God Who Blesses the House of His Servant (2Samuel 7:1-29)

God Who Blesses the House of His Servant

 

2Samuel 7:1-29

 

The theme of today’s word is “house.” We can see that the word “house” appears many times in today’s text. A house basically means a building structure in which people dwell, but in a broader sense, it means the people living in the house and their properties, power, honor, and so on. Accordingly, “my house” is “greater I” that comprehends me, my family, and all of my tangible and intangible possessions. In the Bible, when God blesses a person, He always blesses his house. Furthermore, God blesses the world by blessing his house. God works for his house. Although he is God’s servant, God also becomes his servant and works for his house. This is one of big differences of Christianity from other religions in the world. In the religions of the world, a god is seated on the podium, and people serves the god. But the Lord God serves his servants and his people. It is God’s vision and hope to bless the house of his servant. God works day and night for this. And he achieves this at the end. This achievement is God’s rest and peace. It is also building a house for God himself.

 

Today’s story starts with David’s desire to build a house for the ark of God. God had destroyed all of David’s enemies, and let him settle and rest in his palace. For many years, David was chased by King Saul, and he had to keep moving like a homeless, going through many dangers and troubles in the wilderness and Gentile lands. But, when King Saul died and his successor Ish-Bosheth was also killed, all the tribes of Israel came to David and anointed him as king over Israel. As the Lord Almighty was with him, David became more and more powerful. Then, Hiram, king of Tyre sent to David carpenters and stonemasons together with cedar logs, and they built a palace for David (2Samuel 5:11). When David enjoyed peaceful days in the palace of cedar, he remembered the ark of God. The ark was still in a tent. This tent was made by Moses according to the pattern God showed him when the people of Israel came out of Egypt (Exodus 26). Counting back from the days of David, it was over 400 years ago. That is, this tent and the ark of God were over 400 years old. Even for a well-built house, it is not easy to survive such a long period of time. This is a tent made of fabrics and animal skins. It must have been extremely ragged through many times of folding and unfolding and exposure to sunlight, rain and wind. The tent in which the ark of God was laid was too shabby compared to David’s brand-new cedar palace. It is so natural for David to feel so bad. The king said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” Nathan also thought David’s desire good and encouraged him to do whatever the king had in mind.

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In this way, today’s story begins with David’s desire to build a house for the ark of God. In other words, David was going to build “a house of God.” But the story goes in a very different direction. God said to David, “Are you going to build me a house to dwell in?” And, rather, God gives him this promise, “I will establish a house for you” (11). According to David’s prayer in verse 27, God revealed his plan to David, saying, “I will build a house for you.” This is quite surprising. The house God was planning for David seems quite different from that David was thinking of. In a sense, David had already achieved everything. He became the king over Israel, and there was no more enemy against him in the kingdom. The neighbor countries were peaceful enough to build a palace for David. David lived in the luxury palace built in the stronghold City of David, and was surrounded by his loyal subjects. His house was very solid and secure. But God said to David, “I will build a house for you.” In God’s eyes, David’s house had not been built yet. God had a plan to establish a much more glorious house for David. It was God’s vision and hope to build such a house for him. Although David was God’s servant, God is serving his house, and is working to build the house.

 

In verses 6-7, God said, “I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’” In this word, God mentions his “eternal interest.” What is that? It is “my people Israel.” From the day God brought them out of Egypt to this day, God had moved with his people Israel, and remained in a tent as his dwelling. God’s purpose of establishing rulers is one. It was to have them shepherd his people Israel. God is the shepherd of his people Israel. As their shepherd, God walks with them, and camps with them. So, God does not live in a house, but stays in a tent. What is God’s desire for his flock? Verse 10 says, “I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning.” God’s desire for his people Israel is giving them “a home of their own.” It is their own house, an eternal house that does not need to be moved, and a secure house that wicked enemies cannot invade. Until the desire is fulfilled, God stays with his flock in a tent. It is so that God himself becomes a house for his sheep. David was established between this God and his people Israel so that he may shepherd and guide the people on behalf of God. Accordingly, “King David” cannot exist apart from God and his people Israel. He should always be the shepherd who guides, feeds, and protects the sheep for God. Therefore, he should move together with the flock, and also together with God. In this sense, David, rather than building a house for God after his cedar palace, should come out of the luxury palace and dwell with his people like God does.

 

God promised he would bless David and establish a house for him. Specifically, God said, “I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations” (Psalm 89:4). Why does God bless David so much? Now David became king over Israel. He may call Israel “my kingdom and my people,” and reign over them like any king in the world. But David didn’t do so. When he heard God’s word of blessing, David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” (18) Even when he was raised to the throne, David humbled himself and his house before God. He remembered that all the blessings he and his house had received were just God’s grace. David lowered himself, but his thought of God’s people Israel was very different. In verse 23a, he says, “Who is like your people Israel?” In David’s eyes, God’s people Israel was very special and distinguished. And the reason for their being exceptional was found in God. That is, it was because the Lord became their God. God himself went out to redeem them as a people for himself, and performed great and awesome wonders to strong nations and their gods, and raised his name as “God of Israel.” God and his people Israel was “the House of God,” and “the Kingdom of God.” David was called as a servant of this glorious house. Although he was anointed as “king,” he accepted it as a calling to come to God’s royal court and serve his royal children. 2Samuel 5:12 says, “David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.” Yes, it is. It was “for the sake of his people Israel.” It was “for the sake of his people Israel” that God established him as king. Although he was king over Israel, in fact, he was “a servant” of Israel who was serving them before their God. Even though he was living in a palace of cedar, he should find himself “at the lowest seat” of Israel. He should remember God dwelling in the 400-year-old ragged tent and his flock, God’s sole interest. And he should keep moving until God and his flock arrive and settle at their eternal home.

 

In Barcelona in Spain, the basilica named “Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia” is under construction, which was designed by architect Antoni Gaudi. This temple includes a high-rise tower called “Jesus Christ Tower.” People can go up to the top of this tower and look down the City of Barcelona. In an interview, the director of the construction project said about the tower, “Jesus Christ Tower is highest among all the architectures in the city, and it was designed to feel how it would be to be closer to God.” He might think that “rising high is being closer to God.” This is also the thought that most of us have. But the Bible does not say so. Jesus was born and laid in a manger (Luke 2:7), and he lived a life without a place to lay his head (Matthew 8:20), and then he died on a cross (Mark 15:24). This was the life story of Jesus, the Son of God who was closest to the Father.” Why did Jesus live such a humble life? It was for the flock that God put in his hand. Jesus’ heart was always toward God’s lost and wandering sheep. So, he searched for them and taught them the word of God. And after all, he shed blood on the cross in order to take away their sins. By humbling and sacrificing himself and serving God’s sheep, Jesus came closer to God. Then, God exalted Jesus to the highest place, and gave him the name that is above every name. God made every knee bow at the name of Jesus, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord (Philippians 2:9-11).

 

David’s life is largely divided into two periods, one before living in the palace, and the other after moving into the palace. And the two lives are quite different. While David was a homeless wanderer, he had a very intimate relationship with God. He always asked God and followed God’s guidance. Therefore, although he was homeless, he was in God’s light and power and therefore, he was always bright, wise, holy, and lovely. After he settled at the palace, however, we see few scenes where David has such an intimate conversation with God. On the contrary, David committed sins that were so unpleasant to God, and because of these offenses, he had to go through many troubles including painful family affairs. Although he was dwelling in the palace, his life was under gloomy shadow. This shows that it was not easy to be both “king and servant” at the same time. Still David was the greatest king and shepherd of people before God in history. Contrary to God’s promise to David, his house and his kingdom declined, and the Davidic royal family fell. But the promise was fulfilled by Jesus Christ. Jesus is true king that God established among us. His kingdom and his reign go forever. Jesus is “Shepherd King.” Although he is king, he takes care of his flock and gives his life for them. He is perfect king and perfect servant at the same time. God made Jesus the “corner stone” of the house he was building. And God builds each of us onto the corner stone (1Peter 2:5). God is building this house for his flock. And this house is the eternal home of God’s people. God is always there, and God’s Spirit rules the house.

 

For most of us, “house” is my exclusive space and my own kingdom. But the house God promised to build for David is God’s kingdom and it is for God’s flock. This is also God’s promise to us. God wants to bless our houses. And God’s blessing is not just for me, but more for God’s own name and for God’s sheep. If we forget this and live just for me, our house will be “a gloomy and lonely place” even if it is a palace of cedar. On the contrary, if we humble ourselves before God and serve God’s souls, we will find ourselves as God’s royal family who have kingly majesty. For Peter, Jesus gave the last two words: “Simon, son of John, do you love me? – Feed my sheep.” Jesus put him between the Lord and his sheep. For Peter, there is no escape from this position except reduction to his past misery. This is also the case for us. For God’s blessing, we must find ourselves standing between God and God’s sheep. Then, we will find the way to get blessed by God as his servants who serve God’s sheep. This is how we become a king by becoming a servant. This is how we become exalted by being humbled. This is the way Jesus showed us to build a glorious house of mine in God. And there is no way to be blessed apart from God and his flock. I pray that each of us have this hope in God, and find himself/herself serving God’s sheep for God’s name.