Exhortation Station

The other day I read a passage in 2 Samuel that was encouraging to me.  This is the passage where David wanted to build a house for Yahweh.  Yahweh told him through the prophet Nathan that it would not be David, but one of David’s sons (Solomon) who would build a temple for Yahweh.  Why did Yahweh tell David this?  Why didn’t He just say “okay, go ahead, David”?  Let’s read…

2 Samuel 7:5-13 — “…say to My servant David, ‘Thus says YHWH, “Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? ⁶ For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle. ⁷ Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which 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 YHWH of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth. ¹⁰ I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly, ¹¹ even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies.  YHWH also declares to you that YHWH will make a house for you. ¹² When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.'”

We see here that Yahweh did not allow David to build Him a temple because Yahweh wanted to first establish His people and the house of David.  In other words, the Creator of the Universe cared more about blessing His people than about having a house for Himself!  To me, this is another glimpse in the Scriptures of Yah’s great love for His people. 

Moreover, this passage should be a convicting reminder to us of what our attitude should be as children of Yahweh.  If the Creator Himself was content to “live in a tent, even in a tabernacle” to see His people established, how much more should we love others in the same, selfless manner?  

This reminds me of a story I heard (possibly legend but the spirit is true) that was set in the 1700’s.  A group of soldiers were trying to move a heavy timber as the corporal was barking orders to “heave” harder.  A rider on horseback came across the group and finally asked the corporal why he was not helping move the log.  The corporal answered, “Me?  I’m a corporal sir.  I give orders.”  The rider dismounted his horse and took his place among the soldiers until, after much lifting and heaving, the timber was finally moved out of the way.  The rider mounted his horse and said to the corporal, “The next time you have a log for your men to move, corporal, send for your commander-in-chief.”  The rider was George Washington!  (*See references at bottom of page.)

Yahweh, our ultimate “commander-in-chief,” was content to live in a tent while establishing His people in a land flowing with milk and honey.  Most of all, Yahweh gave His only Son to die for our sins.  Yahshua, Yahweh’s own flesh and blood, humbled Himself to the utmost degree.  Yahweh commanded us to selflessly love one another, and He Himself set the example.

To conclude, listen to David’s response starting in verse 18: ^“Then David the king went in and sat before YHWH, and he said, ‘Who am I, O Lord YHWH, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?…Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord YHWH! ²¹ For the sake of Your word, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness to let Your servant know. ²² For this reason You are great, O Lord YHWH; for there is none like You, and there is no Elohim besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.'”

Let us remember the example of kindness that Yahweh and His Son Yahshua set for us .  Let’s remember the example David set here of what our response should be to that kindness.  Finally, let’s be willing to “get in there and move a log” for someone just like Yahshua “got in there” to move a log we could not budge on our own.

(All Bible passages NASB, Hebrew transl. added.)

References:

https://betterlifecoachingblog.com/2015/07/10/the-soldiers-the-corporal-and-george-washington-a-story-about-leadership/

https://baybusinesshelp.com/2013/02/15/2-stories-of-george-washington-and-the-power-of-humility/