Focal Passages: 2 Samuel
7:1-7, 11b-16, 18-21
King David’s intentions were
good. “After the king was settled in his palace … he said … ‘Here I am, living
in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent’” (v. 1, NIV).
David finally had a place he
could call home — so his natural inclination was to build a house for God’s
presence to dwell in.
There was one small problem
with David’s plan.
He had failed to ask God for
His opinion on the matter.
David could almost see the
finished product, but he had started making plans without consulting the one
person who mattered the most — God.
David later explained, “I
had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the
covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build
it.
“But God said to me, ‘You
are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed
blood’” (1 Chr. 28:2-3, NIV).
Two phrases in this passage
from 1 Chronicles hold the key to focusing on God’s will and purpose for our
lives:
- “I made plans…”
- “But God said to me…”
David really wanted to
please and honor God.
However, we cannot please
and honor God by doing things our way.
We must listen to His voice
and follow His leading.
“For my thoughts are not
your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens
are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts
than your thoughts” (Is. 55:8-9, RSV).
Our ultimate goal in life
should be to bring honor and glory to God in all that we say, in all that we
do, and in all that we are.
Our agenda should be to
align ourselves with God’s purposes — not to make our plans and then ask God to
bless them.
God had great plans for King
David.
He promised David that his
son would “build a house for My Name” (v. 13, NIV).
He also promised, “Your
house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be
established forever” (v. 16, NIV).
God had great plans for King
David, and He has great plans for you, too.
- Stay in the Word.
- Go to God in prayer.
- Trust Him in all things.
- Focus on His purposes for
your life and you will be blessed:
- Psalm 57:2;
- Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:1-3;
- Jeremiah 29:11;
- Romans 8:28; and
- Ephesians 2:10.