2 Samuel 7:1-29
Nathan said to the king, Go, do everything that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you (v.3). [But] that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying (v.4), "Tell David, when you die I will set up one of your sons (v.12), who shall build a house for my name, and I will establish his throne for your descendants forever" (v.13). David's response was ..."O Lord God, please do as You say and establish my descendants on the throne of Israel forever" (v.25). {My paraphrase}.
The fulfilment of the prophecies is one of the reasons I believe the Bible to be the Word of God. In this chapter, relating to events some 1000 years before the birth of Jesus, Nathan the prophet has a knee-jerk reaction, much like Believers, most of the time! Without first asking God for guidance, he assumes that God is happy with David and will bless everything he does, and tells David to go ahead and build the house for God. But God has other plans which He reveals to Nathan. He tells David that his descendants will sit on Israel's throne forever.
Until taken away into captivity in Babylon, the kings of Judah were descendants of David, the shepherd boy from Bethlehem. And because the genealogical records of the Jews were destroyed in 70 AD when Titus sacked Jerusalem, Jesus is the last known descendant of king David! His genealogical records are written in the New Testament. Yes, there is a break in that Israel do not presently have a visible king, but Jesus has been alive all along (except for three days after Calvary), and He is going to sit on David's throne ...forever! When He, the One appointed to be King of kings and Lord of lords, returns He will not only rule Israel but all mankind ... forever!
2 Samuel 8:1-18
The LORD protected David, and gave him victory everywhere (v.14).
Strengthened and supported by God, David was unstoppable, gaining victories over all enemies along his borders. God did this so that when Solomon came to the throne there would be peace in the land, allowing him the opportunity to build the Temple.
Know this: When God has work for us to do He always prepares the way for us. So if we are facing difficulties it is because it is part of God's preparations for whatever He would have us do.
John 14:15-31
If you love me, keep my commandments (v.15).
Many claim to be in fellowship with Jesus but do not love their neighbour (Matthew 19:19), that is, they do not keep this particular command. According to Jesus, it means that they do not love Him. There are other commandments that Believers (yes, Believers) struggle to obey. Fortunately, because of His great love for us, Jesus is not going to summarily stop having fellowship with us. He will, thankfully, continue to help us to grow spiritually. But if we are to keep His commandments we must be prepared for a daily surrender of our will to Him and a commitment to ongoing spiritual growth. If we do, holiness is bound to grow in us.
Psalm 119:33-48
LORD, teach me Your statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end (v.33).
There is no way of knowing what God wants of us if we don't spend time every day reading our Bibles to find that out!
Proverbs 15:33
Through fearing the LORD we will want instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility (v.33).
Through (a healthy) fear and respect for God we seek to learn about Him so that we can please Him. Once we learn to obey God's word we will be able to instruct others.
We must be humble enough to be led by others before we can lead others well.
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