As you can see from the Bible, David wanted to make good use of the resources God had given to him. And when he compared his own living quarters, the palace, to the LORD’s tabernacle, a tent, he decided, out of gratefulness, I’m sure, to build a magnificent temple for the LORD.
What I’d like to speak to you about today is this “When Making Plans, Don’t Leave God Out” or, in other words, submitting your plans to God. I’ve titled today’s sermon “The House of God.” Shall we pray? God had given David rest, verse one. II Samuel 7:1 “And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;…” The word “rest” is the Hebrew word “Noah.” It’s the very same word we use in the English name Noah. And it implies that David has no more enemies. No one is attacking Jerusalem. It’s also found here in verse eleven. (11) “And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies.”
Now, don’t we all wish we had a day of rest or even a week of rest? Our modern society is so active and we are so busy that we’re all just wishing for this quiet, non-stressed, and peaceful period called rest. Mark 6:31 says this. Mark 6:31 “And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: ...”
Well, in David’s time of rest, he had time to think. And his thoughts turned to doing something worthwhile with the rest of his life as it pertained to the LORD. He decided he would build a Temple.
Now did you notice the power of David’s idea? At first Nathan gives a resounding yes, verse three. (3) And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.”
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan in a dream and told him to convey something else to David.
Now, please take note here that the LORD wasn’t telling David that his idea was a bad one. Instead, as you know, a temple was built; but not by David. It was built in the days of Solomon, David’s son.
You see, we’ve all had great ideas and great thoughts. Yet, the best thing you can do with your best thoughts and ideas is to submit them to the LORD’s will.
Now did you notice the power of David’s idea? At first Nathan gives a resounding yes, verse three. (3) And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.” How many times in life have you had a great idea only to proceed and forget to take it to the LORD?
Please notice that neither Nathan nor the LORD said “No” to David. What God did say was “Not yet.’ The LORD’s plan was to have his son Solomon build it. God may answer No. He might answer “Yes.” Or, He may also simply tell you to delight yourself in Him. Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
Now, we’ve all got plans. But how much better to turn our plans over the LORD! After all, don’t we pray “Thy will be done…?” Find with me Psalm 37:5 where David spells this out in detail. Psalm 37 as your might already know, is a Hebrew acrostic. And it uses the entire Hebrew alphabet. For example, every two verses begin with one of the letters of the Alphabet. Verses one and two begin with a word starting with the Hebrew letter Aleph. Verses three and four begin with the Hebrew letter Beth; and so forth.
The one I want to turn your attention to is verse five. Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Here’s David’s word in light of his hope to build a Temple.
First, the LORD desires to guide our lives. Here’s what He says again. “Commit thy way unto the LORD.” It’s true that He perfectly knows everything about you from all your thoughts to your activities. And it’s His desire is to accomplish His will in our lives. He’s the One Who knows you best. He knows you because He made you. He gave to you your talents, your strengths, your weaknesses, your desires, even your plans and goals.
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What I’d like to speak to you about today is this “When Making Plans, Don’t Leave God Out” or, in other words, submitting your plans to God. I’ve titled today’s sermon “The House of God.” Shall we pray? God had given David rest, verse one. II Samuel 7:1 “And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;…” The word “rest” is the Hebrew word “Noah.” It’s the very same word we use in the English name Noah. And it implies that David has no more enemies. No one is attacking Jerusalem. It’s also found here in verse eleven. (11) “And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies.”
Now, don’t we all wish we had a day of rest or even a week of rest? Our modern society is so active and we are so busy that we’re all just wishing for this quiet, non-stressed, and peaceful period called rest. Mark 6:31 says this. Mark 6:31 “And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: ...”
Well, in David’s time of rest, he had time to think. And his thoughts turned to doing something worthwhile with the rest of his life as it pertained to the LORD. He decided he would build a Temple.
Now did you notice the power of David’s idea? At first Nathan gives a resounding yes, verse three. (3) And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.”
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan in a dream and told him to convey something else to David.
Now, please take note here that the LORD wasn’t telling David that his idea was a bad one. Instead, as you know, a temple was built; but not by David. It was built in the days of Solomon, David’s son.
You see, we’ve all had great ideas and great thoughts. Yet, the best thing you can do with your best thoughts and ideas is to submit them to the LORD’s will.
Now did you notice the power of David’s idea? At first Nathan gives a resounding yes, verse three. (3) And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.” How many times in life have you had a great idea only to proceed and forget to take it to the LORD?
Please notice that neither Nathan nor the LORD said “No” to David. What God did say was “Not yet.’ The LORD’s plan was to have his son Solomon build it. God may answer No. He might answer “Yes.” Or, He may also simply tell you to delight yourself in Him. Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
Now, we’ve all got plans. But how much better to turn our plans over the LORD! After all, don’t we pray “Thy will be done…?” Find with me Psalm 37:5 where David spells this out in detail. Psalm 37 as your might already know, is a Hebrew acrostic. And it uses the entire Hebrew alphabet. For example, every two verses begin with one of the letters of the Alphabet. Verses one and two begin with a word starting with the Hebrew letter Aleph. Verses three and four begin with the Hebrew letter Beth; and so forth.
The one I want to turn your attention to is verse five. Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Here’s David’s word in light of his hope to build a Temple.
First, the LORD desires to guide our lives. Here’s what He says again. “Commit thy way unto the LORD.” It’s true that He perfectly knows everything about you from all your thoughts to your activities. And it’s His desire is to accomplish His will in our lives. He’s the One Who knows you best. He knows you because He made you. He gave to you your talents, your strengths, your weaknesses, your desires, even your plans and goals.
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