A COVENANT

2nd Samuel 7 A COVENANT The making of a covenant between two persons is a very serious and important commitment with lasting implications and effects. Covenants are never to be entered into in a light-hearted manner because not only do they affect those in the covenant, but also others who come after. Covenants had been made by God with others before David. Noah, Abraham and the nation of Israel itself had entered into covenant relationships with God. Today the church has entered into a New Testament (covenant) relationship with our Lord that has been ratified by the blood of Christ. "This cup is the new testament in My blood." it is a holy exercise we participate in when we take part of the Lord's Supper.

There were prophets designated by God to speak for Him in the reign of the Israeli kings. Samuel was the prophet who spoke to Saul for God. Some kings listened to the prophets. Other prophets were ignored and despised - and some were killed. David and Nathan must have been in a friendly relationship when David spoke to Nathan about building a "house" for the Lord. Nathan apparently agreed at first until the Lord spoke to him in the night. Our first reaction to a suggestion often comes from what we consider to be reasonable and a very worthy work. However, we are limited to that which we have experienced and "see through a glass darkly" as we look ahead. The Sovereign Lord has a plan that involves much more than we can perceive with our limited minds.

During the "night watch" Nathan received a message to give to David in which he was reminded of God's grace down through the past generations since the children of Israel left Egypt. God dwelt in tents all through those years and He was still with His people. In other words, God is not limited by time or space, but in grace is with His people wherever they are. "The Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us" is true for us today. "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them."

The Lord also instructed Nathan to tell David of His sovereign purposes for him in the future. The "house" He referred to was in the sense of an on-going family that would continue after David died. David's son would build a house for the Lord because David had been a man of war. The temple would be built by a man of peace. The books of 1st Kings and 1st Chronicles gives the whole narrative. These covenant terms were important because contained in them are the purposes God had in sending our Lord Jesus Christ into the world. He would completely fulfill the terms of the covenant with David and ultimately sit on David's throne as the Supreme Ruler over kings and lords.

When Nathan delivered the Lord's covenant message to David, he left his beautiful house and sat before the Lord in the tent where the ark was. There he prayed with joy and appreciation in a humble and sincere way. He knew God had made him king and now he had a look into the future of greater and more important days. He did not ask again to build a house for the Lord, nor did he complain because he was not permitted to do this work. He did give thanks for knowing what the Lord was going to do and worshipped the Sovereign Lord there. He was glad to know what God revealed to him and gave God all the glory.

It may be, we hope for something, and then our Lord says, "No." That does not mean we are rejected, but that our Lord has something different planned. One thing of which we can be sure, is that everything God does is right, and we can rest in faith that whatever the Lord determines is to be our role in His work is the right one and the best one. He knows that for which we are best suited and capable of doing. When the Lord has spoken to us through His word and used whatever He chooses to bring about His purposes, it is a blessing. That blessing is not just to us but to all who are in this covenant with the Sovereign Lord.