Thought for July 22nd. “I HAVE BEEN WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU WENT”

The Bible Channel - Discover the Bible. (By Christadelphianvideo.org)

Today’s reading in 2 Samuel 7 is one that many know well: it is one of the most significant in the Old Testament. King David’s love for God and his relationship with God has reached its highest point. It suddenly comes into his mind that he should build a Temple for his God, where God can be worshipped in a truly holy setting.

The prophet Nathan tells him to go ahead, “do all that is in your heart” [v.3], but “the same night the word of the LORD comes to Nathan” [v.4] and among the many things he is told to tell David is “I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off your enemies from before you. And will make of you a great name … “ [v.9]

This remarkable promise is then enlarged, “Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled … I will raise up your offspring after you … and I will establish his kingdom … and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.” [v.11-13]. There are short and long term promises in these words, indeed, an everlasting promise. Solomon fulfils the short term promise of a son and he is also the one to build the physical house, the Temple in Jerusalem.

David is overwhelmed by the long term vision that is opened up to his mind. He “went in and sat before the LORD (in the tabernacle) and says, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come … you have brought about this greatness, to make your servant know it.” [v.19,21]

The first words in the Gospel of Matthew are “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David … “ As with David, God was with the Lord Jesus wherever he went. Remember his personal prayer, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me …” [John 11 v.41,42]

Those who belong to Christ and truly live with that realization have the same blessing, “so that we might live through him” [1 John 4 v.9] and he will be with us wherever we go! But the promise refers to far more than this life. Peter, preaching on the day of Pentecost, quotes David’s Psalm, “you have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.” [Acts 2 v.28] Imagine that, the time when those to whom God counts their faith as righteousness, as he did with Abraham (read Romans 4 v.22-24), will become “equal to angels, being sons (and daughters) of the resurrection” [Luke 20 v.36] Can we experience some of David’s wonder as “he went in and sat before the LORD.” ? May he be with us wherever we go, today and always.