Building On Disappointment
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Introduction
Introduction
Rejection to Disappointment.
All have experienced it.
Relationships, jobs, health, culture. Maybe with the world, or political leaders.
This same disappointment was experienced by the Jewish people in 586 BC.
To understand this disappointment, it is necessary to refresh our OT history timeline.
922 - 722 - 586
David leading up to…
Solomon’s death in 1 Kings 11.
Then, split in 922. Rehoboam. Jeroboam.
All the kings you read about.
722 - Assyria defeats northern kingdom
587/6 - the Babylonians invade and conquer Judah.
Disappointment at seeing an enemy destroy their city and their temple.
Disappointment in their leadership, and possibly in their God.
Especially since this was where the linage of David was on the throne.
This disappointment could be based upon their interpretation of today’s text.
This is where we find the Davidic Covenant, described by many as the summit of the OT history.
The longest monologue from God since the days of Moses.
David’s Desire
David’s Desire
vv. 1-3
God has given David rest.
What David had accomplished:
Unified in its enemy, capital, and religion.
Brought the 12 tribes together, having ruled the south first and then the northern tribes.
10 But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies around, so that you live in safety,
Now that he has attained all of this, he wants to do something for God.
And Nathan’s response is immediate: do whatever you want.
Notice v. 4, though. Whoops.
Maybe you’ve heard, or used, the expression, “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
How often that phrase backfires!
This seems to be the approach of Nathan. He speaks for God without consulting God.
Ask God first.
Temple Turndown
Temple Turndown
vv. 4-7
God says, “Thank you, but no thank you.”
His response centers around the word “house,” which means “Temple.”
God lays out that it has never been an issue in the past. Even since the tabernacle came across the Jordan and eventually set up in Shiloh.
He’s never called any previous leaders to build anything.
Why? God had a greater residence - in the midst of His people!
God is content dwelling with His people.
Oxymorons...
Act natural; civil war; controlled chaos; crash landing; minor crisis; mud bath; working vacation; jumbo shrimp…Gated neighborhood.
Mixed message. If you are already in, you are welcomed!
Mixed message of the Temple… God with us, He’s over there...
By building God a house, He was removed from the midst of the people.
God is with you.
But, God does not abandon the idea of a house...
David’s Dynasty
David’s Dynasty
vv. 8-17
God begins by reminding of David of his meteoric rise - from the pasture to the palace.
He goes from a shepherd, following sheep, to a king, leading a nation.
David is also going to be given elevation (v. 9), giving him a place alongside Abram and Moses.
A great peace is promised in vv. 10-11a, this great peace experienced during the time of Solomon. His name on the root of shalom.
But, then we get to this pivotal phrase at the end of v. 11.
“Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.”
Here, we have God using the word that David had used to mean something entirely different.
For David, to build a house was a temple, which would be an incredible act!
But for God, David was going to be built into a dynasty of kings, an act even greater.
Continuing to v. 12. For clarity, “I will establish his kingdom forever.”
This is what every king wanted to hear.
David was discovering something...
You can’t out give God.
Without dismissing what David’s intent, God turned and gave to David something greater than a building.
And the promise that this first son of his would in fact build the temple.
And God and the son of David would have a close relationship (v. 14).
But, look at the “steadfast love” that is expressed in v. 15.
Hesed. Covenantal love. Steadfast kindness.
God has promised love to His children.
Promises can mean everything or nothing, depending on the promise maker.
We all have at least one person in our lives who we know their word doesn’t mean anything.
But, when the promise comes from God, we know He fulfills His word.
Psalm 145:13 (ESV)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.
Then we get to this promise in v. 16, which would be the cause of disappointment in 586.
In their minds, they were attempting to reconcile the reality of their situation with the faithfulness of God.
The doubt was founded in their short-term perspective.
Their current suffering blinded them to the greater work that God was doing.
This is something that all of us are tempted to do.
When we are going through a difficult period in life, we wonder why we are experiencing such disappointment.
But, something happened to the Jewish people after Jerusalem fell...
These words became a seed of hope to Israel in exile.
It became the basis of hope when they returned to the Land.
It became the promise of hope while they looked forward to the Messiah to come.
Scripture is filled with seeds of hope.
It’s why it’s so important to be in God’s Word.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The beauty of springtime.
During this time when our wheat fields would really begin growing.
All that work put in late summer, the little bit of wheat grass coming up in the winter...
It now begins to explode in growth, and then the shift in color as those fields turned from green to gold.
The seeds that were planted and nurtured suddenly became much, much more.
This seed of hope found in v. 13 and v. 16 eventually became something more.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
This promise given to Mary was spoken to remind her of that seed of hope, a seed which would grow in her body.
This child, who would be named Jesus, would live a perfect life and die for your sin and my sin.
And His reign will never end.
In a world filled with disappointments...
Find hope in Jesus.
Why wait? This day he is ready to receive you as His own.
To forgive you of your sins. To restore your life. And give you hope for all eternity.