God’s Greatest Gift

Introduction

Christmas has been growing on me especially as I consider that the celebration of Easter is somewhat illogical without Christmas. Jesus could not resurrect unless He had first died, and He had to be born in order to die.

I have also observed the nuances of people around this holiday, especially those closest to me. I have seen and participated in the tradition of gift giving and despite the commercialization of this endeavor I have detected God in all of it. I have come to see under careful observation that gifts themselves reveal something about the giver. (examples: Joy, Sarai)

Gifts often meet deep needs, or come at great cost, or they convey emotional ties, emotional value.

Sometimes gift meets needs that the receiver does not perceive as a need but the giver is not as concerned with the emotions of the receiver as they are concern in meeting real needs, regardless of the receiver’s perception. (example, mother).

God is the greatest gift giver of all. He has the best combination of abilities which makes Him the ultimate giver. He is thoughtful because of his unlimited wisdom and He has unlimited resources.

His gift reveals His perfect love, His wisdom and care for us.

At Christmas, we celebrate the greatest gift: God’s Son, Jesus Christ, given to save us and be with us.

In 2 Samuel 7, God reveals His heart and His faithfulness through a promise to David.

This promise is not just about David’s reign; it’s about a coming eternal King whose throne will endure forever.

This King is Jesus, God’s ultimate gift to His people, fulfilling every promise and expressing His abiding presence.

2 Samuel 7:1–11 (LSB)

1 Now it happened when the king inhabited his house, and Yahweh had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,

2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I inhabit a house of cedar, but the ark of God inhabits tent curtains.”

3 So Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for Yahweh is with you.”

4 Now it happened in the same night, that the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, saying,

5 “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Are you the one who would build Me a house to inhabit?

6 “For I have not inhabited a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been going about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.

7 “Wherever I have gone about 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?’”’

8 “So now, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.

9 “And 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 name of the great men who are on the earth.

10 “And I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and not be disturbed again; and the unrighteous will not 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. Yahweh also declares to you that Yahweh will make a house for you.

2 Samuel 7:16 (LSB)

16 “And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”

David has come into a time of rest after defeating his enemies. Long years of war against neighboring countries. Now David has conquered all of the nations around Israel. David sits in his palace and realizes that while he lives in a house of cedar, the ark of God still resides in a tent (the tabernacle).

His thoughts turned to the idea of building a more permanent structure in which the Lord could reside among His people. The tent, he felt, was no longer suitable, especially in comparison with his own elaborate palace. David is full of zeal for God and desires to build a house of God who has been good to him.

An idea that seemed right to Nathan as well. But this was the prophet’s opinion and not the Word of God. Good intentions or not, this was not part of God’s plan.

This is a bona fide prophet and he was caught-up on his own opinion. There was nothing written in the law up to that point that signaled that building a temple for God was wrong. It was not wrong for David or Nathan to desire to do this, It was not even wrong for him actually do it, the problem was the assumption that God had so decreed it. But it is looking forward, it is impossible to tell the difference between what you want and what God has actually decreed outside of the Scriptures.

Now, Nathan did not give a false prediction, Nathan told David to go ahead because “Yahweh was with him” that part was absolutely true. That was the reason for the assumption, because there was no denying that Yahweh was with David.

That very night God sets the record straight. God has Nathan put on his prophetic garments if you will. Is like a doctor who is at home with his family just doing regular guy stuff and gets a call. He drops everything and puts on his lab coat and assumes his official role. The formula that makes it all official used some 200 times in the OT is used here:

2 Samuel 7:5–7 (LSB)

5 “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Are you the one who would build Me a house to inhabit?

6 “For I have not inhabited a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been going about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.

7 “Wherever I have gone about 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 response to David is surprising. Grand temples have been built around the world to worship different gods. Traces of some of those temples remain to show us how massive an undertaking those building projects would have been

David’s proposal, not David was rejected, later on we find out why which had to do with David’s position as a soldier and the symbolism of the house or temple would be broken if David is the one to do it. We know that it is Salomon who does this project.

God’s words on verse 6 should melt your heart. Like when you open a very thoughtful present from someone who means the world to you. [read vv.6 again]

This words mean I have been with my people all this time. wherever they go, I go. The gift of God’s presence in every aspect of your life is one of the most endearing gifts God could give.

At some point David himself understood this gift.

Psalm 139:9–10 (LSB)

9 If I lift up the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.

The hymn writer reflected this reality in the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” in the lines… “pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide.”

But there is even more significance to the tent dwelling. 1. In David’s mind, it would be only fitting to ensure that the Lord Almighty be honored in the same way all other people honored their gods.

But God revealed to David that God chose to dwell among his people in the simplest of dwellings (vv. 5–7). In the same way Christ would be born in a simple stable, grow up in a simple carpenter’s home, and spend his ministry years as a nomad, traveling about Israel, living among his people and showing his love and care for them.

John 1:14 (LSB)

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The phrase "made his dwelling" can be translated as "tabernacled" (from the Greek skenoo, meaning "to pitch a tent")

Revelation 21:3 (LSB)

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

So God stresses to David, I have been doing this like this for 400 years and never did I rebuke any of the leaders of Israel saying “why haven’t you built me a house or temple.

In fact, instead of you doing something for me, I will do something for you but first, I need for you to connect the dots.. so here goes the prophetic formula again,

2 Samuel 7:8–9 (LSB)

8 “So now, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.

Interact with the passage

9 “And 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 name of the great men who are on the earth.

God adds to his Holy Name a title: sā•bā translated as Almighty or Hosts, Heavenly Armies. God is about to remind David of who he has been who he is before telling him who he will be. Basically, I took you from following sheep around to leading the sheep.

At the same time, reminding David of who God is, in relation to who David, has been, is, and will be.

In today’s culture this is interpreted as you are throwing stuff in my face. But that is not the intent. It is meant a means to foster gratitude helping David connect the dots, God helps David see what God’s intentions and plans have been all along and how they are consistent with what He intends to do in future. Connecting the dots of the God’s past actions, His continual presence in the present, and the promises of the future reveal the gift of His stedfast faithfulness.

He is saying to David, look at what I have done, what I am doing, in that I have given you rest from all of your troubles take that to the bank confident in what I say I will do for you.

2 Samuel 7:10–11 (LSB)

10 “And I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and not be disturbed again; and the unrighteous will not 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. Yahweh also declares to you that Yahweh will make a house for you.

No, you cannot build a house for me but I will build one for you. You have to understand what that would mean to a an middle eastern iron age monarch. That his dynasty would be long lasting was the end goal of every kingdom, every king. To secure his kingdom for his children is everything. But long lasting and forever a two different things. God makes an incredible covenant with David.

2 Samuel 7:16 (LSB)

16 “And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”

The psalmist recalls this covenant when he writes:

Psalm 89:1–4 (LSB)

1 I will sing of the lovingkindnesses of Yahweh forever; From generation to generation I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.

2 For I have said, “Lovingkindness will be built up forever; In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.”

3 “I have cut a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant,

4 I will establish your seed forever And build up your throne from generation to generation.” Selah.

Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness and sin, which would result in a time of exile and continued occupation of the land, the psalmist sings over God’s enduring love. “That love is constant, as promised and confirmed in the covenant. His commitment to David is guaranteed by God’s rule over ‘heaven.’

This isn’t just about an earthly kingdom; it points forward to a forever King—Jesus Christ, who will reign eternally.

God’s promise to David is undeserved and unexpected. It reflects God’s grace.This covenant is not conditional on David’s performance but is upheld by God’s faithfulness (Psalm 89:3–4).It reminds us that God’s greatest gifts flow out of His character—His love, mercy, and desire to dwell with His people.

The “house” and “kingdom” promised to David find fulfillment in Jesus Christ.Jesus is the forever King who reigns on David’s throne. Centuries later look what happens.

Luke 1:30-33(LSB)

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,

33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of His kingdom.”

Mary recognizes the promises as the ones she had heard and studied since she could understand plain Aramaic. Her response is one of acceptance:

Luke 1:46–47 (LSB)

46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

Luke 1:54–55 (LSB)

54 “He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy,

55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his seed forever.”

Jesus is the culmination of God’s plan of redemption, bringing love, salvation, and eternal reign.

God’s greatest gift isn’t just about a far-off future; it is also about His presence with us now.

Jesus, “Emmanuel,” means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).Through Christ, God is present in the comings and goings of our daily lives.

Romans 16:25–27 (LSB)

25 Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,

26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the Gentiles, leading to obedience of faith;

27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

The gift of Jesus Christ is not only about securing our eternity but about transforming our present. As Emmanuel, "God with us," Jesus invites us to experience His love and presence in the everyday moments of life, reminding us that we are never alone.

Through these 4 weeks we have seen through the historical pages of Scripture hope, peace, joy, and now love all culminating in one person and one person alone “Jesus”

As little children we would dream of Christmas morn Of all the gifts and toys we knew we'd find But we never realized a baby born one blessed night Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We were the reason that He gave His life We were the reason that He suffered and died To a world that was lost, He gave all He could give To show us the reason to live