What a promise! David was blown away. He’d had a good intention to build some sort of temple for the ark of God. The prophet Nathan also thought it was a good idea, until God told him otherwise!
Why did God say “no” to David’s intention to build a temple? First of all, to teach David the important lesson that God doesn’t need anything from us. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking we’re doing God a favour by going to church, or reading our Bibles, or serving Him in some way. Those are all good things to do, but God doesn’t need anything from us, as the apostle Paul tells the men of Athens:
“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” (Acts 17:24-25)
God had been quite happy travelling with His people a dwelling with them in the tabernacle, he had given the instructions about that, and at the right time, He’ll give instructions about the temple, and at the right time He’ll send his own Son to be the new temple (see John 2:19).
Secondly, God says no to David, because He had something better in store. As is always the way with God, whenever He says “no” to His people, it’s because He has something better for us. David wanted to build a “house” for God, but God says He will build a “house” for David. What did God mean? God was talking about a kingdom that will last forever.
Do you remember God’s amazing promises to Abraham? Here God is repeating the promise and clarifying that the promised child who will bring blessing to the nations is going to come from David’s line! God is making a great nation, giving them a place to live and through David’s family He’s going to build a kingdom that will last forever and bring blessing to all nations. The child born into this family will crush Satan’s head (Genesis 3:15). No wonder Satan has it in for this family and will do all he can to destroy it, as we’ll see in the following chapters.
But from our vantage point, we can look back and see how wonderfully God kept His promise in causing His Son to be born into this family. The one who brings true rest for His people, who is the true meeting place with God, who brings God’s blessing to the nations and the one who will lead us to the promises land of the new heaven and new earth.
What a promise!
David knew this God as His shepherd, leading Him, He was confident of God’s goodness and mercy pursuing Him. If you belong to Jesus, these blessing are for you as well.
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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