Reflection on Attempting To Make Godly Decisions
A brief overview of 2 Samuel gives us a peculiar insight into the mind of God, at least I think it does. This is why I doubt myself. Jeremiah tells us that "the heart is more deceitful than anything else and desperately sick – who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:8-10, HSB). Therefore, I cannot judge right and wrong simply on my feelings, though I do find myself following them too often. Since my heart is sick it must stand in judgment of something else –God, and how He has spoken through Scripture.
Now back to David in 2 Samuel. David had a desire to build God a house and the reason appears to be that David’s palace was nicer than the tabernacle. Man’s judgment was wrong, but it did not sound wrong. Even Nathan told David to proceed with his plans – that was before the Lord spoke to him (2 Samuel 7:4vv).
The Lord would not allow David to build the temple, which seems to be a rejection of David as a person or at least as a king. God goes on to make a wonderful promise to David that his heir would build this temple and that David’s throne would be established forever. Those are blessings that no one else would receive. Still, we hear sorrow in David’s voice as he submits his will to God’s (2 Samuel 7:18vv).
David would go on to more victories and even through adultery God kept his promise to David and brought the Christ through the Davidic line.
Just one last thought, when David’s last words are recorded in 2 Samuel 23:1-7 David seems satisfied. He even comments that the God will "bring about …my every desire." (2 Samuel 23: 5). It seems God changed his heart’s desires to fall in line with His. This is not where David started (in desiring to build the temple), but this is where God took him. My prayer is that God will do the same for me- to change the desires of my sick heart and morph them until the are the desires of His holy and pure heart.
And to the Nathan’s that told me my desires were not those of God I thank God for you. Not without sorrow, not without remorse – but with hope that God will build His house through someone else and that I may receive a different promise that is just as sweet.
A brief overview of 2 Samuel gives us a peculiar insight into the mind of God, at least I think it does. This is why I doubt myself. Jeremiah tells us that "the heart is more deceitful than anything else and desperately sick – who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:8-10, HSB). Therefore, I cannot judge right and wrong simply on my feelings, though I do find myself following them too often. Since my heart is sick it must stand in judgment of something else –God, and how He has spoken through Scripture.
Now back to David in 2 Samuel. David had a desire to build God a house and the reason appears to be that David’s palace was nicer than the tabernacle. Man’s judgment was wrong, but it did not sound wrong. Even Nathan told David to proceed with his plans – that was before the Lord spoke to him (2 Samuel 7:4vv).
The Lord would not allow David to build the temple, which seems to be a rejection of David as a person or at least as a king. God goes on to make a wonderful promise to David that his heir would build this temple and that David’s throne would be established forever. Those are blessings that no one else would receive. Still, we hear sorrow in David’s voice as he submits his will to God’s (2 Samuel 7:18vv).
David would go on to more victories and even through adultery God kept his promise to David and brought the Christ through the Davidic line.
Just one last thought, when David’s last words are recorded in 2 Samuel 23:1-7 David seems satisfied. He even comments that the God will "bring about …my every desire." (2 Samuel 23: 5). It seems God changed his heart’s desires to fall in line with His. This is not where David started (in desiring to build the temple), but this is where God took him. My prayer is that God will do the same for me- to change the desires of my sick heart and morph them until the are the desires of His holy and pure heart.
And to the Nathan’s that told me my desires were not those of God I thank God for you. Not without sorrow, not without remorse – but with hope that God will build His house through someone else and that I may receive a different promise that is just as sweet.
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