09.05.2010 2 Sam. 7 - Recognizing God's Bigger Plan

09.05.2010 Grace Summit Sermon - 2 Sam. 7 - Recognizing God's Bigger Plan - by Matt Cramer from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

09.05.2010 Grace Summit Worship from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

Shameless plug – Susan Kozy is hosting a Bible study on the various covenants -
Women's Bible Study Beginning - Women's Bible Study -- Covenant
A study of God's covenants that He has initiated throughout history--a thread that runs from Genesis through Revelation. Also learn the inductive bible study method; that is, how to observe the text carefully, interpret its meaning, and apply it to your life.
Dates: Every other Wednesday evening, starting Oct 6, 2010 thru Feb 9, 2011
Time: 6:45 p.m.
Where: Susan Kozy's house
RSVP: If you plan to attend, contact Susan Kozy by 9/18/2010 so an accurate number of workbooks can be ordered.
– I asked her – are you going to cover the Adamic Covenant – She nodded her head, yes. The Davidic Covenant? Yes. The Abrahamic Covenant? Yes again. I suggested that she teach the message today – we would trade spots. If you've never studied the covenants – you need to. I strongly encourage you to go to that study.
Today, a couple of times, Jeff prayed that we would have a greater vision for what God can do in our lives. How relevant this is.
Over the past several weeks, we have been looking at the life of David. David is now king. Today we will step into 2 Sam. 7.
David is trying to legitimize his rule and his authority.
Like so many of us, David is trying to define who he is by what he does and what he accomplishes.
Yesterday morning, my goal was to get to the Kent library – I was watching some TV with the kids in the morning – and there was a show with the new movies about to come out.
Harry Potter/Narnia/Ben Affleck is going to be in a movie called Company Man or Company Men – they show the trailer and an interview – Ben Affleck was talking about it – a movie about corporate downsizing – sounds exciting, doesn't it? Some of us have been affected by that - “Often, who we are is defined so much by a job – what if there is no job?”
They cut back to the scene – leaning on the frame of the doorway – panning to his wife at the vanity, getting ready for the day – and he is deadpan – he has to tell his wife that he has been laid off – and you can tell that he has no idea – not even knowing who he is anymore.
David wants to do a major accomplishment or feat that will set him apart.
2 Sam. 7
First – what are we missing in 2 Sam?
Background – everything Pastor has spoken about so far was pre-king David. Between the last chapter of 1 Sam and the first 5 chapters of 2 Sam – there is a lot of death.
Ch 1 – A guy goes into David's office and tells David that Saul is dead. Guess what David does to the messenger? David kills him.
Ch 2-3 – David is anointed as king of Judah – Saul is dead, the kingdom is now rightfully his.
David is anointed in Hebron (not Jerusalem) as king over Judah. Ishbosheth (you think that is a funny name – try saying it!) is king of Israel – one of Saul's sons –
in Biblical history – There are different eras – Moses
Joshua – Conquers the land
Judges – God-led society – people aren't satisfied with that – so they want a king.
Even back in the Abrahamic covenant, there are allusions to a king.
This period of time is known as the United Kingdom (not like the British).
Saul/David/Solomon – that is where there is one kingdom – but this is a foreshadowing to what is later – Saul sympathizers put Ish as king. God's anointed sympathizers put David as king.
Chapter 4 - Ishbosheth gets killed – guys get the bright idea to come in and tell David – they must have forgotten what happened to the others. But something interesting happens - All the Saul sympathizers come over to David's side. This establishes David as the Messianic King.
In Chapter 5 – we see yet again, an anointing of David – this is the 3rd time – 1 Sam. 16 – when Samuel himself comes and anoints David – privately.
2nd anointing – Chapter 2 – anointed king in Hebron (Judah side of things).
3rd anointing – Chapter 5 – ALL of Israel.
David captures Jerusalem – the City of David – he now has his city and can continue to legitimize his authority.
Yet something is missing – this is the City of David – but in David's mind – something is missing – David brings the ark with much fanfare and partying and dancing in the streets – the whole bit – and David comes home – and there is a domestic dispute. Guys – have you ever done this – been out in public – and the wife says, Honey – we need to talk.
“You just made a fool of yourself – you just shamed the kingdom” - (Michal – one of Saul's daughters)
6:23 – Michal had no children until the day of her death.
The ark – the presence of God – is now in the city of David. There is a downspell – this domestic dispute.
Several years ago – Casey and I were in Colorado – and she bought me tickets to a Colorado Avalanche game – and Patrick Roy(?) was honored for winning the most games ever.
We go home – yeah – that was exciting -
Patrick Roy goes home – gets a little drunk – his wife calls the police. Big event – Domestic disturbance.
David – Big event – Domestic disturbance.
2 Sam 7 – 5-16 – God speaks -
18-29 – David's response
Then there is historical narrative – it is brief, but no less significant. It connects the divine oracle and David's response together.
Here is where the theology is – and here is where I tend to get stuck – I try to teach and communicate that – and I promise that I'll do less of that – but I have to say something – I have to be just a little bit theological this morning.
Walter Brueggemann's Commentary about 2 Samuel 7 – “it occupies the theological center of all of Samuel. It is one of the most crucial texts in the Old Testament for Evangelical faith.” I should have read this before I agreed to speak on it. Why can't I ever pick a section to speak on where the commentary reads, “Congratulations! You are speaking on the easiest section of the Bible. There are no competing views and the application is practical and obvious!”
The Divine Oracle – 5-16 – contains what is known as the Davidic Covenant.
It is another turning point in the story of salvation – God has bigger plans for David than David could have ever imagined. Big setup – we know there is more.
2 Sam. 7:2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains."
I have this beautiful house – but the ark – the presence of God – is stuck in this nomadic type thing.
This is common in the ancient world – many kings would destroy the temple that was already there – if David can pull this off – he is legitimized. How often do we come to life with those same type of dilemmas – O God, if I could just do THIS – then I would be doing Your will and will have arrived!
God responds to this -
God wants to make David's name great – v. 9
God wants to provide a place for Israel – v 10 – Jerusalem
Give them rest (11)
Raise up David's offspring (12) and establish his kingdom by doing so
Raise up David's throne FOREVER.
I could find no dispute in the commentaries what forever means!
14-16 – introduce the idea of a Messiah – Anointed means Messiah -
14 "I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me” - this is a foreshadowing of Jesus
16 "And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever."'
House/Kingdom/Throne – forever – and ever.
So – this is the Davidic Covenant – not just the Davidic line – to Jesus
Matt 1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Luke 1:31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
The David Covenant points to Jesus.
One of my favorite people in the world - Willem VanGemeren – wrote – what the Bible means and its significance – The Progress of Redemption. - Even after I failed a class – he came in as a professor and saved me...
The rule of school – if you are taking a class from a professor – you have to buy his books, regardless of whether the book relates to the class or not...
“”

David's response – 18-29 – Can be broken down into 3 major ideas – when you preach – you ask, how can I narrow this down to 3 points...
18-21 – David's deference – Yes, God, I hear you – 2 phrases emerge -
Who am I, O sovereign Lord? (NIV) or O Lord, God (NASB).
God is in charge – that term – Sovereign Lord, or Lord God – is repeated at least 7 times even in this prayer. The sovereignty of God – that idea – is the first main major idea.
19 – You have spoken of the future of the house of YOUR SERVANT
20 – YOUR SERVANT...
used 10 times in this prayer. He realizes how small and insignificant he is in relation to God.
22 – How Great YOU are, O Sovereign Lord. Not only is God great – but unique – one of a kind – no one like You – God, you are unique – one of a kind.
23 – Who is like Your people, Israel?
Not only is God unique and special, but the people Israel are unique and special – but only becaues the one of a kind God made Israel that way.
Third – perhaps one of the favorite parts – God told David everything He is going to do – and David is so bold - “Do as You promised!” Stick to it!
Do you have children? Ever made a promise to them?! Cat's in the cradle?
You promised – let's see it happen -
Third – the Human Element that is in the narrative -
7:1 Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains." 3 And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you." 4 But it came about in the same night that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, 5 "Go and say to My servant David, 'Thus says the Lord, "Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? 6 "For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle. 7 "Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'"'
Nathan's first response – of course! But that night, God comes to Nathan – Duh duh duhnnnn -
11b The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you.
David wants to build a house for God – But God has a bigger plan – I want to build a HOUSE for you. Wordplay - David has something temporal in mind – a building – God is speaking about a Messianic rule coming from his 'house' forever.
The human element -
12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name,
In other words – David – you are not going to be the one to do it – Solomon will – he will get the credit for it!
David is told no – you will not build it – your son is.
David's holy ambition – good, okay, and right – it is a No, but it is a Yes – it will get done – but not on your terms, but on Mine. Why does God say no to David? He sheds too much blood – you see it all the way through. Sin, filth, death, wars, battles – not the peaceful ruler that Solomon becomes. If you want the sweet stuff – stick to Chronicles – if you want the tabloid stuff – Samuel and Kings.
Eugene Peterson – who wrote, The Message - “What we don't do for God is often far more critical that what we in fact do”
What does David do after hearing?
David's response -
18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said:
Let me read this again – the story is right here – v 18
18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said:
Where did he go? What did he go into? The tent – the thing he despised and wanted to change and alter and correct. Do you ever go into that place? Do you ever do something foolish at work and know you have to face the supervisor – that is the tension – I asked for a temple and got shot down – now I have to go and face God - “I've got nothing” - that is exactly where God wants David – You have ambition and desire – that is even in 1 Kings – Solomon is dedicating – My father, David had it in his heart to build a temple....You did well to have this in your heart, but you are not the one to build a temple – but your son will build it...

Here we see David walking in to find his humiliation – and God blesses him and gives him the Davidic dynasty that will last forever and ever – all of it culminates in Christ -
So many times, we have these ambitious desires and don't accomplish it - “I want to be a missionary, but I've run out of funds..., or I want to be a pastor of a megachurch, but here you are with a small congregation... – or a mom or dad who wants to raise great kids and they end up in jail” – there are frustrations in life – but God is sovereign.
God gives the greater vision and the greater plan and wants to bless – and we need to learn to receive that. God is saying, “I've got something better if you would just trust Me and believe Me.”