Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you.”
But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying: “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.
– 2 Samuel 7:1-6
When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'”
– 2 Samuel 7:12-16
“And now, LORD God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The LORD Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.
“LORD Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”
– 2 Samuel 7:25-29
Devotion
David knew that God had blessed him abundantly and had even provided him with a palace in his capital city. As an act of worship, David wanted to build a house for the Ark of God. He talked it over with the Nathan the prophet, who soon brought David a message from the Lord. Instead of allowing David to build God a house, God would build David’s “house.” God promised to establish David’s descendants over the house of Israel forever. David’s prayer of response reflects his humble reverence for God and his faith that the Lord would accomplish what He had promised.
The Big Question
God blessed David and his descendants physically and spiritually. How has God blessed you physically? Ephesians 1:3 also reminds us that God has “…blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” What are some of the spiritual blessings you have received from God through Christ?
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.