Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Jonah Sage's sermon from 2 Samuel 7:5-17.
Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Jonah Sage's sermon from 2 Samuel 7:5-17.
Bobby: Welcome to the Midweek Checkup. My name is Bobby Gilles and I’m joined by Lindsey Blair. This past Sunday, Pastor Jonah Sage preached from Second Samuel Seven, five through seven.
Lindsey: Jonah asked us to turn our hearts to the promised king. Set your hope on his kingdom. If you missed the sermon or need help remembering, you’re in the right place because it’s time for the Midweek Checkup.
Bobby: Jonah began by noting that David said, "I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!” Since Israel left Egypt, God has been in a tent. David, in essence, says, “God did something great for me; I'm going to do something great for him!” This was a good idea, but sometimes God says “No,” as he does here.
Lindsey: Imagine telling God of something wonderful you want to do for him, and he says, "No, someone else will do that for me...and actually, I'm going to do something wonderful for you.” This isn't about what David can do for God; it is about what God promises to do for David. God reminds David of what he's done. He says, “I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people.”
Bobby: God promises to preserve Israel and do even more than David could ask. And he ends by saying, “My favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul...Your house and. Your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.” As he's making this promise, God reminds David where he comes from. It's not a coincidence God chose a shepherd. Israel's king was Meant to be a shepherd, gently leading his sheep with love and caring to a place where they could thrive in safety. He was never supposed to be a domineering authority figure like kings of the other nations.
Lindsey: This is the language of relational dependence. This is the ideal.
But even the ideal is sober here...because this is Nathan speaking to David.
A prophet spoke to David the words the Lord spoke to the prophet. There is a mediator. God ALWAYS ensured a Prophet was there with each of his kings.
God knows that just as a king leads a kingdom astray, wealth, influence, and power lead the heart of the king astray. We are promised an eternal, forever house with a relational God leading, caring for, and protecting a dependent people. But the promise is made through a prophet, preparing us for the inevitable collapse that is to come.
Bobby: But for now, Jonah asked us to catch the vision of the promise.
There is an eternal Kingdom that is coming. One of David's descendants will sit on that throne forever. That King will be like a Son to God, perhaps even the Son of God. And through this son, God will dwell with his people forever.
Turn your hearts towards this king, and set your hope on his Kingdom.
Lindsey: This Sunday, we will continue our series on The Fall of the House of David. In Bible Fellowship, we’ll discuss King Solomon’s dedication of the Jerusalem Temple. Join us, and bring a friend.