sermons by IVOR POWELL

THE PROMISES THAT MADE DAVID SIT DOWN

"According to all these words, and according to all this vision,

so did Nathan speak to David. Then went king David in,

and sat before the LORD" (2 Sam. 7:17-18).

The palace on Mount Zion had been completed; Jerusalem was

at rest and David was dreaming. When he toured his luxurious

home, his heart filled with pride, but his conscience was troubled.

He compared his magnificent house with the inconspicuous tent in

which the ark of the covenant resided and regretted that he lived in

splendor when God was behind curtains! The more he considered

the problem, the greater became his determination. He would build

a temple for the Lord, and it would be the greatest structure in the

world! When he shared his thoughts with Nathan, the prophet was

delighted and said, "Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is

with thee" (2 Sam 7:3). That night sleep was elusive; David lay

awake planning how to complete his task The temple would be

vast in extent, exceedingly beautiful, and even the Lord would be

proud of it. But David's dreams were never realized; the Lord had

different ideas.

Sitting Before the Lord... A Cure for Great Disappointment

"And it came to pass that night that the word of the LORD came

unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the

Lord... when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy

fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee... and I will establish his

kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish

the throne of his kingdom for ever. (2 Sam 7:4-5, 12-13). Further

information was supplied later. "And David said to Solomon, My

son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name

of the Lord my God; But, the word of the Lord came to me, saying

... thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. Behold a

son shall be born to thee... He shall build an house for my name"

(1 Chron. 22:7-10). When disappointment fills the heart and chills

the spirit, it is wise to sit at God's feet.

Sitting Before the Lord... A Call for Growing Determination

David desired to build a house for God; the Lord planned to

build a house for David. The king's disappointment began to diminish

as he contemplated the details of God's message. His pouting

was replaced by praise when he considered he would be given a son

whose kingdom would never be destroyed. It is debatable whether

David understood the implications of that great utterance, for evidently

it would not be fulfilled during the lifetime of Solomon. The

Davidic kingdom would last until the Messiah sat upon the throne

of Israel. Suddenly, David smiled and made a vow. If he could not

build the temple, he would prepare materials to assist his son who

would do it for him. "And David said, Solomon my son is young

and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be

exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries.

I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared

abundantly before his death" (1 Chron. 22:5). The king's cooperation

became an asset of incalculable worth when Solomon began

his reign. It was refreshing that God's blessing was more to be

desired than anything else in the world. Many people who cannot be

leaders in a project or the kingdom resign their position and withdraw.

They prove they are smaller than the thing which upset them.

Sitting Before the Lord... A Cause for Glorious Devotion

"Then went David in and sat before the Lord He probably

knelt in the sanctuary and sat back on his heels. From that position

it was easy to lean forward and place his forehead upon the floor.

David said, "Who am I, 0 Lord GOD? and what is my house, that

thou hast brought me hitherto? . . . thou hast spoken also of thy

servant's house for a great while to come" (2 Sam. 7:18-19). David

knew he was unworthy of such honor, and his words expressed

humility when he said, "For thy word's sake, and according to thine

own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant

know them" (verse 21). When David sat in the presence of God, he

would have appreciated the words of Frederick C. Maker:

Drop thy still dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our lives the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of thy peace.

It is wise to take burdens to the Lord, and leave them there.