2 Samuel 7 GOD SAID “NO!”
There are times when we feel like we want to do something for the Lord, however we find that God says “No” to our plans. We find David in a similar situation. David wants to do something great for God, but God said “No!”
GOOD ATTITUDE – Vss. 1-3
Vs. 1 – This was a time of peace. For what was a probably a long time, David had rest from his enemies. He had time to think
Vs. 2 – We meet Nathan the Prophet for the first time. Nathan was a great man of God. Nathan would be the one to confront David when David sinned with Bathsheba. It is apparent that Nathan and David had a good relationship.
David realizes that he, David was living in a nice house made of cedar, while God’s house was a tent.
Remember the ark was a box containing the Ten Commandments, the rod of Aaron, and a jar of manna.
On top of the ark was the mercy seat. God made his physical presence known by dwelling above the mercy seat.
David’s plan was to build a house for the Lord, and what better person to bounce it off of than the preacher! David’s desire was a good desire.
God does not always say “yes” to our desires. Sometimes he has another plan for our lives, and chooses to use us in other ways. Psalm 47:4, Psalm 75:6-7
Vs. 3 – Here’s Nathan’s response. “Sound’s good to me! Go for it! God is with you.”
There was nothing wrong with David’s desire.
Nathan could see the value of a permanent house for God.
He did what we probably would do. He gave his blessing and even God’s.
Perhaps he should have offered to pray about it before he gave an approval. But I can certainly see how and why it was easy for Nathan to approve.
GOD’S ANSWER – Vss. 4-6
Vs. 4 – I imagine that the message came from God to Nathan during a time of sleep. The important thing is that God had a different plan than David or Nathan. It was Nathan who got the word from God.
Nathan was going to have to return to David with a different answer than what Nathan had given the day before. He was going to have to rescind the blessing that he had given. He was going to have to humble himself to admit that he, the prophet of God, had been wrong.
One of the hardest things to do sometimes is to admit that we are wrong. Our pride keeps us from being humble enough to say “I blew it. I was wrong.”
Nathan gives us a good example to follow. When Nathan realized that he was wrong, he went to David with the corrected message.
Vs. 5 – It is very important to see what God calls David.
He calls him, “My servant”.
David was not in the proverbial “dog house”.
God did not have a low opinion of David.
David was special in the eyes of God, even though God was not going to let David do what he wanted. In fact later it was stated that David’s thoughts and desires were good. 2 Chronicles 6:8
And when God doesn’t let you do what you want, if your heart and motives are pure, God could very well be pleased with your plans and desires. He just may feel however, that it is not part of His plan for your life.
And remember this. When God says “no” to His children, we are still His children! 1 John 3:1
And when God says “no” to his servants, they are still very precious in His sight. Ephesians 1:3-6
Vs. 5 – Nathan was to go and ask David, “Are you going to build me a house?” In a parallel passage, 1 Chronicles 17:4, it says, – Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:
Vss. 6-7 – God makes His point. He has dwelled in tents since they left Egypt. He never asked for anyone to build Him a house.
Vss. 8-9 – David was to realize just how much God had blessed Him. God had taken him from being a humble shepherd to being a great king with a great name. David was being blessed of God, in spite of the fact that God did not want him to build a temple.
When God says “no” to something we want to do, it would do us well to remember all the ways God has blessed us and has used us.
Also, remember that God has different jobs for each of us.
David was told later by God that because David was a soldier, a man of blood, he would not build the temple. 1 Chronicles 22:8-9
We need to remember that God will not give us every job. He has not qualified us for every job. But whatever job God has given us we should do well for Him. 1 Peter 4:10-11
Vs. 10 – God gives David another assurance. There will be a day when Israel will be secure. That day is yet to come, but it is coming. God had given David so much! God has given us so much! When God says “no” we can still relax.
GOD’S ALTERNATIVE – 11-17
Vs. 11 – David wanted to build God a house.
God tells David that instead, He, God, would build David a house!
Vss. 12-15 – The promise was that Solomon would build the temple.
Vs. 16 – There will be a time when David’s Kingdom will be established forever through one of his descendants. This of course will be the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mary was told by the Angel Gabriel in Luke 1:30-33.
This is so much like God. We want to do something for God, and well we should. But God wants to do so much more for us. John 14:12-14
God has a work for us to do, even though it might not be the work we think it is.
GREAT ACCEPTANCE – Vss. 18-29
David accepted God’s plan for his life with joy.
Vss. 18-22 – David was overwhelmed with what he had been told. He saw that what he was given was out of the grace of God. And he was grateful.
David was allowed to focus on what he had and not on what he didn’t get.
My friend, we should certainly do the same.
1 Peter 2:9-10 – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: [10] Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Now, I don’t know what God has said “no” to you about.
But I do know that He has a plan to use you in His way.
Why not ask God to show you what it is, and accept it, even if it was not what you planned on.
Maybe God will let you prepare or help someone who will fulfill the dreams that you have had, but God has said “no” to. David did this. 1 Chronicles 22:2-5