2 Samuel 7:1-17

As David's life enters a season where he can 'slow down' a little bit, it is interesting to note what consumes his thoughts. Rather than thinking about what how much more 'stuff' he can add to the palace, David does an internal accounting on his lifestyle vs. God's glorification (v.2). His conclusion: it's not right that my house exceeds God's house.

Note that Nathan the prophet - observing the king's single-minded walk - is confident that David's plans are aligned with God's plans (v. 3). But God has something much more magnificent in mind than David building Him a house...He wants to establish a house for David that will last forever (v.11, 13).

As with Abraham in Genesis 12 & 15, God reveals more of His long term plan for blessing His people in vs. 11-16. One of David's offspring will be God's son (v. 14). His kingdom will be established forever. God's love will never be taken from the son as it was from Saul, but wrongdoing will be punished with the rod of men and floggings.

Questions: 1) In the busyness of your life, take a few minutes to do your own internal accounting. How much of our focus is on stuff for 'our house', vs. seeing God's kingdom advanced? What is a tangible way (e.g., supporting a missionary, donating time to help flood victims) that you can begin to change the balance sheet? 2) Read John 19: 1-3. Amazingly, Jesus had no wrongdoing of his own to be punished, but he was flogged and ultimately crucified for my sins and your sins. Let's be thankful this very day that He took the punishment for our wrongdoing.