Aug 17

Bible 203: David Wants a Temple

2 Samuel 7:1-17

CATCHING UP

We are on trip back in time > walking alongside Children of Israel in their journey of faith

Two weeks ago David became king > last Sunday he brought ark to Jerusalem

Kingdom is secure; David is comfortably nestled all snug in his cedar palace;

But ark [the very presence of God] is out back in smelly tent

David begins to feel a twinge of guilt > says to himself

“Self, here you are comfortably nestled all snug in this cedar palace

and the Ark the very presence of God is out back in smelly tent.

That’s just not right!”

Part of his guilt came from his strong awareness that God was his power

And part from awareness of other customs

Kings of countries in that area during that time often resorted to “Temple-building”

It ensured favor from their gods (so they hoped)

Remember > Israel wanted to be like the other nations >

building temple for the gods was part and parcel of having a king

so it was quite natural for David to want a temple for his God

Here’s what happened > Read 2 Sam 7:1-17

WHAT THIS CHAPTER MEANS

This chapter is most important theological text in all Books of Samuel

Biggest change since God first told Abram and Sarai about the Promised Land

almost 1k years

For those thousand years > people did not have a safe place to live

And, more importantly, until this point God’s love was conditional

“If you obey my words, I will be your God” > i.e., I will love you IF you love me

Now God reveals unconditional love

“No matter what you or your children do, I will not withdraw my Spirit”

So now that they were secure > secure in the land and secure in God’s love

And question became “What will we do with God?”

Their answer [at least, David’s answer] was “We will now pay attention to God

“We will build a house for God to live in, too”

God’s response

But God didn’t think a house was such a good idea

Need to know that their word for house had same two meanings then that it does now

1. dwelling place > four walls and a roof

lineage > dynasty > family > reign

And God’s answer to David plays on both meanings

So these verses could mean three things:

1. You have promise a house [dwelling] for me; so I promise a house [lineage] for you

Interpreted > You do something nice for me; I’ll do something nice for you in return

2. You will not build a house [dwelling] for me; instead I will build a house [lineage] for you

Interpreted > I’m not interested in buildings; I’m interested in family

3. You will not build a house [dwelling] for me; your son will build that house [dwelling]

Interpreted > Thanks anyway, but now is not the right time. Solomon can build temple.

Actual meaning is obscure > each of these three has validity

My personal favorite is second one

More scriptural support to idea that God would rather have people treated fairly

than have a beautiful place to live apart from the people

Jesus said “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

John adds, “but the temple he had spoken of was his body.” John 2:19

“The Temple ” has been built twice and destroyed twice

destroying temple does not destroy God > God still lives in the people

So it follows that building a temple does not guarantee God will live in it

WHAT THIS CHAPTER MEANS TO US

I mentioned that this chapter is most significant chapter in Books of Samuel

Is this chapter as significant to us in our journey of faith as it was to Israel ?

First we need to ask whether or not we bear any resemblance to the Israelites

Are we like them? I think so! A little bit, anyway

After years of uncertainty > they were at last certain > secure

After some uncertainty > We are secure now > pretty secure, anyway

Sanctuary is stable > the piers seem to be doing their job

Gary reported that we received $245 more in offerings than we spent last month

So we’re stable structurally and we’re stable financially

Our Session and Board of Deacons are stable > functioning well

We have a stable staff > relatively speaking

Things are going as well for us as they were for David and Children of Israel

Yes, I think we are like them > a little bit like them, anyway

Since we are at least a little bit like them

It seems to me

question for us is the same as it was for them

“What will we do with God”

And since the question is the same, then our answer should be the same as theirs, too

Our answer should be “We will pay attention to God”

How can we “pay attention” to God?

Paying attention to God may be harder to do than building and stabilize this sanctuary!

It’s easy to turn to God in times of trouble

David prayed to God every time the Philistines threatened

People flocked to churches after the terrorist attacks on 9/11

But when things are going well, we tend to turn our attention elsewhere

David paid attention to God; so did son Solomon > after that, kings ignored

We did same > Church attendance fell back to “normal” levels in months that followed

It becomes very easy to do something else on Sunday morning

David did not neglect God even though he was very secure

We cannot neglect God, either, even though we are very secure

We gather together every week to “pay attention to God”

We don’t come to be entertained > even though we live in a world of entertainment

This is not a “stage” > it is a chancel

We don’t come to be soothed > even though we live in a world full of pain

The music is beautiful, and its beauty does sooths > not its primary purpose

We come to direct our attention toward God > God is the “audience”

Explain Kierkkegard’s “Theater of Worship”

“Entertainment” > audience, actors, prompters

“Worship” > God is audience, you are actors, we are prompters

The show must go on! No matter how tired, or sick, the show must go on!

And so > for one hour each week > we gather together to set aside the cares of the world

We gather to pay attention to God

And turn toward the One who loves us

Loves us enough to promise never to leave us

Loves us enough to send us Jesus