David’s Legacy
2 Samuel 7:5-17
5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 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 prince over my people Israel; 9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men; 15 but I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.”
David was a man after God’s own heart and sought to glorify and honor God in everything he did. During his years of exile, David vowed he would build God a house. His heart longing was to build a house for the Lord so that God’s presence and glory would dwell in the midst of the Israel. David’s heart was to shepherd the people of Israel and he sought continually to improve their spiritual condition. God had a much bigger plan for David than building a temple – God would make David a house. God would establish a spiritual legacy through him to the people for all generations to come.
Legacy of Hope
In “Becoming a Leader After God’s Heart: A Study of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles” the author outlines three promises of hope that God gives to David in 2 Sam. 7:8–17 to leave as a legacy to the people. First, God promises that he would bring peace to the land. Second, God promises that the temple would be built. Third and foremost, God promised David that one of his descendants would rule forever.
The first two promises were fulfilled through David’s son Solomon. Solomon brought peace to the land and also built the temple to God. The third promise was fulfilled through Jesus. Jesus came from the line of David, bringing the hope of salvation and a reconciled relationship with God. Rather than God dwelling in a house, we have God dwelling in us – the living temple. What an incredible inheritance!!
Legacy of Praise and Worship
David found comfort in God’s presence and worshiping God in the midst of the worst circumstances. David’s Psalms are filled with praises to God while many of them were written during the darkest time of his life when he was running from Saul and hiding in caves. David took everything as coming from the hand of God and submitted to it in complete dependence. He did not try to fight for power but had complete trust in God working things out for him. He dealt with his pain and confusion, not by ignoring it or by lashing out, but by pressing through it. He poured out his heart to God and let God meet him in the midst of his pain. Through his Psalms and examples, he left a legacy for others on how to deal with difficult circumstances.
Legacy of Honor and Commitment
David was not about glorifying himself or being the center of attention. David did not ambitiously pursue kingship like most people would have done in his position. Even though he had a calling to kingship and a great deal of reason to cause Saul harm, he refused to harm Saul when he was given the opportunity. He grieved greatly when Saul died and rather than speaking poorly of him, he gave him honor in his death. To David, power was not about getting his own advantage but to bring forth the righteousness and mercy of God.
David was faithful and single hearted when it came to serving God. Whatever circumstances came his way, David used them as an opportunity to glorify God. His example of humility, brokenness, and obedience to God set an example for both the men serving him and all the people he came in contact with.
Legacy of Generosity, Gratitude and Joy
In Warren W. Wersbe’s commentary on 2 Samuel and I Chronicles called “Be Restored,” he comments on the prayer David made in 1 Chronicles 29:10-20 for the people of Israel during his address on the temple: “David prays that his people might always have hearts of generosity, gratitude and joy and that they might always be loyal to their God.”
David not only prayed this for the people, but he exemplified it in his actions. David gave more than anyone for the building of the temple and he did it with joy, gratitude, and a willing heart (1 Chronicles 29:17). David never asked from the people what he was not more than willing to do for God himself. He had a genuine sincerity about him as he was fully committed to the purposes of God.
Legacy of Repentance
David sinned greatly when he had a relationship with Bathsheba and then killed her husband Uriah the Hittite. What makes this an even greater sin is that Uriah was one of David’s most loyal men and was among the thirty elite (2 Samuel 23:39) who devotedly laid down his life to serve the king. David also sinned greatly when he called a census to be taken of the people. And, as a result many people lost their lives in a pestilence.
However great David’s sin, he had the humility to recognize when he was wrong and repent. 2 Samuel 24:10 says, “Now David’s heart troubled him after he numbered the people. So David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of Thy servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”
Through his example, David teaches others about God’s grace and willingness to use imperfect, ordinary people, to achieve extraordinary results. Rather than becoming discouraged and quitting by failing, David wholeheartedly repented and moved forward again without hesitation. Several years ago I heard Magic Johnson speak on the secret to his success. He said that he failed 10,000 times more than he succeeded but he still stayed in the game. David was one who stayed in the game and left a legacy for others of how to do the same.
Summary
God asked David to look beyond what he could give and do now, and pour himself into the next generation. Rather than continuing to do the work of serving God, God asked David to step aside and invest in his son, letting him build the temple to God. God instead used David to create a lasting legacy –a legacy of hope, praise, worship, honor, commitment, generosity, gratitude, joy and repentance that continues to live on.
Many of us have a heart longing to serve and honor God in all we do the same as David did. We long to contribute to God’s kingdom, to add value, and to build Him a place of honor in our lives. At some point in our lives, however, I think God also calls us to look beyond what we can contribute to the here and now and pursue what we can pass on of lasting value to the next generation. It is in how we can leave a legacy to others that exponentially multiplies our contributions to the kingdom of God.
5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 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 prince over my people Israel; 9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men; 15 but I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.”
David was a man after God’s own heart and sought to glorify and honor God in everything he did. During his years of exile, David vowed he would build God a house. His heart longing was to build a house for the Lord so that God’s presence and glory would dwell in the midst of the Israel. David’s heart was to shepherd the people of Israel and he sought continually to improve their spiritual condition. God had a much bigger plan for David than building a temple – God would make David a house. God would establish a spiritual legacy through him to the people for all generations to come.
Legacy of Hope
In “Becoming a Leader After God’s Heart: A Study of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles” the author outlines three promises of hope that God gives to David in 2 Sam. 7:8–17 to leave as a legacy to the people. First, God promises that he would bring peace to the land. Second, God promises that the temple would be built. Third and foremost, God promised David that one of his descendants would rule forever.
The first two promises were fulfilled through David’s son Solomon. Solomon brought peace to the land and also built the temple to God. The third promise was fulfilled through Jesus. Jesus came from the line of David, bringing the hope of salvation and a reconciled relationship with God. Rather than God dwelling in a house, we have God dwelling in us – the living temple. What an incredible inheritance!!
Legacy of Praise and Worship
David found comfort in God’s presence and worshiping God in the midst of the worst circumstances. David’s Psalms are filled with praises to God while many of them were written during the darkest time of his life when he was running from Saul and hiding in caves. David took everything as coming from the hand of God and submitted to it in complete dependence. He did not try to fight for power but had complete trust in God working things out for him. He dealt with his pain and confusion, not by ignoring it or by lashing out, but by pressing through it. He poured out his heart to God and let God meet him in the midst of his pain. Through his Psalms and examples, he left a legacy for others on how to deal with difficult circumstances.
Legacy of Honor and Commitment
David was not about glorifying himself or being the center of attention. David did not ambitiously pursue kingship like most people would have done in his position. Even though he had a calling to kingship and a great deal of reason to cause Saul harm, he refused to harm Saul when he was given the opportunity. He grieved greatly when Saul died and rather than speaking poorly of him, he gave him honor in his death. To David, power was not about getting his own advantage but to bring forth the righteousness and mercy of God.
David was faithful and single hearted when it came to serving God. Whatever circumstances came his way, David used them as an opportunity to glorify God. His example of humility, brokenness, and obedience to God set an example for both the men serving him and all the people he came in contact with.
Legacy of Generosity, Gratitude and Joy
In Warren W. Wersbe’s commentary on 2 Samuel and I Chronicles called “Be Restored,” he comments on the prayer David made in 1 Chronicles 29:10-20 for the people of Israel during his address on the temple: “David prays that his people might always have hearts of generosity, gratitude and joy and that they might always be loyal to their God.”
David not only prayed this for the people, but he exemplified it in his actions. David gave more than anyone for the building of the temple and he did it with joy, gratitude, and a willing heart (1 Chronicles 29:17). David never asked from the people what he was not more than willing to do for God himself. He had a genuine sincerity about him as he was fully committed to the purposes of God.
Legacy of Repentance
David sinned greatly when he had a relationship with Bathsheba and then killed her husband Uriah the Hittite. What makes this an even greater sin is that Uriah was one of David’s most loyal men and was among the thirty elite (2 Samuel 23:39) who devotedly laid down his life to serve the king. David also sinned greatly when he called a census to be taken of the people. And, as a result many people lost their lives in a pestilence.
However great David’s sin, he had the humility to recognize when he was wrong and repent. 2 Samuel 24:10 says, “Now David’s heart troubled him after he numbered the people. So David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of Thy servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”
Through his example, David teaches others about God’s grace and willingness to use imperfect, ordinary people, to achieve extraordinary results. Rather than becoming discouraged and quitting by failing, David wholeheartedly repented and moved forward again without hesitation. Several years ago I heard Magic Johnson speak on the secret to his success. He said that he failed 10,000 times more than he succeeded but he still stayed in the game. David was one who stayed in the game and left a legacy for others of how to do the same.
Summary
God asked David to look beyond what he could give and do now, and pour himself into the next generation. Rather than continuing to do the work of serving God, God asked David to step aside and invest in his son, letting him build the temple to God. God instead used David to create a lasting legacy –a legacy of hope, praise, worship, honor, commitment, generosity, gratitude, joy and repentance that continues to live on.
Many of us have a heart longing to serve and honor God in all we do the same as David did. We long to contribute to God’s kingdom, to add value, and to build Him a place of honor in our lives. At some point in our lives, however, I think God also calls us to look beyond what we can contribute to the here and now and pursue what we can pass on of lasting value to the next generation. It is in how we can leave a legacy to others that exponentially multiplies our contributions to the kingdom of God.
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