejected, worship and reflecting on God’s nature is the last thing we want to do. But it’s absolutely the most helpful thing we can do! Here is a link to several Psalms you can read and pray through for these moments:
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/psalms-of-lament-to-remind-us-we-are-not-alone.html
Worship in the moments of rejection and difficulty! Invite God into your journey during these moments.
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Jesus obviously fulfills His promise to David as Jesus Reigns eternally. Luke repeats Gabriel’s decree to Mary:
31Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
Mary & Joseph’s Experiences
Consider Mary and Joseph as a couple/family. They were a human Jewish couple getting ready to be married (betrothed) to walk life together. Gabriel comes and delivers God’s message and it makes things complicated for Mary and Joseph. Joseph considers sending Mary away because she’s pregnant (Matthew 1:18-21) They both are in a painful, difficult situation. Yet, they choose to trust and obey God.
Gabriel visits Mary. An angel speaks to Joseph in a dream. Joseph trusts and obeys the message that comes through a dream. Would you trust a dream with an angel? Who has ever heard of a person becoming pregnant through Holy Spirit apart from a man? This post explores this topic in more detail:
Joseph’s Dream
What if Mary and Joseph just wanted to be married and journey through life together in a normal sense like other couples? They are forced to move to Egypt to protect Jesus (Matthew Chapter 2) then they move back to Nazareth when Herod had died. They were refugees fleeing to save their young son! Can you imagine how difficult it must have been for them–the journey, being separated from family and friends?
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At times in our journey we find ourselves walking through a valley of uncertainty, difficulty. Sometimes the way is hard, and the path leaves us weary and sad.
Christ is with us during the seasons of disappointment, rejection, and feeling lost when ministry opportunities cease. These seasons are an invitation to reflect, grieve, and press ahead.
A resource for hurting ministers: check out this website
https://www.helpforhurtingpastors.com/
Words of Grace & Hope 