King Forever
Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:16 (ESV)
16 And
your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne
shall be established forever.
Devotion:
Today’s scripture verse, the
pinnacle of the prophet Nathan’s oracle about King David, holds profound
significance. Consider the historical context: imagine how David and his
contemporaries in 1,000 B.C. would have perceived these words. Would they have
assumed that David’s descendants would always occupy the throne and rule over
Israel? This seems likely. Yet, the reality that the kingdom would be divided soon
after David’s death, with no direct lineage of David to rule, might have led
them to believe that this prophecy had failed.
Other prophets throughout the ages
saw this and bemoaned that David’s offspring were not worthy to occupy the
throne. They might have thought that God would have revoked the prophesy's
promise, and illegitimate pretenders would have occupied the throne. But God,
in His unwavering faithfulness, always keeps His promises. In ways we cannot
hope to understand fully, God kept the line of David throughout the ages. Not
as we humanly would have desired, but the seed of David survived. It was hidden
from the eyes of man, yet always under the watchful eye of God.
David’s descendants, particularly a
humble carpenter named Joseph and his betrothed wife Mary, were the unlikely
couple chosen to restore David's royal line. This is where our understanding of
Nathan's prophecy intersects with its modern fulfillment. It's a testament to
God's faithfulness that Mary was found to be with a child before her legal
marriage to Joseph. Both Mary and Joseph received visions about this child and
His eternal rule. God’s promise was fulfilled in ways that were beyond most
people's comprehension 2,000 years ago.
Jesus sits on the throne beside God
in heaven. God’s word to David through the prophet Nathan proved true after
all. The story of the kingship of Israel is an intriguing one. It teaches us never
to give up hope that God will make good on His promises. We may not see any way
for it to happen, but God has thoughts and plans that are very different from
our own. Over and over again, God surprises us with His goodness and
faithfulness to His people, reassuring us that He is always with us, guiding us.
The psalmist encourages us to “be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Our culture is not very good at
being still or waiting for promises that seem out of reach. We always try to
manufacture the results we think God wants to happen through our strength. So,
we often mess up and end up waiting for a result to come about in the way and
time that God desires. But it's a lesson in patience and trust: it took 1,000
or so years to prepare God’s people for their Messiah; even then, most were
still not ready to accept Him. Now, we wait for Him to return as He promised.
Let us pray for patience and the ability to be still while we await the
promised return of our King from heaven, holding onto the hope of His
faithfulness.
Prayer:
Lord, still our anxious thoughts.
Let us wait patiently for your Son Jesus to return. Keep us from attempting to
hasten His return by the foolishness and impatience of our own hearts. Lord,
may we be content to live quietly, expecting your return. Grant us your peace,
a peace that surpasses all understanding, so we can be a non-anxious presence
in the world. It may seem that the world is falling apart; help us to know it
will never fall apart in any way that surprises you. May all we do be done for
the glory of God. Amen.
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