2002-01-01
Good Morning Faithful Ones,
In the course of our continuing examination of the events leading from David’s covenant with Saul’s son, Jonathan, much has happened to reveal to us God’s interaction with David, David’s faithfulness in keeping his end of the covenant, and the reordering of priorities that is so often necessary when people keep covenant promises with God. One of the most compelling parts of this story is what we see in getting a better understanding of David’s character. I know in my heart that God gives us this remarkably detailed picture, because He wants us to know what elements should be in our characters if we are to the kind of covenant keepers that He wants us to be. In the Jewish way of life, the covenant relationship between faithful people and God is a living, dynamic and always-present reality. Anyone who is “in-grafted” [see RO 11: 16-25-a Gentile who, since Paul’s time, has repented and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior] also will feel that same dynamic covenant relationship with God as his reality. This is due to the Covenant of Grace. David was as human as the rest of us, and we know that he had many very objectionable faults. But, his tenacity in seeing the decisions of his life as a part of a covenant relationship, his refusal to break that covenant even when sorely tempted, and his constant recognition of God’s presence in his life are not to be missed by us. God wants us to be directed by these things too. The patience, love, and compassion that God showed toward David is ours for the asking too.
1 SAM 7, a very important chapter in David’s life, opens with God’s prophet, Nathan, delivering a message to David. David was bothered by the fact that while he lived in a house, God was still living in a Tent (1). That night, the Lord spoke to Nathan and told him to deliver His message regarding His will to David on the matter of a Temple. 2 SAM 7: 5, “Go and tell my servant David that I say to him, ‘You are not the one to build a Temple for Me to live in.” Now if that seems to be a curious reaction to this idea, God goes on to explain by reminding David that He has taken David from being an ordinary shepherd to being king of Israel and will remain with him. It was He who saw to it that David won all his battles, and it was He Who would see to it that David was remembered as being famous for being one of the greatest leaders in the world. God’s will for Israel is that she should prosper and not be oppressed by her enemies (6-11). Then God makes an extraordinary covenant with David, one that has deep and abiding implications for us today and in our future. 2 SAM 7: 12-15, “When you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will make one of yours sons king and will keep his kingdom strong. He will be the one to build a temple for me, and I will make sure that his dynasty continues forever. I will be his Father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punished him as a father punishes his son. But I will not withdraw My support from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed so that you could be king. You will always have descendants, and I will make your kingdom last forever. Your dynasty will never end.” This is the Davidic Covenant.
The importance and blessing inherent in this Godly covenant promise was not lost on David and shouldn’t be lost on us. Not only was God giving a prophecy of Solomon’s life to David and indicating that Solomon was the one to build the Temple, He was telling David about a permanent Kingdom to be established and ruled by One of David’s Descendants! The use of capitals here is not a typo, as that Descendant is Jesus Christ Himself! David might not have understood all that we do about this, but he knew enough to recognize this promise as a major honor and a reason to be very thankful to God (18-24). One indication of the unity of God’s view of things and David’s is the statement David makes in (24). “You have made Israel Your own people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.” David also knew about praying boldly, something that came up many times in the Scriptures, especially in later years when during Paul’s time the Sanhedrin (Jewish ruling council) had ordered Peter and John not to pray in Christ’s name and was forced to release them as the people were insisting on this [AC 4: 18-31]. It is interesting to note that in AC 4: 25-26, the disciples cited PS 2: 1-2 written by none other than David. David knew that it was God Who gave him what he had, including the boldness to live by and speak openly about his faith. In fact, it is God Who gave him (and us) our very faith itself! That is a compelling reason why we each of us needs to be very thankful to God and to praise Him vigorously for His love and generosity toward us. David’s inner man is what God wants us to have.
There are a number of reasons why God chose not to have David build the Temple. That David was obedient enough to yield this task to his son, Solomon, only further reveals David’s humility before God. Trust, obedience, and humility before God are God’s ideals for each of us. David is given to us as an example of a person who kept his covenant promises. We must examine our own lives to see where we stand with regard to the issues of trust, obedience, and humility and make any changes necessary to conform to the standard God has set for us.
PRAYER: O Lord, David, John, and Peter lived at different times, but they were all good keepers of their covenant promises. Through their example, You show us the mechanism by which You empower us to be Your disciples. First we need to approach You in humble prayer, acknowledging Your leadership in our lives and superior perception to ours. Prior to that, we should have repented taking responsibility for our sins and come to faith in You. The second step is that You fill us with the Holy Spirit. That can’t happen until we have emptied our spiritual vessels of human agendas to make room for Him. David did this, which is why He earned Your esteem, and You were willing to trust him with the prophecies You gave him. When these two steps have been taken, then and only then can we take the third step, proclaiming Your teaching and Your will with boldness, even in the face of personal danger. We must recognize that it is You and You alone Who can grant us this ability. None of these three steps can be taken without our acknowledgment of Your supremacy, sovereignty, and constant loving presence in our lives. We must make Your plan our own. It is through the sacrifice of Your own Son that we have had the opportunity to be blessed with salvation and participation in the Covenant of Grace. The example of David’s life is allowing us to have a better understanding of what a covenant relationship entails. We offer You our utmost adoration, worship, loyalty, diligence, trust, obedience, glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving for inviting us to have a personal relationship with You. We dedicate ourselves to keeping our covenant agreements. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
All the while that God was making the Davidic covenant-that promise in 2 SAM 7: 12-15 that a Descendant of David’s will rule forever in God’s Kingdom, Mephibosheth, Saul’s son, was becoming a man. 2 SAM 8 also takes place following God’s remarkable promise, and then our examination of David’s life arrives at the place where we see the effect of David’s covenant relationship on Mephibosheth directly. I know I have been shamelessly teasing you for a long time now. When we finally get to see what happens, all the teasing and waiting for me to get around to this will be worth it. The power of God’s grace will be readily apparent, so be patient just a little more. In the meanwhile as we meditate on our personal covenant relationship with God, be ever reminded that each of us is surrounded by the warm glow of His love for us. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn