God Says No

Introduction:

David was a man after God’s own heart. This is what God said about him. He was an adulterous, murdering man, but he was humble before God, and his life has a lot to show us. We see in David’s life that he was not always faithful, but God always was, and God always is!!!

David Desires to Build a House for God

2 Samuel 7:1–3 NLT

When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!” Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.”

David had this great hunger for God and the things of God.

Here we catch up the story that we’ve been telling over the last several weeks.

David has finally been able to bring the ark back from the Philistines and into Jerusalem.

The ark was the respresentative place that God abided.

The presence of the ark in Jersualem was a sign to the whole world that it was the center of the world and that God favored Israel.

Now God had given rest to Israel so David shifted his focus to wanting to honor God by building a place for his presence.

He looked around and saw that he was living in a grand palace but the ark was in a tent. Surely this isn’t right, David thought.

It is certainly a noble cause. Don’t you think?

Maybe, you have set out to do great things for God or are right now contemplating something.

Let’s look at God’s Response...

God’s Response

2 Samuel 7:4–7 NLT

But that same night the Lord said to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling. Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?” ’

Though David had imagined doing this great thing for God, God said, “No!”

Sometimes, we ask God to give us our dreams, and He says, “No!”

We love to hear from God when it lines up with everything we want, but when the answer doesn’t line up with our desires, we tend to shut God out.

FEEL FREE TO BE EXTEMPORANEOUS

Illustration:

I read this article the other day that gave four reasons why children need to hear “No.”

Coping Skills — When a child is unable to attain something they want, they typically feel upset and disappointed. These emotions can be big, loud, and uncomfortable for both of you, but they allow your child to learn how to become more comfortable coping with disappointment. Their young lives will be filled with many no's and they need to regulate themselves when they receive alternative and nonpreferred responses.

Boundries — From preschool to their first job, there will always be a teacher, coach, or supervisor they need to respect, follow, and listen to. Hearing "no" from a parent establishes that they are in charge. When a parent negotiates with a child, the dynamic becomes clouded, leaving the child to believe that they can supersede adult instructions if they want to. Although it may not appear this way, the security a child feels when they know their parents are the authority is what helps them feel safe.

Learning to Wait — Instant gratification at a young age can lead to entitlement and unrealistic expectations outside of the home. In the adult world, we know there are countless aspects of delayed gratification that require time, energy, and money before the results we want to see can come to fruition. When we give a child everything they want, we deny them the opportunity to learn that valuable lesson.

Safety — An adult's number one responsibility is to keep a child safe. If a child wants to do something that could hurt themselves or others, it's a parent's job to say "no." Their boundless imaginations and innocence are a treasure, but it's up to you to help them understand when an action or activity is endangering their safety.

David, experienced this no, but it wasn’t a bad thing. It just wasn’t going to happen the way David thought it was going to.

God sent Nathan to go tell David that he never asked for this. He wasn’t in need of anything that David could offer.

It reminds me of that song we sing:

God Alone —

You are not a God created by human hands,

You are not a God dependent on any mortal man.

You are not a God in need of anything we can give,

By your plan, that’s just the way it is

Sometimes we have this mentality that we are a gift to God and that thinking is so wrong!

God is not in need of anything at all. He is complete all in Himself.

When we set out to do something in the name of God, we must remember that He is the one who directs, not us.

God’s No Has Great Purpose

2 Samuel 7:8–16 (NLT)

“Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“ ‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’ ”

David wants to do something great for God, and God reminds David that He has done something great for David.

He took him from tending sheep and made him leader of Israel

God has been with him wherever he has gone

God destroyed all David’s enemies

Even now, God is promising to make David’s name great.

God said “No” but He also said “Yes”.

Maybe it could be better said, God said, “No” to your idea, but countered with “Let me tell you about my plan!”

Look at God’s “I will” statements:

I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on earth! (Done!, Check that one off!)

I will provide a homeland for my people, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. (Has that been done? Yes it has!)

I will give you rest from all your enemies.

he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! (Nathan speaking)

I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring,

I will make his kingdom strong.

I will secure his royal throne forever.

I will be his father, and he will be my son.

I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.

Here we get to see a great example of Biblical prophecy. There are two dimensions to it.

First we see that there was reference to something to take place then and...

Something to take place in the future.

God said No to David buidling a temple for Him, but also honored David by allowing his son, Solomon to do it.

David was interested in building God a house but God was interested in building David a house. That is exactly what he did.

The house of David or the Dynasty of David continued on.

God’s promise was fulfilled here but it didn’t stop there.

How many know that when God makes a promise, He keeps it?

God not only raised up Solomon to fulfill David’s dreams, but He fulfilled his promise because through that family line, our Lord and Savior was born.

Jesus is the promise that God made that we all need.

David had no idea what he wanted but God knew what he needed and he delivered, big time!

Lessons for Us

We may have good intentions but without God birthing those intentions, they are not worthwhile. Remember there a good things and then there are God things.

God doesn’t need you. If you are working for God’s approval, you can stop. He loves you with a love that none of us can fully comprehend. If you do anything, do it in response to what He has done!

God says “No” for a reason. When you first get saved, God says “yes” alot. But after you have served Him longer, He says “No.” Those times where He says “No” are meant to shape us and conform us into the image of His Son, Jesus. Be thankful for the “NO” it means God is workng on you!

God’s “No’s” lead to better “yes’s” — don’t go crying when He turns down your dreams and desires, He has a better plan. Sometimes you get to see it come to pass, but you can always trust that He will bring it to pass.

God is faithful! He was faithful to David even when he wasn’t. God is faithful to us as well. His plans and purposes will be fulfilled.

I wouldn’t be faithful if I didn’t remind you that God said no to Jesus. It was in the garden of Gethsemene, days before Jesus would be crucified that he asked God to take away the cup of suffering. God did not do that. He said, “NO.” Because He said no, His anger toward sin has been satisfied. You and I can come to God and have our relationship restored through Jesus. His blood has made us right with God.

I for one am so thankful that God told me no on many of the things that I asked for.

He had a better plan for David

He had a better plan for the whole world

He has a better plan for you and me

Will you surrender to His will today?

Stand with me please?

The first step is to surrender to Jesus. He is the only way to make it to heaven and He is the only way to please God.

Surrender your ideas to His.

Surrener your will to His will.