When God says No! (After God’s own heart series #21)

2 Samuel 7:1-17 After the king was settled in his palace and the L ORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” 3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the L ORD is with you.” 4 But that night the word of the L ORD came to Nathan, saying: 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the L ORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the L ORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. “‘The L ORD declares to you that the L ORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” 17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

God’s no always means a greater yes!!!

1. Nathan the prophet was a bit presumptuous

2. You and I can often be presumptuous

Does God desire to bless you? Yes Does God ever want to harm you? No Can I always trust Him to do the right thing? Yes Am I limited in understanding to know what the right thing might be? Yes Is God limited in His understanding as to what the right thing is? Never

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the L ORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Malachi 3:17 “On the day when I act,” says the L ORD Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him.

3. God always acts in the best interest of his Kingdom

Luke 22:42-44 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

4. There can be no disparity between Kingdom interests and our own…they must be one and the same

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

B. God’s initial no was a greater yes to David that would bless the whole world

“The Lord declares to you that he will build a house for you….”

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God’s plan for you is to use you as a blessing

Eph 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

But often these greater purposes run contrary to our selfish desires and our narrow selfish interests

“The religious and volunteer organizations that have aligned themselves with individualistic values have thrived, while those that have not have withered…….both have adapted to a new culture that favors a focus on self. The religious and volunteer organizations that have succeeded have given the people what they want, which is often self admiration… … Now however, people can select the religion that works for them-often one that offers the most benefits with the least pain. To compete, religions have to give people what they want.” Dr Twenge, ‘The Narcissistic Epidemic’

Narcissistic Christianity is neither Christian nor in your long term eternal best interest

C. Rejoicing in God’s no

2 Samuel 7:18-22 Then King David went in and sat before the L ORD, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign L ORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign L ORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign L ORD, is for a mere human! 20 “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign L ORD. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant. 22 “How great you are, Sovereign L ORD ! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

Deuteronomy 34:4 4 Then the L ORD said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”

Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.