Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-11 (NRSV)
DEVOTIONAL:
This is an exciting time. Waiting in joyful hope, preparing for the coming of Jesus and all the rituals, meals and gatherings that come with it.
I find it easy to become engrossed with activities during the holiday season, trying to ensure that everything is just right. My desire to make the holiday time special and help take the burden of busyness of others begins to take over. If I’m not careful, I become a doing-machine with grandiose ideas working at a pace that is not sustainable.
In this Sripture passage, David wakes up with a brilliant idea – build the ark of God a house of cedar and replace the tent that had served as God’s dwelling for many years.
The desire I have to create the most special holiday for my family and David’s exuberant desire to please God both have something very crucial in common – neither are asked for or expected. Frankly, God has already outdone my efforts and David’s by preparing a place for us on this Earth and at the heavenly banquet.
The desire to go to great extremes to please others, or God, reminds me of a favorite prayer of mine. In this prayer Thomas Merton, a Catholic monk and prolific spiritual writer says, “The fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.”
The challenge I offer us today is rather than make promises to God, let us remember the promises God has made to us.
Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-11 (NRSV)
Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2the 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.” 3Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.”
4But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6I 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. 7Wherever 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?” 8Now 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; 9and 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. 10And 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, 11from 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.