Limelight v. God Light: Daily Thoughts from 2 Samuel (2 Samuel 7:1-17)

I am capable of coming up with all kinds of grand daydreams of how I could serve God, all of which, of course, put me in the limelight. I might be regarded somewhat positively for this, in that at least my goals are centered in Christ and not just me.

It seems David has the same experience. In his heart he has a grand goal but he also has the wisdom to seek spiritual counsel about it.

Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, 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: Would you build me a house to dwell 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 for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom 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, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your 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 dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them 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 fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come 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. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. (2 Samuel 7:1-17, ESV)

Many times in our leadership we develop grandiose perspectives of ourselves as we see success, not acknowledging enough that every success we have had came from God. And in our inflated sense of ourselves we begin to think that we can do something for God. We call it honoring God and even call it saying thanks to Him for helping us be so great. Others who should know better jump on our bandwagon. “Yes, you’re great, so go ahead and do what you want to do for God, and I’m sure He’ll be so appreciative.”

But God has something to say about this. He reminds us where we came from and who brought us from there. He reminds us of the bigger purpose He has for giving us any leadership responsibilities at all, the purpose of blessing His people. And sometimes in His grace, despite our silly self-inflation, He gives us promises that are so big they are stunning.

Genesis 49 records Jacob’s words to his twelve sons and the prediction he made that the king’s scepter would not depart from Judah until him to whom it belongs would come. And now David, son of Judah, is given the kingship in perpetuity. If his offspring messes up God will discipline them, but the kingship will never depart, the dynasty will never end until finally Jesus takes the throne and rules forever. What an amazing God we have who sees things we cannot see and works His purpose through us and sometimes despite us. To Him be glory forever.