Day 115-11

VIII - The Reign of David - 1025-985 B.C. ~ cont.

A. David becomes king ~ cont.

3. Ark brought back to Jerusalem ~ cont.

i. Michal despises David who rejoices in the Lord - 2 Samuel 6:20-23

4. Israel's power grows

a. Plans for God's house

(1) David's desire to build - 2 Samuel 7:1-3; 1 Chronicles 17:1-2
(2) God chooses Soloman to build the temple - 2 Samuel 7:4-17; 1 Chronicles 17:3-15
(3) David's prayer - 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 1 Chronicles 17:16-27; Psalm 2:1-12; 110:1-7; 16:1-11

{pages 508 - 512}

And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.  (2 Samuel 7:3)

Nathan does not appear to have asked.  I thought it interesting that Nathan, who also confronts David about his sin with Bathsheba, is honored by David when he names a child after him.

And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel:  (1 Chronicles 3:5)

Obviously Father had other plans for David and the building of a temple:

Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?  Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.  (2 Samuel 7:5-6)

Father had other plans for who (Soloman) was to build the temple:

He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.  I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:  But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.  (2 Samuel 7:13-15)

Nathan was obedient:

According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.  (2 Samuel 7:17)

Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?  (2 Samuel 7:18)

I was curious as to where David sat.  Gill's commentary:

Then went King David in,.... Into the tabernacle where the ark was, which he had prepared for it, 2Sa_6:17, 

and sat before the Lord; before the ark, the symbol of his presence, and prayed, and gave thanks, as follows: from whence it appears that a sitting posture was sometimes used in prayer, of which we have other instances, Exo_17:11. It is said (y) that Pythagoras, and also Numa, ordered that worshippers should sit. So that this act of devotion is not to be limited to any particular posture, though it seems most agreeable either to stand or kneel; and the Jews look upon this to be a peculiar case, and infer from hence that none were allowed to sit in the court but the kings of the house of Judah (z); and some of them (a) will not allow that to them, since the seraphim above are even said to stand, Isa_6:2; and suppose the meaning of this to be only that David supported himself in the court; and some render the words, "he remained before the Lord" (b); he continued in meditation, prayer, and thanksgiving, and such like acts of devotion, for a considerable time; so the Targum, in 1Ch_17:16."King David came and continued in prayer before the Lord:" 

I thought that interesting that sitting was a posture of prayer.  The reference given for Exodus:

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.  (Exodus 17:11-12)

The example of our Lord in the garden:

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.  (Luke 22:41-42)

Might we be encouraged beloved of the Lord to continually seek Him in prayer, whether it be lying upon our beds, sitting  in our chairs, or kneeling before Him.  May the meditation of our hearts and minds be focused upon Him, bringing/giving Him honor and glory.