Unit 11 / Session 3 — David, the Faithful King

INTRODUCTION

After David defeated Goliath, his status changed significantly. No longer a lowly shepherd, now he was a national hero. But David’s fame with Israel had a negative effect on his relationship with King Saul as he became the focus of Saul’s jealous paranoia and murderous rage. David then went from national hero to public enemy number one until the death of Saul. Only then was David sought out by the people to be king. From David’s anointing to being settled on his throne and at peace in his kingdom was about twenty-five years. But God’s purpose came true with more promises yet to come.

What’s the difference between being helpful and just being busy? (we are helpful when we are actually alleviating someone of a hardship; we’re busy when we’re simply active; sometimes we’re busy checking email or reorganizing a sock drawer without actually accomplishing anything; being helpful focuses on the needs of another person; being busy is trying to solve a problem that isn’t a problem)

TRANSITION: If you’re actively involved in a church, you’ve realized that there are many needs in a congregation and community. Many believers’ hands work together in order to be a light for Jesus where God has placed you. You may find yourself busy in church, but every now and then, it’s wise to stop and ask, “Am I really doing the things God has for me?” In today’s session, David makes a decision to be busy for God, but like us, he’ll realize that being busy is not always following God’s calling.

God promised that He would provide a king who would rule His people perfectly without end.

POINT #1: THE LORD’S KING SEEKS TO MAKE A HOUSE FOR GOD (2 Samuel 7:1-3)

2 Samuel 7:1–2 KJV 1900

1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies; 2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

As David solidified his sole rulership over all Israel, he arranged for the ark of God to be moved, with worship and sacrifice, to a tent in his capital in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6). With peace between his neighbors and no immediate challenge to the throne, David felt settled, rested.

In that calm, David must have turned his eyes to the ark, still in its nomadic tent. Perhaps David felt a twinge of guilt, sitting in a home constructed of wooden walls while the symbol of God’s presence was surrounded by mere fabric. Or maybe he thought building a permanent resting place for the ark in Jerusalem sounded like a fun project in that time of peace.

Whatever the thought process behind his plan, we know one thing for certain based on the rest of the narrative: it wasn’t God’s plan or timing. Though the idea was noble and God-honoring, it wasn’t God’s idea.

We, as believers, would be wise to remember that not every good thing is part of God’s plan. We may have the best of intentions and nothing but God’s glory in mind, but we also must remember that God’s thoughts and ways are not ours (Isa. 55:8). God is not simply looking for accolades, honor, or acknowledgment—He is looking for obedi- ence. And though sometimes His plans include a glorious building or a beautiful creation, they usually include acts of humility, service, and self-sacrifice as well.

Just because an idea is good doesn’t mean it aligns with God’s plan or timing. David rightly sought to honor God, but God determines how that should occur.

What are some steps we should follow when considering a work for the Lord? (we should seek the Lord’s direction through Bible study, prayer, solitude, fasting, worship, and other spiritual disciplines; we should presently be walking in obedience to God’s commands, serving, loving, forgiving, helping, and living sacrificially; we should seek wise counsel from other believers)

2 Samuel 7:3 KJV 1900

3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee.

David thought his idea was pretty good, and he made a wise next step: he ran it past Nathan the prophet. This is the first time Nathan enters the story of Israel, but it isn’t the last. We easily can see that Nathan was a mentor, a voice of God’s Spirit, and a close confidant to David.

But mentors aren’t flawless. Nathan thought the idea of David’s building a house for God in Jerusalem sounded like a good idea, and without consulting the Lord through prayer, he gave David the green light to proceed. David’s heart was in the right place, but apparently neither he nor Nathan had thought to ask God for His direction.

We need spiritual mentors in our lives, but they cannot take the place of a personal relationship with God.

What should a healthy Christian mentoring relationship look like? (mentors should not dictate another’s life but should walk alongside, sharing personal experiences, wisdom, and guidance; spiritual mentoring should focus on the Word of God and its study; mentors should encourage spiritual disciplines, accountability, prayer, and obedience to God)

TRANSITION: David thought he had a great idea, and Nathan agreed. But our good plans are not always in line with God’s great path. David’s desire was for God’s glory, and we’ll see in God’s response that God was pleased with David’s passion, even as He corrects David’s plan.

POINT #2: THE LORD’S KING IS PROMISED A HOUSE FROM GOD (2 Samuel 7:8-16)

2 Samuel 7:8–11 KJV 1900

8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: 9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. 10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, 11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

Though David had a good idea and Nathan agreed it was a good idea, neither man chose to check with the Lord— not a good idea. God came to Nathan that very night and set him on the right course (2 Sam. 7:4). But God reminded Nathan that He had not asked for a house, nor had He ever instructed anyone to build a permanent structure for Him (7:5-7). When God deter- mined a house was needed, then He would put someone on the job.

Because of the Lord’s commitment to David, God was going to make “a great name” for David. Not only that, but God would allow His people the blessing of settling down and resting under the rule of a king after God’s own heart. Like settling into a forever home, knowing you will never need to uproot your family, the comfort, security, and peace for Israel promised by God were not only a gracious blessing for David but would be given to his descendants as well.

ESSENTIAL DOCTRINE #16: God Is Faithful: God’s faithfulness means He keeps His word and always fulfills His promises (1 Cor. 1:9; 2 Tim. 2:13; 1 Pet. 4:19). God’s faithfulness is demonstrated in His fulfillment of the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The apostle Paul linked the attribute of “faithful” to God’s coming through on His word in 1 Thessalonians 5:24. We reflect God by keeping the promises we make to Him and to others.

What are some ways God has proven His faithfulness to you?

2 Samuel 7:11–16 (KJV 1900)

11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house. 12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 15 But my mercy (hesed) shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

How often do you consider God’s faithfulness to you? Better yet, how often do you demonstrate the overflowing khesed of God by being a faithful, merciful, gracious person? (As a group, consider some everyday acts of khesed you can incorporate both individually, as families, and corporately.)

As if the promises for peace and protection weren’t enough, God turned the tables on David: The Lord didn’t want David to build a house, a temple, for Him, but God would certainly build “a house” for David. The promise of this house had nothing to do with wood and stone but everything to do with dynasty and legacy.

God promised that David would have a son to sit upon the throne of Israel after him; this was the promise of a dynasty. But God also promised that this son would build the house for the Lord that David had dreamed of constructing.

On top of all those things, God would “establish the throne of his kingdom forever,” meaning the lineage of David’s royal descendants and his kingdom would not end.

But we know how the story goes: David’s descendants occupied the throne over all Israel for a few decades. But then, because of disobedience, the kingdom split, and David’s descendants ruled only over Judah once more before centuries of disobedience resulted in captivity and exile.

Did God fail to keep His promises? No. The sins of the kings after David and the people of Israel required that the Lord keep His promise to discipline His people. The throne and kingdom ceased for a time, but the line of David continued, even in exile.

God promised to build a house for David, meaning he would have a dynasty and legacy. The throne of David would cease for a time, but never God’s faithfulness, because the promise ultimately pointed to Jesus.

VOICES from THE CHURCH: “God’s chosen king, the one to whom he promised an enduring dynasty, had faults and occasionally needed divine humbling. God himself would have to provide a king who would have no faults.”–Michael Williams

POINT #3: THE LORD’S KING EXTOLS THE GRACE OF GOD (2 Samuel 7:18-24)

2 Samuel 7:18–21 (KJV 1900)

18 Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God? 20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant. 21 For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.

Upon hearing the Lord’s message from Nathan, King David went into the tent that housed the ark and sat in the Lord’s presence.

David’s response to God’s promise was humility expressed in prayer, seeing his sinful humanity in contrast to God’s power and grace.

What are some ways we see humility expressed in these verses? (a great compliment to our passage this morning is Psalm 139)

2 Samuel 7:22–24 KJV 1900

22 Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God.

David also responded with praise for God’s holiness and greatness. The same Lord who had chosen and rescued sinful Israel had chosen David to bless Israel and the world.

What are some of God’s great attributes and acts that should result in our praise? (God’s lovingkindness, grace, mercy, justice, faithfulness, holiness; God’s plan of redemption and salvation through Christ Jesus; God’s plan for a new heaven and earth; His plan for eternal life; God’s plan for my life; specific ways God has blessed in my life; God’s faithful discipline in my life)

VOICES from THE CHURCH: “In the hearts of the people is a groping, inarticulate conviction that if the right ruler would only come along, the world would be healed of all its wounds. Creation is headless and desperately searching for its head.” –Richard Lovelace

The grace God showed to Israel and David continues to this day under the perfect rule of King Jesus, David’s descendant. Through faith in our crucified and resur- rected Savior, believers share in this same identity—we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession” (1 Pet. 2:9). We have been forever redeemed from our sin through Jesus to make His name great as we testify to His power and grace in our lives.

MY RESPONSE:

HEAD:

Our loving, holy God has a perfect plan for all of His creation . It spans eternity past and future, bringing Him glory and honor as He reveals Himself . God’s perfect plan includes redemption, salvation, hope, and eternal promises.

What are some ways you will seek God’s plan in the small things of your daily life?

HEART:

When God chooses to make His presence known in our lives, we should respond with an overflow of worship.

What faithful and gracious actions from the Lord in your life will propel you to respond in humility and worship?

HANDS:

As the Lord reveals His intended work for you, take a step of faith and say yes to being a part of His kingdom on earth.

Where has God called you to work to reflect His kingdom plan, and how will you obey?