Now when the king was settled in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind for the LORD is with you.”
But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan “Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, when I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel, and I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all you enemies from before you, and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place and be disturbed no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel, and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever....
“Your house and your throne shall be established forever.” In accordance with all these words and with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O LORD GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O LORD GOD; you have spoken also of your servant’s house into the distant future. May this be instruction for the people, O LORD GOD!” !! Samuel 7:1-13, 16-19 (NRSV)
Not only does this passage of scripture show us God’s covenant with King David, that his kingdom and throne will be established through David’s successor forever, but it also reminds the king, through Nathan, that throughout Israel’s long history, God has been with them, ever moving, ever defending and saving, ever loving His people, Israel.
During the Advent Season, we are reminded that God chose to enter our world as a vulnerable baby, one who will be called “Emanuel,” God with us, clothed not in the finery of a king, but clothed in human flesh, to experience all the human feelings, temptations, and choices we often are faced with every day of our lives. May we experience the Wonder of the birth of this Christ Child, King of Kings, LORD of lords, Prince of Peace, with the eyes of a child, of a shepherd, of Mary and Joseph, and remember the great and glorious Gift God gave us so many years ago, yet forever the sign of God’s unfailing love for His children.
Loving, Creator God, fill our hearts with Your light and love, that we may shine that light through our lives as we do our best to serve You and bring Your light and love to everyone we meet. It is in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, we pray. Amen
Linda Summers
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