ICS Daily Devotions
Realizing the Vision
2 Sam 7:12-13 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will 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.”
King David was very different from other kings because he sought after God even after ascending to the throne. His love and passion for God caused him to desire to build God’s house, the temple. However, God did not grant that he perform this task. Instead, God entered into a covenant with David and promised that David’s son would be the one to construct the temple. Despite all that David had done, even he needed to know that the plans of God are realized with God’s timing. God is the one who ultimately fulfills his own plans.
David’s son, King Solomon, did build the temple, but no nation’s throne can be established forever, not even by Solomon, because he, like us, was a fallible human being. Jerusalem fell, the temple was destroyed, and the people were marched off into slavery. But it all works out! Jesus acts as the fulfillment of God’s covenant with David, as Jesus was also one of his descendants, and both came from Bethlehem.
Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
After twenty-six generations, Jesus fulfilled all these promises and established the eternal throne. David, naturally, did not live to see it. And this was not the first point that tested David’s willingness to let God choose the timing. David was anointed the future king as a young man, but it was years before his throne was established. What did David do in the interim?
He was known to be very faithful and loyal to King Saul, and patient on God’s timing. He was unassuming in his ways. He knew God, and he knew the way of God. David never undermined King Saul’s leadership or position, despite the crowds crying out in the square that David had killed tens of thousands whereas King Saul had killed only his thousands.
It takes a man of character to be loyal and faithful to his leader when that same man is elevated into a high position by the people. Yet, even when King Saul became insecure and sought to kill David, David never once sought to sabotage King Saul or lay his hands on him. There were many opportunities to do so, such as when he was in the same cave as him, but knew that King Saul was God’s anointed, despite the king’s waywardness, and so he chose to remain loyal. And he knew that God would make good on his promise without him having to “hurry up” the process. His mighty men took their cues from their leader, and followed suit with their loyalty. They believed in David’s leadership, his vision and the calling that was upon his life. And, of course, David was eventually crowned king, his patience and faithfulness rewarded.
Although David was not a perfect king, and mishandled some big issues, there are still many things we can learn from him, such as his patience and his trust that God is ultimately the one who realizes his own plans, not us. We may feel that it is incumbent upon us to ram home the commission we’ve been given by God. It is not. It is our job to obey and to pursue the vision, but the successful realization of God’s plan is a matter to leave in God’s hands.
Sermon Series: King David’s Men
