WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
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For
Sunday December 15, 2019
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DAVID’S HOUSE
(The LORD’s Covenant promise to David)
(1 Chronicles 17)
1 Chronicles 17 stands as
one of the most pivotal chapters in all of biblical history. Here in these
passages, GOD promises to King David are viewed as a “Covenant commitment” that
has the same history-shaping force as HIS ancient Covenant commitment with Abraham.
In fact, this “Davidic Covenant” can even be viewed as “a continuation” of the
“Abrahamic Covenant”.
Like the Abrahamic Covenant, this Davidic
Covenant contains several built-in elements. First of all, it promises that
David would be a great king. Secondly, it promises that GOD would provide a
secure place for HIS people, “Israel”, and subdue all of their enemies. And
finally, it promises to continue “the Davidic Line of Kings” forever, and that
David’s son (Solomon) would build, “an earthly home” for HIM, and also that “HIS
SON” (JESUS), would build “an eternal kingdom” for HIM, and would exercise an
everlasting rule.
After David had completed construction of
his great cedar palace, he was struck by the great disparity between the place
where he lived, and the place of residence he had erected for “the Ark of the
Covenant of GOD” in the tent below. And while he had certainly shown his
dedication to GOD by bringing the Ark to Jerusalem and setting up a place of
worship for HIS people, David was bothered by the thought that his place of
residence was far more lavishing than that of the GOD he worshipped and adored.
And so, David calls on Nathan the prophet (instead
of calling on GOD HIMSELF), for advice on what he should do to improve and
elevate the place of the LORD GOD of Israel (how soon we forget our lessons
learned in suffering due to our insufficient use of our faith relationship with
the LORD). David wanted to build an even more lavishing place for the Ark of
GOD, where the people could come to worship HIM.
Fortunately, “GOD knows our hearts” and HE
would later reward King David for HIS sincere thoughts and desires toward HIM. However,
before we make any move or decision in life, no matter how good our intentions
are, we should always, first, go to the LORD for consultation in prayer.
If we will remember, David had just gotten
himself in trouble a few months earlier by consulting others, instead of GOD,
regarding the movement of the Ark to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 13). And even
though this time he did go to the prophet of GOD for advice, David’s personal relationship
with the LORD should have given him the confidence he needed to go directly to
GOD for consultation on this matter. Nathan, also without consulting GOD first,
instructed David to “Go ahead with what you have in mind, for GOD is with
you” (v.2) (NLT).
However, that same night, perhaps in a
dream, GOD came to the prophet Nathan and gave him a prophesy of a dynasty that
would begin with David’s son Solomon, and never end, with HIS OWN SON, CHRIST
JESUS, as ruler forever. HE instructed Nathan to go and tell this to David “And
now I declare that the LORD will build a house for you----a dynasty of kings! For
when you die, I will raise up one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom
strong. He is the one who will build a house---a temple for ME. And I will
establish his throne forever. I will be HIS FATHER, and HE will be MY SON. I will
not take MY unfailing love from HIM as I took it from Saul, who ruled before
you. I will establish HIM over MY dynasty and MY Kingdom for all time, and HIS
throne will be secure forever”.
After Nathan had delivered GOD’s message to
David, David went into the tabernacle (tent) and sat before GOD and prayed his,
now well-known, Prayer of Thanksgiving (Vs.16-27, and also 2 Samuel 7:18-29). Here
David shows utter amazement at the evidence of GOD’s love for him. There he blesses
GOD and thanks HIM for HIS goodness, and then, he asks GOD to use HIS power to
do what HE had promised.
This event, following so closely behind the
event of David’s moving of the Ark to Jerusalem and setting up daily worship,
emphasizes the close relationship between “worship” and “blessings”. Those, who
serve GOD wholeheartedly, can expect HIM to, not only bless them, but also, to
send CHRIST JESUS into their lives with “the eternal blessings” of HIS perpetual
presence. And the more faithful the worship, the sooner the times of joy begin.
Doing “GOD’s Will”, on a daily basis, and
building “a spiritual temple of worship” (personal relationship of friendship
with GOD) within us, is far more important than building “a physical temple” to
worship in. David’s attitude toward prayer stands as an excellent example of
how we should respond to GOD on a regular basis.
This prayer displays to us, two distinct
qualities, which we must be able to earnestly exhibit in order to receive “GOD’s
favor”. First of all, like David, we must be humble, despite our successes in
life, acknowledging that we deserve nothing that GOD has ever given us (v.16). And
secondly, we must have complete confidence in GOD that HE will deliver that
which HE has promised us, good of bad (Vs.20-27).
A
Sunday school lesson by,
Larry
D. Alexander
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
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