Desire, Promises, Praise, and Fidelity
- Justin Ray
- May 8, 2020
- 5 min read
I Chronicles 17-19
A couple of days ago, I shared a story about my team standing beside a member who was targeted by our enemy. Today, we are looking at a similar situation. This time, it is not a person standing by another person, but rather God standing by his person (or people). The title is a good summary of our text today.
In chapter 17. David looks around and sees his house. I don't mean he looked at it, but that he really saw it. He admired his house. I am sure it was something to behold. Then, as he is admiring this great house, his focus shifted to the tabernacle. Here he was, living in this great house, and the Lord's "house" was a tent. All of a sudden, David had a DESIRE to build God a house.
He talked with the prophet Nathan about his desire. That was a great idea! If you want to do God's will, why not talk to someone who can help you discern if your desire is a good and Godly desire? Nathan told David to do what he wanted to do and God would bless him.
God spoke to Nathan that night and told him to tell David to pump the breaks. God told Nathan to tell David that he was content living and a tent, and had never asked for anything different. However, he would allow David's heir to build the Temple. He would also establish the Throne of David forever. Not only this, but God would subdue David's enemies. Wow! Those are great PROMISES!
The chapter ends with David praising God. I love his question, "Who am I?" I can think of four different songs that are based around that question, "Who am I?" David knew that he did not deserve these promises from God. He was a mere man and the God of Heaven wanted to bless him beyond what he could imagine. The same is true for us as well. The God of Heaven what to know us. He wants to bless us. He loves us. Who am I?
Chapters 18 and 19 are about God's FIDELITY. He was faithful to his promises. He did what he said he was going to do. In chapter 18, David defeated the Philistines, Moab, Zobah, Syria, Edom, Ammon, Amalek and made them all servants who paid tribute to Israel. Much of what was paid in tribute, and spoils of war, were used to prepare materials for the Temple that his son would build.
In chapter 19, the king of Ammon died. His son took the throne. Out of courtesy for the relationship that David had with the king of Ammon (after he defeated him in battle), David sent men to offer comfort to the son for his father's death. The new king's advisors told him that the men were actually come to spy out the land. The king believed them and mistreated the men. He shaved off half of their beards, and cut their robes off at the waist, exposing their buttocks. The men fled to a nearby city and word reached David of what had been done to them. David told the men to stay in the city until their beards grew back.
Realizing that David was upset with how he had treated his servants, the new king thought it wise to hire a mercenary army to help him fight Israel. Once David learned that Ammon had hired mercenaries, he sent the army of Israel to go fight them. The two armies attached the army of Israel from opposite sides. Joab took half the men and his brother took the other half. They agreed that if either one of them needed help, the other would come to his aid. That was unnecessary and the army of Israel routed the Ammonite and Syrian armies. God kept his promise to subdue David's enemies.
While not every desire we have is of God, when our hearts are in tune with Him, he will place desires in our heart so that we can serve Him.
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalm 37:4
David wrote that! When we delight in the LORD, he gives us the desires of our heart. There is two ways to take that. First, he literally gives us the desire. The very "desire" itself comes from God. Then, when we ask him to meet the desire, he gives us that too. This is being in the will of God. A man that desires to preach is given that desire from God. God then enables and will equip him to preach.
Since David delighted in God, God gave him the desire to build the Temple. Even tough David did not get to physically build the Temple, his son did. David, by way of his son, had his desire met. David was honored that God would do such with him.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
Ephesians 3:20
Not only did God give David the desires of his heart, but he did so much more. He promised to establish his throne forever. This will ultimately be accomplished by Jesus sitting on the throne of David. Also, God did not have to subdue David's enemies. He could have not been challenged by the enemies and lived in relative peace. However, by having conflict, David got to experience victory. You can never win if there is not a challenge.
There is one last thing that stuck out to me. God called the throne David's, but he called the kingdom His (God's).
But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore. I Chronicles 17:14
Now, I must admit, I believe the "his throne" is speaking of Jesus. I think what God is saying is that Jesus will reign over God's people for all eternity. However, he reminds David that the kingdom is his (God's). David knew this and wrote, "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein (Psalm 24:1).
We have to remember that as well. There are times it is ok to say "my church", but we must also remember that it is God's church. There are times it is ok to say "my ministry", but we must also remember that it is God's ministry. God wants to bless us, and he will. However, we must also always remember that it is all his anyway. When we remember that, we will truly delight in the Lord!
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