Lesson 230 - Junior

Memory Verse

"Who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him?  Who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him" ([2CHR:2:6]).

Notes

Peace and Rest
The Lord had given David peace and rest from all his enemies. David had fought many battles but God was with him to deliver him.  The time came when all was at peace.  David sat comfortably and at ease in a house made of cedar.  No doubt he was thinking of the goodness of the Lord to him. David was king, and his land was at peace. If he had so chosen, he could have lived in luxury and ease.
David's life had not always been such. In his youth, as a shepherd, he had fought wild animals to protect his flock. When he grew older, Saul sought to take David's life. It was necessary for David to be ever on the watch. Sometimes he hid among rocks and caves, away from his own people, during which time he had many battles to fight. The Lord protected David, raised him up to be king, and gave him peace and rest. David could not have become king if the Lord had not done it for him. David gave God the credit for his success and his position. David said, "Thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me."

Something for the Lord
There was gratitude to God in David's heart. David wanted to do something for God, in appreciation. David thought of the good and com­ fortable house in which he lived. In his way or thinking, his house was much finer and more comfortable than even God's house of worship -- a tent in which the Ark of the Covenant had been placed. Through David's great desire to do something for the Lord, he had an ambition to build a house to the name of the Lord.
As we consider what God has done for us, do we not feel as David did, that we would like to do something for the Lord? Do we meditate on the words of the Psalmist:  "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?  I will take the cup of salvation, . . . I will pay my vows unto the LORD . . . I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD" (Psalm 116:12"18).  What can a child do for the Lord?  A child can be saved, and live for God.  A child can glorify God by consecrating his life.  A child can praise God and be thankful.  A child can pray. Let us prayerfully put our desire before God. He will show us what more we can do for Him. He can give us even more than we ask or expect, as He did for David.

Nathan, the Prophet
David talked to Nathan, who was the Prophet at that time. David felt that his house of wood was better than the tent curtains which surrounded the Ark of God. It is understood that David's house was magnificent for that time, being made wholly of a wood which was considered to be rare and valuable. But the tent around the Ark of the Lord was a temporary shelter.
Nathan noted that David's desire to do something for the Lord was a holy and worthy ambition. From Al appearances it seemed to be a good thing. In their zeal and eagerness they faded to ask God's consent in such a large undertaking. Nathan hastily gave his approval and encouragement. He told David to do whatever was in his heart.

God's Plan
God knew that David intentions were unselfish and for the glory of the Lord. God was not displeased nor did He punish David even though it was not God's will that a house of God should be built at this time. God did not permit David to be long in error. The Lord sent a message to David by Nathan, the same man who had encouraged him.
God did not send someone else nor even talk to David, lest there would be a misunderstanding God's work is carried on in an orderly manner. God does not tell one person one thing and give quite a different plan to another person concerning His will.
The Lord's message to David reminded him that God had "not dwelt in any house" but had "walked in a tent and in a tabernacle." God had never requested a house from the Children of Israel, nor did He need it. God takes more notice of a humble person who has the fear of God in his heart (Isaiah 66:2).

True Spirit of Worship
God is so great that there never could be a house big enough to contain all His Spirit. The earth is God's footstool, and Heaven is His throne (Isaiah 66:1). Even all the heavens cannot contain the great God of Israel (II Chronicles 2:6). "Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD" (Jeremiah 23:24). David's purpose was to build a better place where God's people could worship. David did not expect God to be inclosed and surrounded by a house in the same manner in which a man dwells in a house. David felt that no building, even though elaborate and expensive, would be too beautiful for the majesty of God.

A Christian today likes to see God's house well kept, with everything in order and in cleanliness. A Christian feels that the best equipment is not too good for the work of God. These things give better service in spreading the Gospel, and they speak to others of the love and reverence that God's people have in their hearts.
David did not decree that the Children of Israel should sacrifice in a certain place. God gave that command. The Tabernacle that God ordered the Children of Israel to build was movable. It was taken with them as they wandered in the wilderness. God had given them the land of Canaan, from which they need never move. As they established permanent homes, so David wanted a permanent church where they could make offerings and burn sacrifices unto God, a place where they could gather to worship the Lord.
It is pleasing to God that we today should worship together. We are reminded not to forsake "the assembling of ourselves together" (Hebrews 10:25). However, attending church is only one part of our service to God. The way in which we worship is another thing. Jesus told the woman of Samaria that true followers of the Lord worship Him in spirit and in truth.  "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Just as David planned the house of God for no other purpose  "save only to burn sacrifice before him" (II Chronicles 2:6), so we must worship God from the heart, truthfully and prayerfully -- not worship Him by an ornamented building or by outward appearances.

David's Work
God had advanced David to be ruler over His people. David had other work to do rather than build a house to the name of the Lord. As Psalmist, David wrote many verses and songs for the encouragement of the Children of Israel and of God's people down through the many years, and for our benefit. David was a man of war. There were many conquests to enlarge the borders of their land. During these wars, David had caused blood to be shed abundantly. Because David had shed much blood upon the earth in God's sight, he was not permitted to build the house as he desired (I Chronicles 22:81. However, God did say to David, "Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart" (I Kings 8:18).
David was given the privilege of designing the house of God. He gave to Solomon, his son, the pattern, which the Spirit of God had inspired David to plan (I Chronicles 28:11, 12). David also gathered many materials and gave of his own goods, to be used for God's house. Along with the patterns and the building materials, David gave to Solomon these words of advice: "And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind" (I Chronicles 28:9).

God's Promise
The Lord promised that David's son should build the house that David had wanted to build. God would reward the purpose in David's heart. As a father, God would reprove and correct David's son if he sinned, but God would not disinherit him. God's mercy would never depart from David's son so long as he obeyed God.
Moreover, the Lord would build David a house, and would establish David's kingdom forever. The family of David would always be on the throne of God's people. This favour was greater than to any other leader of the Children of Israel, even to Moses, to Joshua, or to any of the judges.
Saul had been the first king of the Children of Israel. Saul had turned away from God. He had disobeyed, and the kingdom was taken from him and from his sons. After Saul's death, David was king instead of one of Saul's sons. It was ordained by the will of God; and to David was given a promise that his family would have a clear title to the throne.

An Everlasting Kingdom
In God's message to David was a promise of an eternal kingdom --  one which would last forever. This promise referred in part to Solomon who in due time became king after his father David. In a greater sense this promise meant the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, of David's lineage who would "save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21), whose government shall have no end (Isaiah 9:7), and whose Kingdom shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:14). Before Jesus' birth, the angel told His mother that the Lord God would give unto her son "the throne of his father David."  "And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:32, 33). To the Apostle John on the isle of Patmos was given a vision of the future. He saw an angel, and heard the announce­ment: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 11:15).

David's Prayer
Nathan, the Prophet, delivered the message from the Lord to David that God had denied him the privilege of building a house to the name of the Lord. David accepted the word of God as final. David did not argue with Nathan nor did he try to bargain with God. He did not lament, and say that he was held back. He did not go ahead with his plans. David obeyed God. Humbly and reverently David went before the Lord in prayer.
In answer to God's message, David prayed his thanks. David gave credit to God, and spoke humbly of himself and of his merits. David said,  "Who am I, . . . that thou hast brought me hitherto?"  David was a man of honour; he was successful, and was useful to God. But he was humble be­fore the Lord, for David knew that he could never have reached such success without God. David said, "What is my house?"  "Thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come." What was David's house? The house of the royal family whom God had chosen!  David felt that God had honoured him in past blessings, and also in what God had promised to do in the future. God gave David even more than he had requested and expected.
David was willing to let God establish his family forever. Some people do not want to be what God wants them to be. Some people want to do as they please, whether it pleases God or not. But David's chief concern was for the glory of God and that God's name would be magnified.
David believed God. Never once, concerning this promise, did David doubt. His faith and hope were laid on the promises of God. The Lord's promises to David have not failed. None of God's promises have ever faded.

Questions

1. Describe David's house.
2. Why did David want to build a house for the Lord?
3. What message did God send David?
4. Who brought the message of God to David?
5. Why was David denied the privilege of building the Lord's house?
6. Who did build the house for the Lord?
7. How did David have a part in the preparation of the building?
8. What did God promise David?
9. Whose kingdom was prophesied at this time?
10. What was David's answer to God's message?