Hope in the Promise
1 Kings 1:17-19 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’
In 2 Samuel 7 we find David in the early years of His reign has already brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem with a great display of rejoicing and solemnity. Now David confides in Nathan the prophet, about his desire to build a temple of glory to God. Nathan sees it as a good thing and encourages David to move forward. However, God steps in and speaks to Nathan in a vision and tells him that David is not to be the one who will build the temple. He is a man of war and God is seeking a man of peace to be the builder. God has chosen David’s son to be the builder. God promises to establish David’s throne and the throne of His son.
2 sam 7:16 “And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.”
This promise made to David was full of hope, mercy and grace. This promise was made to David early in his reign. He had not yet sinned his great sin with Bathsheba. Solomon, the child of David and Bathsheba was not yet even conceived for at this time Bathsheba is still the wife of one of David’s great mighty men, Uriah the Hittite.
I look in awe and amazement. God knows the future...He knows David is soon to fall into a great sin that is going to bring much pain, heart ache, and brokenness not just to himself but to his entire family, the family of Bathsheba and the family of Uriah and to the nation of Israel. God is making a promise to David before David becomes a scheming murderer and a betrayer of a loyal and noble friend. God is making a promise before lust is conceived in his heart and bares the fruit of adultery. God is making a promise before David becomes a liar and leads a life of deception. God sees all of this yet God’s mercy and grace will be extended to David. God’s forgiveness will be given to him. His mercy will be so great towards David that even the child of this marriage will be the one to fulfil the dream and the desire of David’s heart.
It reminds me of this verse in Rom 5:8
But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
What amazing and beautiful hope and love and mercy is presented in this verse. While I am in the midst of my sin...before I choose to do this sin...before I fall...God is there showing me His glorious other centred love as revealed at the cross. His love is drawing me despite the choices I make, despite falling. He presents love, hope, mercy and grace in such a glorious light. He isn’t there ready to cast me off as soon as I sin. He is there drawing...always drawing me to Himself with His love.
I think of David on the other side of his great sin...as he writes Ps 51 in deep repentance...in heart sobs and pain. Are the words of God’s promise filtering through in His mind? Does he remember that God has promised him that his own son will build the temple...does his mind recall the the blessing God poured out upon his family? Does he think about His humble response of awe at God’s love for Him and for His holy purpose and calling? His response to God’s promise must be ringing in his mind.
2 Sam 7 :25-29“Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. For You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.“And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
David’s heart is won. God’s love melts him. How amazing that God would make such a promise to Him and honour his family knowing what depths of sin David would fall into, while knowing who David truly was deep in his heart...a sinner in desperate need of a Saviour. The goodness of God breaks his heart and in deep repentance he prays.
Ps 51: 1-12
Have mercy upon me, O God,According to Your lovingkindness;According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak,And blameless when You judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness,That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
May the beauty and the glory of your love melt my heart today as I ponder the great and precious promises you have laid out before me as precious jewels despite my sinfulness and despite my choices. For your goodness leads me to repentance.
In 2 Samuel 7 we find David in the early years of His reign has already brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem with a great display of rejoicing and solemnity. Now David confides in Nathan the prophet, about his desire to build a temple of glory to God. Nathan sees it as a good thing and encourages David to move forward. However, God steps in and speaks to Nathan in a vision and tells him that David is not to be the one who will build the temple. He is a man of war and God is seeking a man of peace to be the builder. God has chosen David’s son to be the builder. God promises to establish David’s throne and the throne of His son.
2 sam 7:16 “And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.”
This promise made to David was full of hope, mercy and grace. This promise was made to David early in his reign. He had not yet sinned his great sin with Bathsheba. Solomon, the child of David and Bathsheba was not yet even conceived for at this time Bathsheba is still the wife of one of David’s great mighty men, Uriah the Hittite.
I look in awe and amazement. God knows the future...He knows David is soon to fall into a great sin that is going to bring much pain, heart ache, and brokenness not just to himself but to his entire family, the family of Bathsheba and the family of Uriah and to the nation of Israel. God is making a promise to David before David becomes a scheming murderer and a betrayer of a loyal and noble friend. God is making a promise before lust is conceived in his heart and bares the fruit of adultery. God is making a promise before David becomes a liar and leads a life of deception. God sees all of this yet God’s mercy and grace will be extended to David. God’s forgiveness will be given to him. His mercy will be so great towards David that even the child of this marriage will be the one to fulfil the dream and the desire of David’s heart.
It reminds me of this verse in Rom 5:8
But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
What amazing and beautiful hope and love and mercy is presented in this verse. While I am in the midst of my sin...before I choose to do this sin...before I fall...God is there showing me His glorious other centred love as revealed at the cross. His love is drawing me despite the choices I make, despite falling. He presents love, hope, mercy and grace in such a glorious light. He isn’t there ready to cast me off as soon as I sin. He is there drawing...always drawing me to Himself with His love.
I think of David on the other side of his great sin...as he writes Ps 51 in deep repentance...in heart sobs and pain. Are the words of God’s promise filtering through in His mind? Does he remember that God has promised him that his own son will build the temple...does his mind recall the the blessing God poured out upon his family? Does he think about His humble response of awe at God’s love for Him and for His holy purpose and calling? His response to God’s promise must be ringing in his mind.
2 Sam 7 :25-29“Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. For You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.“And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
David’s heart is won. God’s love melts him. How amazing that God would make such a promise to Him and honour his family knowing what depths of sin David would fall into, while knowing who David truly was deep in his heart...a sinner in desperate need of a Saviour. The goodness of God breaks his heart and in deep repentance he prays.
Ps 51: 1-12
Have mercy upon me, O God,According to Your lovingkindness;According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak,And blameless when You judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness,That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
May the beauty and the glory of your love melt my heart today as I ponder the great and precious promises you have laid out before me as precious jewels despite my sinfulness and despite my choices. For your goodness leads me to repentance.
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