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Scripture Text (NRSV)

 

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

 

7:1 Now when the king was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him,

7:2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent."

7:3 Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the LORD is with you."

7:4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan:

7:5 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in?

7:6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle.

7:7 Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"

7:8 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel;

7:9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.

7:10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly,

7:11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.

7:16 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

 

Comments:

 

Perhaps this passage speaks to us about putting God in a box of our own construction instead of letting God work through us to do his will. We are more comfortable creating God in our own image rather than opening our hearts and mind to let God pour into us God's Holy Spirit and allowing God to reveal God's self to us. It is not our job to plant God somewhere, it is God's will to keep us rooted in order that we might glorify God. PastorMAC in MA


Pastor Mac, sounds as if you are leading up to that classic, "Your God Is Too Small" It is a wonderful little book that might give you some fleshing out for these early thoughts. Pastor G


Good thoughts Pastor Mac. The passage seems to bring about thoughts of "getting ahead" of God and/or forgetting the diety of God for me. The passage plainly states that this was a time of respite for David. All his enemies were quiet and he was in his house basking in the belssings that God provided.

At times like this, some may be tempted to do something great to honor God when in reality all He desires is a steadfast FOLLOWING of His will. I find it interseting that Nathan was sucked rather easily into David's ego trip. Perhaps that aspect is an avenue to more exegetical work and consideration.

These are just some off-the-cuff thoughts after a brief first-time reading. Hope they help.

Pastor David In AL


Instead of David building a house (temple) for the Lord, the Lord promises to establish David's house (dynasty) forever. Centuries later, after the Babylonian exile, no king sat on the throne. Even then, however, the people of Israel remembered this promise and continued to hope for a king, the messiah, the Lord's anointed


Rather than accepting a period of rest (as pastor david mentioned), King david is eager to do something more, a new project, keeping busy, scratching something off of the old to-do list. Sounds like most of our church members.

Too busy = stress. And how does stress affect us physically... higher blood pressure, headaches maybe, shallow breathing... breathing... breath... breath=spirit=pnuema in the greek... so stress squelches our breathing / stress squelches the Spirit.

So Christians must find a way to manage stress in order to make room for the Spirit.

-Chap Kendra


Some of the commentaries mention the "edifice complex", that tendency to get too wrapped up in the building in which the church meets. I'm wondering what other things receive too much of our energy, perhaps because they're simpler or more easily quantified than our relationship with God and other people. Certain types of stewardship campaigns, perhaps? In our church, we have a controversy over the wearing of choir robes -- or not. What else distracts us from the work of love, and minimizes our estimation of God? MTSOfan


I want to stay positive this week, as I tried to be last week - the loss of one of our members has the whole church grieving. Losing him is just the tip of the iceberg.

That said, I'm planning on pairing this up with the Ephesians text and talking about the movement from seeing God as residing in a place such as an ark or a temple, into becoming flesh in Jesus, then dwelling in all Christians.

God is asking for a place to live! What he wants most is to live in our hearts. Corny, simple, and plain.

I'm thinking of finding cedar chips or blocks to hand out as symbols of our being God's new home, or to somehow "scent" the sanctuary with cedar. Any ideas?

Sally in GA


Sally I like your idea of staying positive. But it can be hard, for we have practiced prophetic preaching as showing who was wrong. I like the idea of seeing this passage as God getting through to David and Nathan, even though it took time. They got it. The same as we get it. I'm glad God is patient with us. I'll keep your congregation in my prayers (that goes for you too.) No matter how you do it. With or without the scent of Cedar, it will be effective.

Shalom, pasthersyl


I'm wondering if Nathan's going along with David is similar to our nations leaders going along with our President regarding Iraq?

DGinNYC


[]If asked why God did not want David to build a Temple, I would have said it was because Daivd had too much blood on his hands. While that's true, it's not the answer given here. Here, what David has done or not done is of no consequence. The only thing that's relevant is God.

[]On the Gospel board they are talking about the disciples seeking rest as Jesus tirelessly ministers to the people. Notice how this passage begins and ends with God giving Israel a rest, while God is always active, always on the move. The danger for both David and the discples is still ours: we forget why we are resting.

DSS


Wonderful thoughts this week. thank you all.

I've titled my sermon: Don't Fence Me In - How God is so much bigger than our imaginations, yet we try to Fence God in so often. (just like David in this passage.) A colleague just informed me that in her dissertation on Church Growth, she found that one of the top reasons for churches to grow is passionate leadership and preaching on the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I think this passage ties to both. David is passionate, but is he for the right reasons. God puts David back on track and reminds David that God is always in charge.

Thank you Sally for your thoughts on the cedar chips. If you figure out a way to make the church smell, please let me know. On a personal note, my grandfather had cedar chips all over his house and he always smelled that way. To me, i miss his smell. Cedar chips are warm adn comforting and quite parental. (also a good image for God.)

Jen in PA