Honoring God
David Honors God
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)
Building God's House
2 Samuel 7:1-5,11 New International Version
God’s Promise to David
7 After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:
5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’
“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you:
For Reflection
All during the time that the Israelites wandered, God was with them. God did not occupy a dwelling. God doesn't need a house, but we do. God has established a place on this Earth for us and a place in the after-life. The houses of God that we have built are places for us that become symbols and artifacts of remembrance of who we are, Children of God. They focus our worship. They provide a place for fellowship, support, and sanctuary. They are the place we go to renew our spirit.
Pray
Pray, so that your church is not just a place for confession and renewal of your commitment to God. Pray, so the church becomes a place where we go not for forgiveness but to be reminded that we have been forgiven.
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