Today’s readings.. (2 Samuel 7), (Jeremiah 12), (Matthew 23)

Today’s reading in 2 Samuel 7 is one that many know well: it is one of the most significant passages in the Old Testament. King David has reached the pinnacle of his life, his love for God and his relationship with God is at its highest point. It suddenly comes into his mind that he should build a Temple for his God, the only real God, where he can be permanently worshipped.

The prophet Nathan tells him to go ahead, “do all that is in your heart” [v.3], but “the same night the word of the LORD comes to Nathan” [v.4] and among the many things he is told to tell David is “I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off your enemies from before you. And will make of you a great name … “ [v.9]

Then there is this remarkable promise, “Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled … I will raise up your offspring after you … and I will establish his kingdom … and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.” [v.11-13]. This is both a short term and an everlasting promise from God. Solomon fulfils the short term promise of a son and he is also the one to build the physical house, the Temple in Jerusalem.

David is overwhelmed by the long term vision that is opened up to his mind. He “went in and sat before the LORD (in the tabernacle) and says, “Who am I , O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come … you have brought about this greatness, to make your servant know it.” [v.19,21]

We notice that the first words in the Gospel of Matthew are “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David … “ As with David, God was with the Lord Jesus wherever he went. Remember his personal prayer, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me …” [John 11 v.41,42]

Those who truly belong to Christ live with the same realization, the disciple John was to write, “… in this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him … if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” [1 John 4 v.9,12] Awesome, is the modern word for this! But it is beyond being ‘awesome’ – it requires the deepest meditation and realization, may he be with us wherever we go. .