07-23-06 Building Of The Temple
1 Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,
2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains.”
3 Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But in the same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,
5 “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in?
6 “For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.
7 “Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’
God’s Covenant with David
8 “Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.
9 “I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.
10 “I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly,
11 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you.
12 “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, 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 a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men,
15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16 “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”
17 In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
David’s Prayer
18 Then David the king went in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
19 “And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord God, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. And this is the custom of man, O Lord God.
20 “Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord God!
21 “For the sake of Your word, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness to let Your servant know.
22 “For this reason You are great, O Lord God; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23 “And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods?
24 “For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, O Lord, have become their God.
25 “Now therefore, O Lord God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do as You have spoken,
26 that Your name may be magnified forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You.
27 “For You, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You.
28 “Now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.
29 “Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord God, have spoken; and with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
I. The establishment of the Davidic covenant (7:1-17)
A. It confirms the Abrahamic covenant
Genesis 12:1-3 (NASB95)
Abram Journeys to Egypt
1 Now the Lord said to Abram,
“Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
1. Immense theological importance
a) They reach all the way to the coming of Savior Jesus
b) Especially to His coming reign on the throne of David
1 Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,
c) Rest from all his enemies probably refers to the peace that prevailed after David’s defeat of the Philistines (5:17–25)
II. David’s request (7:1-7): to build a house for God.
A. The purpose (7:1-3):
1. David desires to build a dwelling that is fitting for the Ark of God,
2. Especially since David lives in a beautiful cedar palace
a) Sent to David by Hiram, the king of Tyre 5:11
b) David is basically saying that the Ark of the Covenant or “covenant box” is kept in a tent
c) And David is kept in a Cedar box (his new palace)
(1) David’s implication is
(2) IT is not about Him and he is not the covenant
2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains.”
B. 7:2 Is the introductions to Nathan as a personal advisor to David.
1. As a prophet (Ex. 7:1, 2), he spoke for God, advising David
a) Nathan later confronted David regarding his sins of adultery and murder (12:1–15).
b) He helped Bathsheba secure the throne for Solomon (1 Kin. 1:10–45)
c) Aided in the establishment of music in the temple worship (2 Chr. 29:25)
d) Chronicled the reigns of David and Solomon (1 Chr. 29:29; 2 Chr. 9:29)
2. Although there was nothing immoral about dwelling in a house of cedar David realized he had to give his attention to spiritual priorities as well
3 Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But in the same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,
C. 7:3, 4 Nathan encouraged the king to follow the leading of his heart and build a temple for the ark
1. However, he spoke on the basis of his own understanding and not as a word from the Lord
2. His words the Lord is with you indicate in this context a general blessing and not a specific utterance of God
a) Here is an example of someone who functioned as a prophet who had to go back and make it right when he missed it
b) May we all give grace the way David did in this instance…
5 “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in?
3. The question Would you build a house for Me to dwell in implied a negative answer
6 “For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.
D. 7:6 A tent was a traveler’s dwelling
1. The tabernacle (Heb. mishkan) was the portable structure or the “dwelling place” of God in the midst of His people (Ex. 25:9, 22)
2. We are to be travelers and sojourners not settlers
3. We are on a journey not a destination
4. We never arrive!
a) Until we die,
b) Then we’ve begun
7 “Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ While the Ark of God is housed in a tent
E. 7:7 Throughout the history of God’s dealings with the Israelites, never once did He reprove them for failing to build Him a permanent sanctuary
III. The Lord’s response to David’s desire (7:8-17): to build a MORE MAGNIFICANET house for David
A. God does not need a bigger house but David does
1. David thought he had it real Good
2. He wanted to give back to God for blessing him
3. God out gave him again….
8 “Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.
4. 7:8 God reminded David of His gracious dealings in taking him from the humble role of a shepherd to serve as king over His people
9 “I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.
5. 7:9 A great name or reputation was highly valued by the Hebrews
a) As God promised to make the name Abram great (Gen. 12:2)
b) God promised David that his name would be renowned
10 “I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly,
6. 7:10 God promised to provide Israel a secure dwelling place in the land of Israel
a) No longer would the Israelites be exposed to repeated attacks from their enemies, as had happened during the time of the judges
11 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you.
B. 7:11 house: David wanted to build God a temple
C. Instead, God intended to build David a house that endured beyond him
1. That is, a dynasty of long duration.
2. The promise to David (7:8-11):
a) The Lord declares that David’s kingdom will prosper and his name will be known throughout the world!
IV.The promise to David’s descendants (7:12-15):
12 “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.
A. 7:12 The first provision of the Davidic covenant was that David would have a son for whom God would establish a kingdom
13 “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
B. 7:13 House here refers to the temple (1 Kin. 6)
1. God also promised to establish the throne of Solomon’s kingdom forever (1 Chr. 22:6-10).
14 “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men,
V. 7:14 iniquity: The sins of David’s sons would require divine chastening (1 Kin. 11:1-13)
A. The rod of men and strokes of the sons of men would serve as instruments of chastening
1 Kings 11:14 (NASB95)
God Raises Adversaries
14 Then the Lord raised up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was of the royal line in Edom.
1 Kings 11:23 (NASB95)
23 God also raised up another adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah.
B. 7:15 Although Solomon’s sins would justify chastening
15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
1. God promised that His mercy would not be removed
2. As was necessary in the case of Saul
a) 1 Samuel 13:13 he offered the burnt offering in place of the priest
b) 1 Samuel 15:22 he disobeyed God by keeping some of the spoil for himself and then lied to the prophet ABOUT IT
1 Samuel 15:23
23 “For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He has also rejected you from being king.”
c) REBELLED BY seeking out a witch of endor to speak to Samuel
VI.7:16, 17 Here God GIVES THE TERMS & provisions of the Davidic Covenant
16 “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”
17 In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
A. The Lord promised that David’s house, kingdom, and throne will endure forever. In other words
1. The promise does not guarantee that the rule by David’s posterity would never be interrupted (Hosea 3:4, 5)
a) It was interrupted when Judah was taken into exile (2 Kin. 25:1–21)
b) The prerogative to exercise the privilege of ruling would always belong to the Davidic dynasty (Ps. 89:20-37)
c) In Luke 1:32, 33 the angel Gabriel promised that Mary’s son, Jesus, would receive the throne, house, and kingdom promised David and his posterity
d) The ultimate fulfillment of this promise will be realized at the Second Advent when Christ returns to reign over His people (Rev. 20:1-6)
VII. The prayer of DAVID (7:18-29): With his heart filled with awe and gratitude, David praises the Lord for his promise.
A. 7:18 The words sat before the Lord indicate that David was in the tent which served to house the ark
18 Then David the king went in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
1. Who am I, O Lord God: David’s rhetorical question reflected his sense of unworthiness to have been extended such a gracious promise (vv. 12-16)
B. 7:19, 20 David acknowledged that what God had done for him so far was far greater than anything he deserved
19 “And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord God, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. And this is the custom of man, O Lord God.
20 “Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord God!
1. As if this were only a small thing, God now extended the promise concerning David’s dynasty far into the future
2. All of human history leads inevitably to the rule of Christ on earth
3. This is our destiny, Christ RULES, the final meaning of all history
24 “For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, O Lord, have become their God.
25 “Now therefore, O Lord God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do as You have spoken,
C. 7:25 Having praised God for His gracious works
1. David prayed for the fulfillment of the promise
2. As David undoubtedly knew, God’s will would be accomplished whether he prayed for it or not
3. But like David, when we pray in God’s will for God’s will, we became a part of His will
4. We also become an expectant people, ready to respond to God with great praise when He has accomplished His will (Ps. 142)
26 that Your name may be magnified forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You.
27 “For You, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You.
D. 7:26, 27 The name of God refers here to His reputation
1. David wanted God’s reputation to be magnified through the fulfillment of His promise
28 “Now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.
29 “Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord God, have spoken; and with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
E. 7:28, 29 You are God, and Your words are true:
1. David acknowledged that God could be trusted to fulfill His promise
VIII. Lessons the Holy Spirit would have for us
A. We have been very blessed and God has been very gracious to us
1. Building usually goes on at a time of peace
a) I want us all to remain at peace in the process in building
b) We need to soak everything in prayer
2. We can not let the pleasures of the “house of cedar” shut out the condition of the spiritual kingdom
B. We have a desire to “build a house” for the Lord
1. It is a very Good desire
2. A noble purpose
3. Who are we to do it….
4. We need to stay humble in the process
a) The king of the cedar palace went to the hot desert tent sat on the ground in a lowly posture to seek the Lord
5. David made preparation for the house to be built he saved for it
a) Us too
C. We need to seek the Lord
1. Calm reflection, we need to dwell in His presence and look to what God has done and see if the spark is in us to do more?
2. We need to hear His voice and not our own
3. If after some time we see this move is or was a mistake,
a) We need to admit it
b) And return to what God has for us
c) Bldg’s are not the issues presences is
4. When we have heard our own voice and not God’s
a) We need to be humble to correct it
D. God is not demanding a bldg
1. There seemed to be an in congruency between the nature of the occupant and the frailty and transitoriness of the “tent of meeting” or dwelling-place
a) This proposed move is no different
b) The goal is to reach more people ……not a bldg program
2. Spiritual instinct led David to feel that the tent was not suited as the abode in perpetuity of the eternal, unchangeable God
3. God is demanding we dwell with Him….. and Him with us
4. We need to make sure we have never arrived in our hearts
E. It is God’s work to establish us
1. We are to be faithful
2. We are to look for opportunity to advance the kingdom of God and for manifesting our devotion to His kingdom vision of expansion
F. If our heart is to Build God a place of Worship
1. God will covenant to enlarge our house
2. If we heard right, and God blesses us more
a) It will lead us to a further point of our consecration to God
b) It will draw out of us a trustful dependence on God
3. God always blends the temporal with the eternal to capture a generation
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.