2 Samuel 7:1-17
Luke 1:26-38
Romans 16:25-27
Seeking something special is what this advent season is all about, but
unfortunately most people seem to be seeking something special in this
corrupt world, especially our children who have been raised to expect
physical presents for Christmas, but this is not the something special that
we should be seeking.
This is the advent of Jesus Christ who was born into this world some 2000
years ago, and who will come again on some unknown future date.
The unfortunate problem is that most people only want to celebrate the
remembrance of His first coming with decorations, lights, presents, shopping
and spending more than most of us can afford.
To us, the seeking something special is that amazing life-changing event
when we are born again and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and
truly desire to live in His heavenly will as peacemaking children of God who
truly want to free this world from its present corruption, and who anxiously
await the second coming of Jesus Christ.
And we continually rejoice every time we see something happening that moves
us closer to freeing creation from its present corruption, such as someone
becoming vegan, and doing something to lessen our pollution, and mostly when
people truly show their heavenly love, compassion, and empathy for every one
(humans and animals) and everything that God lovingly created.
And while still keeping an eye to the future, let’s take a look at 2 Samuel
7:1-17, and note that this ancient text also looks to the future, even to
our future.
1. Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had
given him rest on every side from all his enemies,
This is speaking about David.
2. that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of
cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains."
David wants to build a house for the Lord, a Temple, where people can come
to worship Him, but in reality we can and should be worshiping the Lord all
day long, no matter where we are, through our lifestyles as peacemaking
children of God.
3. And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your mind, for the
LORD is with you."
This time Nathan is speaking for himself, for he has not consulted the Lord
about what He wants, just as we all too often do.
4. But it came about in the same night that the word of the LORD came to
Nathan, saying,
The Lord wants to correct what Nathan said, for it is not what the Lord
desires.
5. "Go and say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD," Are you the one
who should build Me a house to dwell in?
David knew all the things that he had done that were against the heavenly
will of God, even though he had repented, and the Lord wants him to think
about this and whether he is really worthy to build the house for the Lord.
Likewise, today, we also need to look at our own past and present lives and
really think about what kind of example we set before others, and how it may
be perceived by them in this corrupt world.
6. "For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of
Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent,
even in a tabernacle.
This is a reminder of what the Lord had previously instructed the Israelites
to do.
7. Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with
one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel,
saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'"'
God is reminding both Nathan and David, and even us today, that He never
asked for any permanent structure to be built for Him. Why? Because He wants
them and us to realize that we often act on our own, when it is not what the
Lord wants.
8. "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 ruler over My people Israel.
God knew that David wanted to do this to please the Lord, but God is looking
at how what he wanted to do would be perceived by the people.
9. And I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your
enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of
the great men who are on the earth.
God wanted David to know that He knew that he was a great leader, and that
he would be honored for it, but not by building the Temple.
10. I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them,
that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will
the wicked afflict them any more as formerly,
What is not being said in this verse is that this promise is conditioned by
them living by the way that the Lord commanded them to live.
11. even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel;
and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to
you that the LORD will make a house for you.
The Lord was reminding David and the people that when they disobeyed Him,
they got punished until they repented of their evil ways, even when it was
only relatively short lived, and this reminder also conditioned the promise
He had just made to them.
12. When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will
raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will
establish his kingdom.
In other words, the Lord wanted David to know that the Temple would not be
built during his lifetime.
Sometimes when we are seeking something special in the heavenly will of God,
it can often take some time, which may not even come about during our
lifetime, such as freeing creation from its present corruption, and the
second coming of Christ, but we are to continue to seek it and work for it.
13. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of
his kingdom forever.
The Temple would be built by a son of David, and even though David was
seeking something special, it wouldn’t be fulfilled until after his death.
14. I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits
iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons
of men,
15. but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from
Saul, whom I removed from before you.
The Lord seemed to be telling David, that even this special son of his will
do things that God doesn’t want him to do, but that He will still be with
him and would not reject him as He did Saul.
16. And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your
throne shall be established forever."' "
This was a future prophecy of the first coming of Jesus Christ, and the use
of the word “forever” must also include His second coming and His heavenly
rule.
17. In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke
to David.
NASB
And we hope and pray that these words are speaking to us, too.
Let’s keep seeking something special as we look at Luke 1:26-38…
26. Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in
Galilee, called Nazareth,
27. to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants
of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
The angel had a special task to perform for God.
28. And coming in, he said to her, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with
you."
That is quite a special greeting, and it shows that Mary had willingly
bonded herself with God, and that the Lord knew how special she was,
29. But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what
kind of salutation this might be.
In most other accounts in the Bible about people seeing an angel they are
afraid, but Mary isn’t; she is just troubled about the meaning of the
greeting that the angel spoke to her.
30. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found
favor with God.
Even though the angel told her not to be afraid, we believe that the real
intent is to say don’t be troubled, and immediately he told her what mission
God had for her to accomplish.
31. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you
shall name Him Jesus.
As a pregnant virgin she would be rejected by almost everyone.
32. "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the
Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
These are things that no human can know about the future of the unborn
child, and even though Mary may have been seeking something special, most
other people wouldn’t look beyond the situation that she was being placed
in.
33. and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will
have no end."
And even though the angel described the coming Messiah, and even though Mary
accepted this fact, it didn’t change the situation that Mary was being
placed in, yet this was all part of God’s plan.
34. And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
Mary never rejected any of part of what she was told, she only questioned
how it could happen.
35. And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason
the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.
The angel matter-of-factly answered her question, and then reinforced the
fact that her child would be Messiah.
Then he told her about another amazing situation.
36. "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in
her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.
And Elizabeth’s child became John the Baptist.
37. "For nothing will be impossible with God."
And we hope that all of us believe this and live accordingly.
38. And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me
according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
NASB
Mary totally accepted what the Lord had in store for her, and we should be
just as willing to accept whatever the Lord has for us, even if it puts us
in a seemingly bad situation in the process.
This is when we are truly seeking something special.
With all these things in mind, let’s close our discussion with the blessing
Paul wrote to the Romans in Romans 16:25-27…
25. Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the
preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which
has been kept secret for long ages past,
26. but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according
to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the
nations, leading to obedience of faith;
27. to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
NASB
Amen.
Have a blessed Christmas!
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