Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Once again, we have moved forward in the story out of 1 Samuel into 2 Samuel
We have missed: Saul being anointed king, failing to follow God and dying in battle, David is anointed king, God is with David and gives David success throughout as he led the people through war, and united a divided Israel into one country.
We catch up with David in today’s reading, finally, at peace, in Jerusalem. He looks around at his house and we hear David proposing to build God a house In Jerusalem. At first, his councilor Nathan tells him to go ahead, but then Nathan hears from God. God basically says nothing doing David!!!
Our task today is to find out why God denies what David wants to do. It does seem a little odd, doesn’t it? God has been with David and supported David in everything he has done, but this time God says NO!
Have you ever gotten a present from someone that was not what you wanted?
Maybe you have a favorite aunt, who knits you a sweater that is too large, or more likely too small because she remembers you as a child even though you are now 17!
In our upcoming election, several different groups have declared that God is on their side. I even heard that one candidate was hurting God! Sounds like we are getting above ourselves like David, thinking that we need to protect God!
Maybe God feels that way about David’s proposed gift of a temple. God talks about how he has been with the people since they were in Egypt. Remember in the wilderness how God as with the people as a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night? What kind of a temple could contain that kind of God? Maybe David is trying to control God. To build a temple o tame this wild God who travels everywhere. Maybe David remembers how God turned his back on Saul So he wants to keep God near to him.
God states very clearly that God never asked for a temple, but was content to be with the people wherever they wandered. God's response implies that maybe David is getting a little above himself. God lists all the things God has done for David
“I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be leader over my people Israel.
I’ve been with you wherever you’ve gone, and I’ve eliminated all your enemies before you. It does seem to me that David might be lifting himself above his status. He doesn’t just want to be king, he wants to control God! We fall into that trap too don’t we? Whenever we talk about how God is on our side, in war or an election, Or even in our denomination. I remember growing up Roman Catholic and trying to figure out why I was told that my friends who weren’t catholic might not get into heaven.
In our upcoming election, several different groups have declared that God is on their side. I even heard that one candidate was hurting God! Sounds like we are getting above ourselves like David, thinking that we need to protect God!
I think we need to remember what Abraham Lincoln said when, in the midst of the Civil War, an aide said to him “I am glad God is on our side. “Lincoln’s reply was ‘…my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.’”
That is our call as Christians and disciples, that we always strive to be on the side of God, not trying to control God, because even David the great king couldn’t do that! We are called specifically by Jesus to “(L)ove the Lord God with all our passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And ‘Love others as well as we love ourselves.’
Let us pray Lord God, let us understand that you are in control. No matter the chaos we may be experiencing, remind us to love you with all that we are and to love our neighbors as our selves Amen
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