"I AM is bigger than you" - God (2 Samuel 7:1-17)

I actually started today's blog coming at this scripture from my natural legal mind. I was going to study the Davidic Covenant (verses 1-17) in the context of contract law as I have learned it. But I quickly hit "delete" and started over. Human contract law falls short when looking at this promise/covenant that God makes to David. For our contract laws require agreed terms bargained between two relatively equal parties. But clearly God and David are not equally positioned!! So there went that half hour of writing. But that's ok. That's how we learn.

So, I took a new look at this scripture. First, we find David fat and happy. His kingdom is at peace. His enemies have been restrained. He now lives in a palace built of cedar wood. And one day he's chillin' with Nathan and he apparently is oversome with guilt because he lives in this beautiful crib while the ark of the covenant (God's literal presence) still sits in a tent. So David proclaims to Nathan of his desire to build God a house. David must be feeling pretty good about himself. It almost seems as though he is taking pity on God - dare I say. If you think about it, it's almost comical. Here's David, a mere mortal, believing that he lives better than Jehovah Himself! Pretty funny, huh? Then, Nathan's knee jerk response is "Go ahead...God is with you." Nathan saw David's misguided, but probably good intentions and endorsed them without consulting God. How do we know this? Because the next night, the Word of the Lord came to Nathan and basically said "Have I asked for a house? I haven't needed a house up to this point!"

Then God does an amazing thing. He shifts to what HE will do for David, NOT what David could do for God. God then proclaims the Davidic Covenant promising to establish David's kingdom and his house forever. His kingdom and house could only be eternal if Christ would come from David's line. This was a key point in God's plan of redemption for mankind! This was another incredible step in the Gospel story!! It's important to note that God places no conditions on this covenant as He sometimes did throughout scripture. God said it...and that was it!

Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in what we can,or what we will do for God. It can discourage us or make us prideful even - depending on where our walk is with God. But the amazing truth of this passage is that it's not about US! God shifts the whole paradigm to show David that it's David that needs God, not the other way around. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to this earth to die on a cross and provide eternal salvation of HIS OWN WILL AND DOING. He did it because He loves us dearly and knows WE need HIM.

So next time you feel discouraged, inadequate, or maybe even puffed up, never forget that it is GOD who intiates! He is unchanging! He will never let us down! He keeps us until the day of His coming! We need Him. He doesn't need us.