Scripture:
“When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, ‘I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!’
Nathan replied to the king, ‘Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.’
But that same night the Lord said to Nathan, ‘Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling. Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?”’
‘Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!…For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever’.” 2 Samuel 7:1-9, 12-16 (NLT)
Perspective:
King David had a challenging path to his kingship. His predecessor tried to kill him, which left him continually on the run. He was also a warrior and led the Israelites to many victories. Yet, there came a point when the Lord gave him peace from his enemies. In that time of rest, David began to assess what else needed to be done. His next assignment was birthed out of that season of rest. David had in his heart to building a temple, but God directed his plans to prepare that project for his son. David’s desire was good, but the timing would be different than he had thought. Even though he did not build the temple for the Lord, his son, Solomon, would be the one who completed the task. As David approached the end of his life, he began making abundant preparations for Solomon in order for him to carry out this building project.Yet, the next path for David came in the pause.
It seems to be human nature to continually strive to know the future. We want to have each and every step figured out way before we need to take the step. Seasons that bring a pause to our striving and achieving can cause us to fret and worry. We start asking the question, “What’s next?” Yet, David’s life shows us that rest can actually be a launch pad not a lazy path. God’s next step for you may not come in the pressing. It may be revealed to you in the pause.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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About Hona Amer
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