Something very beautiful happens between King David and the Lord in 2 Samuel 7, and I can't stop reading it.
The king is talking to Nathan the prophet, lamenting over the fact that he dwells in a lavish and permanent house and the Lord resides within tent curtains. It's clear from his words that David wants to fix this; he wants to build a house for God.
Even as I write that it seems so presumptuous to me that even the man after God's own heart would think that he could do anything for God, but I get the sentiment behind his motive. I believe that David truly wanted to do this out of his deep love for the Lord (and I can back that up with a whole lot of Psalms!).
But God wakes Nathan in the night and gives him a message to pass on to the king. And while I could just quote His words from the chapter, please allow me to put them in my own New Living Sagely translation:
O David, I haven't lived in a house since I took Israel out of Egypt. In fact, I've moved about in a tent for a purpose (and I appreciate that you've noticed this, and even felt a little guilty for your own extravagant lifestyle).
While I understand that the desire of your heart is to do this thing for Me, quite honestly, I'm just not asking for it.
You see, David, I really don't need anything from you. And if you'll remember, I didn't call you to be an architect or a builder; I called you to be ruler over My people Israel.
I've been with you wherever you've gone, and I will continue to walk with you and with your descendants forever, because that's what I promised to do for you and for My people Israel. This promise was never based on a condition; it was based on My love.
My people will be planted in a land that I appointed for them long ago, and they will have rest from their enemies for one reason only...I will cut their enemies off. They will not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked cut them off anymore, because that's been My plan all along.
That's what I'll do for Israel, and this is what I will do for you, David: I will make your name great, because I'm building YOUR house, I'm building YOUR kingdom, and I'm building YOUR name on the earth forever.
I'm the Builder, David, and I'm building a house for you.
After Nathan spoke the Lord's words, the Scripture says the king went in and sat before the Lord.
I love that.
It's almost as if David could do nothing but take a giant pause after hearing the Lord's words.
And then this great king forms feeble words from his created feeble mouth to an Almighty God and says, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord God, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. And this is the custom of man, O Lord God. Again, what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord God" (the bold captions were added).
I think they are some of the most humble words in Scripture. And they remind me once again that God needs absolutely nothing from me. The only thing any of us can offer this Mighty God is to sit in His presence in wonder, and He's not even asking for that.
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the LORD, or who because His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36).
