II SAMUEL 7 Lesson # 7

YOU CANNOT OUT GIVE GOD

I. Introduction:

Q Is God dependent on our gifts?

An = God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and yet He has allowed us to give to Him financially and to serve Him with our time and efforts.

Q Why does Almighty God allow us to serve Him, when He is totally self-sufficient?

An = We teach our children to give gifts to others, because it is healthy for them to give. We never need the gifts our children give us when they are small, but they are so important to us because they came from them. God is the same way.

II. David’s Consideration of God’s Honor: II Samuel 7:1-3.

>>>> Have someone read II Samuel 7:1-3.

Q What was David’s condition in 7:1?

An = After being crowned king, uniting the tribes, defeating the Philistines, building himself a palace and moving the ark to Jerusalem David is given a breather.

Q Do we need times of “inactivity” or “breathers” occasionally if we are to see the important things in life?

An = Modern business corporations have learned that if their leaders do not take breaks, they get stale, uncreative, or begin to miss key details.

Q During David’s “break” what does he realize in 7:2?

An = That he lives in better accommodations than the key symbol of God’s presence: the ark.

Q What does this say about David?

An = David really had respect and honor for God. How often do we care as much about the house of God as our own house?

Q How does Nathan respond in 7:3? Did Nathan hear from the Lord according to verse 3?

An = No. Nathan tells him to go ahead but not because the Lord said so. Nathan spoke off-the-cuff. Matthew Henry (p. 335) says Nathan did well because we should always encourage others who desire to serve God and to think of God’s honor: “We ought to do all we can to encourage and promote the good purposes and designs of others, and put in a good word, as we have opportunity, to forward a good work. Nathan spoke this, not in God’s name, but as from himself; not as a prophet, but as a wise and good man.”

Q Do all of our plans work?

Q Just because we have positive and good religious sentiment does that mean it is God’s will?

III. The Divine Oracle: God Out Gives David. II Samuel 7:4-17.

A. The Denial of David’s Offer of a House: II Samuel 7:4-7.

>>>> Have someone read II Samuel 7:4-7.

Q Did God accept David’s offer to build Him a temple?

An = The answer was: “No!” The basic answer came in the form of a Rhetorical Question.

Q What reasons did the Lord give?

An = 1) The Lord never has dwelt in a house or formal temple, since the time the Lord called Israel out of Egypt. 2) He has been moving about in a tent. He is mobile! 3) The Lord had never asked any of the other leaders to build Him a temple in the days of the judges.

Q What happened to Nathan’s consistency? Is Nathan inconsistent?

An = From a human point of view Nathan was willing to back David, but when the Lord speaks Nathan knows who is to be obeyed. His “image” of giving consistent counsel is irrelevant when the truth from the Lord is revealed. Nathan is a true prophet.

Q Is there something about God that wishes to be mobile? If so, why?

An = In the book of Ezekiel there is vision of the throne of God and on it sits the very glory of Almighty God, but underneath the throne was an amazing series of objects….

>>>> Have someone read Ezekiel 1:15-20.

Q Why does Ezekiel see wheels?

An = Wheels move! Movement is stressed all through this vision of the throne of God. Notice, these amazing wheels can go up, and go forward in any direction. Also note that the rims were full of eyes.

Q Why does the Lord let a human being see wheels with eyes when that person is allowed to symbolically see the Glory of God’s throne?

An = Eyes, are the biblical “metaphor of perception and understanding”. The throne of God, the symbol of His sovereignty and His authority is not only mobile but intelligent in the directions it takes.

YOU CANNOT PUT ALMIGHTY GOD IN A BOX. Religion always wants some type of hold on God. Real faith only wishes to serve and please Him. It is like trying to “capture” the love of your children. Real love between people is not to capture them or possess them but to trust and love them.

Note: He decides where He will be and no religious temple or shrine can contain Him or make a demand or hold His glorious presence. If we disobey, He can chose to move. If He does move, it will be done so for intelligent reasons. If we feel God has moved from us, then we can ask what those reasons are.

B. The Offer of God to Build a House for David: II Samuel 7:8-17.

>>>> Have someone read II Samuel 7:8-11.

Q In verse 11 what has God offered to build for David?

An = The whole interchange between David and the Lord is predicated on the fact that the Hebrew word “bayit” can mean both a physical house or the lineage of a household. David had offered to build God a house and God said: “No thank you, but instead I want to build something for you. You offered to build me a house, and I am going to build a house for you”. Q Who did and is going to do everything in verses 8-11? Who is the subject of all the verbs in these sentences?

An = God! God is the actor. “I” took you from the pasture…. “I” have been with you wherever you have gone. “I” have cut off all your enemies… “I” will make your name great…. “I” will provide a place for my people…. “I” will also give you rest…. Nathan says it well: “The Lord declares to you that the Lord Himself will establish a house for you….”

Q Can we out give God?

Q Can a nine year old child out give a good parent?

Q Is it important that a child wants to give to his parents?

Q Is it important that we want to build things for the Lord?

An = In both cases it is the delight of the parent and the delight of God to see such a desire to give. Not that God or the parent needs anything that we have, but because it is an indication of a healthy relationship with God or the parent.

>>>> Have someone read II Samuel 7:12-17.

Q Will God allow a temple (a house) to be built for Him?

An = Yes, He will. It will be built by David’s heir, a proof that David’s lineage will indeed pass on. David’s “house” will build the “house”.

Note: Notice the series of “I” continues. God is going to do all that David could not guarantee after he is gone. It was God who gave David the kingdom (7:8), and it will be God who allows David’s dynasty to continue (7:13).

Q What does 7:14 mean?

An = God will use the instrumentality of other men to punish David’s heirs. No matter how special you are, even if you are a son of the most special king in Israel, you are not above receiving correction when you are wrong. Notice, right and wrong are not different for a farmer or for a king.

>>>> Have someone read Hebrews 13:7-8.

Q If God is correcting us in our lives, through the pressures and evil deeds of other men, what does that mean about our “self-worth” or “our place in God’s heart”?

An = “Whom He loves, He also corrects” is said numerous times in the Bible (Job 5:17; Psalms 94:12; Revelations 3:19; Hebrews 13:7-8). If God is working you over with the actions of other men, then that could be a great sign that He deeply loves you, just as He also deeply loves David’s heirs.

Q Has God ever proved that He loves you in this way?

Q What is promised in 7:15?

An = God will not abandon them. “…your throne shall be established forever.” If God has chosen us then He will succeed.

>>>> Have someone read Philippians 1:6.