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Unexpected Blessings
(2 Samuel 7:1-17)
Yearly Theme: “Goodness is… Genuine”
Series Title: “Giant Slayer: A Man After GOD’s Own Heart”
April 28th, 2024

Something to think about:

As we close out our series today on King David in the Old Testament, we come to a passage that illustrates this theme of unexpected blessings perfectly. After many years on the run from King Saul, camping out in the countryside and wilderness, Saul finally dies on the battlefield thus leaving the throne of Israel vacated. David, who had been anointed as king nearly a decade and a half earlier by the prophet Samuel is now free to ascend the throne and take his rightful place in leadership over the people of Israel.

During a time of peace, David notices that the Ark of the Covenant (the golden box that contained the original tablets of the 10 commandments, Aaron’s staff, and a jar of manna, and the place where GOD came to dwell among His people is being stored in a “tent” (or the Tabernacle) while David lives in a royal palace. Convicted that this shouldn’t be the case, David consults the prophet Nathan about building a permanent resting place for the Ark, a Temple of great splendor. What we read in this passage is GOD’s response to this endeavor:

David could not build for GOD what GOD desired to build for him: an everlasting household of kingship and royalty.

Key Point: “When the LORD Builds a home, it lasts forever.”

What can we learn about the nature of GOD from this short passage? Let’s take a closer look:

· GOD doesn’t ______________ an earthly ______________ place.

2 Samuel 7:5-6 (NLT), 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? 6 I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day.

· GOD ______________ to provide a ______________ for us.

2 Samuel 7:9 (NLT), I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!

· GOD ______________ us in ______________ ways.

2 Samuel 7:16 (NLT), “Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.”

Something to take home:

In the book entitled Context, Mary Marty retells a parable from the “Eye of the Needle” newsletter. She writes,

What prompted David to build a house for God to dwell? What do we learn about David from his desire to build a house for the Lord?

In verses 6-7 we learn about God’s presence with the people of Israel—from the day of their deliverance from the land of Egypt, and throughout their wilderness experience. What can we understand about God’s character from these verses?

From this passage what do we learn about the nature of the kingdom of God? Who according to you is capable of establishing the kingdom of God?

This passage reveals to us the nature of our own hearts, particularly when it comes to the motivation of our efforts for God’s kingdom.

In what ways have you struggled to understand the role of your own efforts in the kingdom of God?

If only God can ultimately build and establish his kingdom, how do we as Christians seek the kingdom of God?

How would you describe the already but not yet nature of God’s kingdom that characterizes our life on earth?

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