A pondering from this morning’s quiet time <3

In my devotions this morning I read a familiar passage about a time in King David’s life when God said a hard no. A merciful and generous “no” … but still… a hard one. 

Having taught multiple lessons from David’s life and from quite a few years of reading through the Bible plus sermons, teachings and devotional material about the life of David, the stories in 1 and 2 Samuel are never unfamiliar but always strike a new level of understanding with each visit. 

For context, the passage is found in 2 Samuel 7.

In summary, David is successful and realizes that he lives in a lovely home but God still has a tent to live in. He wants to make a beautiful permanent place for God to dwell and he tells Nathan, the prophet, his plan. 

Nathan agrees it is a fine idea but God speaks to Nathan that night. He tells the prophet that David is not the one to build the Temple. Nathan shares this news with David and David accepts God’s plan. 

God also tells him that not only is he not to build this Temple, but one of his descendants will build it. 

David’s response is to go and sit in the presence of the Lord and humbly express deep gratitude that God’s plan is thus to be. 

I know from the times I have read the Second book of Samuel that David will provide well for this son to build the Temple. I know that David will fall and fall hard before that time. I know that in a great mystery of God, the son who builds the Temple will be a product of David’s great sin. 

And I marvel at God. 

What He knows and how He works. 

I marvel at His grace and wisdom. 

I marvel at His capacity to forgive and restore. 

I marvel at His yes’s and His no’s. 

And I think of the beauty of David, sitting at His feet and instead of complaining or bargaining, just receiving that no and praising the God who knows it all and loves us still.