August 08, 2010
Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson
Focus on God’s purposes
Melissa Riley, youth minister, Baring Cross Church of Sherwood
If you have ever been on a mission trip of any kind, you have probably come to the realization of how fortunate you are to be living as you do and with the luxuries you have. Sometimes even watching television reports from third world countries can evoke the same emotion. We realize that those who do without are no less deserving of the amenities we enjoy. In 2 Samuel 7, David had a similar response as he began to observe the comfort he experienced in comparison to the “dwelling place” of God.
Many times when faced with such disparities, our compassion (or possibly in David’s case, reverence for God) takes over and spurs us toward action. This, however, was not in God’s plan for David’s life. The Lord chose to speak through the prophet Nathan to steer David away from the idea of building a “house” for God. God had a plan for David, and He has a plan for you and me. The things we place importance on do not always fit into what God has laid out for us. As the Lord tells us in Isaiah 55:8, His ways are not our ways. There is comfort found in this truth.
The beauty found here is that God’s plans are also accompanied by hope. Even though David was selected for a purpose other than building the Temple, the Lord reminds David of the way He has always been with the Israelites and promises to continue to provide. The Lord also gives David hope by assuring David that the Temple would be completed by his son. Furthermore, God assures David his throne will endure forever. This hope is not unique to David’s circumstances. Any time God reveals His will to us, we can cling to the hope that He is faithful even when our futures are not as clearly mapped out.
When we take part in God’s will working around us, the blessings of God are sure to follow. This can sometimes be overwhelming. David’s response to the Lord (vv. 18-21) shows a humble spirit, awed by the fact that the Lord would use him to accomplish such great things. We do not always feel deserving of God’s calling on our lives, but nonetheless, our response should be grateful. God uses us in spite of our weaknesses. Second Corinthians 12:9 tells us His power is made perfect in our weakness. God is constantly using imperfect people to reveal Himself to a sinful world through love and obedience to His will.