THIS IS IT! THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

From my book - I like To Study

THIS IS IT!

THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

In 1 Chronicles 17, David was sitting around his house talking to Nathan the prophet. He said to him he dwells in a house made of wood, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remains in a tent. David was not happy about that. Nathan replied to David, do all that is in your heart for God is with you.

Later that night, God spoke to Nathan and told him to tell David that he would not build God a house to dwell in. However God would build him a house to live in. And that one of his sons will build God a house to dwell in. After Nathan spoke these and other things to him David sat before the LORD. He humbled himself and gave God glory, honor, and praises for what God has done and will do for Israel and his house. David asked God for many blessings.

In 1 Chronicles 21, it says that Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number them. Joab a general in David's army ask him why he would do this trespass against Israel? David prevailed anyway and Joab was instructed to do so, but Joab did not number Levi and Benjamin for what David was doing was abominable to him.

God smote Israel because He was displeased with this thing. And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

God sent Gad David's seer/prophet to tell him he had to choose one of three things that God would do unto him. David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for great are His mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man. So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel, and an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it, and 70,000 men fell.

Then angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David to set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. David bought the land, built the altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt and peace offerings. He then called upon the LORD who answered him by fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering.

When David saw that the LORD answered him there he said this is the house of the LORD. He began to gather together in abundance that which was needed to build the house of the LORD. And God told him that his son Solomon would be king and would build his house. In 2 Chronicles 3:1 we find that Solomon built the Temple on this very spot that God answered David's burnt offering, the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

It is a terrible thing what David, and Israel had to suffer through. But through it all God identified where He wanted a house built unto Him, and He revealed to David the details of how it should be built and furnished. David spent the rest of his life acquiring all that was needed, and Solomon built it.

This is yet another example of how God uses sin or a trespass in this case to accomplish His purposes.

Satan rose up against Israel and provoked or angered

David. David did what was right in his heart as Nathan the prophet instructed him to do. Joab tried to convince David to do otherwise which would have been the wrong thing to do. David did not waver.

God was displeased with this thing. What does that mean ?

David said he had sinned greatly because he had done this "thing." Because of this "thing" God therefore smote Israel.

But after all was said and done by God, the angel, Joab, Gad, and himself, David reflected on what he talked to Nathan about in the beginning. David probably let out a big, "Aha! This is the house of the LORD!" God had let him know that God would build his house, and identified where God wanted His house built.

And God let David know through this "thing." And now David knew what this thing was all about. God had heard him and answered him. And Scripture reveals that God was displeased with this "thing." such are the mystery's of God when we have to do things he is displeased with in order to accomplish his will, when things happen to us in order to accomplish his will.

Maybe God's displeasure was because He had to do this thing and other things involving sin, because sin had entered the world. And sin had to enter the world in order for God to get a people He could call his own. He loved us so much even before He created us. And He knew that it would take even His displeasure. It's like when He said that He desires that no man would perish and end up in Hell. But never-the-less a great multitude will. This "thing" is to Gods displeasure as well. God the Father and God the Son suffered so much for us.

This story is almost like the story of Job where

Satan is allowed to do just so much, Job hangs in there, apologizes for his sin to the LORD because he is only human and fallible, and the LORD rewards him greatly. It was the same with David. But unlike Job, David did not question God. God did not have to say to David, "Who are you to advise Me! Where were you before the world was created?"

God used both Job and David for His purposes, identified their iniquities, and they both owned up to them. God got all the glory in both cases. And in both cases we learn that the only real value we have is to serve God's purposes. God say's to Satan, "Have you considered my son or daughter ..."

Thank God for the eternal destiny He has secured for us in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world.