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Lent Day 23


Scripture Reading

2 Samuel 7:1-29


Throughout Lent we have talked about God's covenant with Abraham that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We now turn our attention to God's covenant with David. This was not a new covenant; rather it was a renewal of God's eternal covenant with his people that he redeemed from Egypt. God's covenant with David was renewal for his people with specific details and promises to David. 


David's greatest desire was to build a place for the Ark of the Covenant, which represented God's presence with his people. David thought it was ridiculous that he should be living luxuriously while God's ark was still housed in a tent. God had other plans for David. God's plan for David's life was different from David's plan for his own life. God knew that the best thing for David was not what he wanted but what God had ordained for him. The Rolling Stones have a song that says, "You can't always get what you want but you just might find, you get what you need." That was true for David's life. That might also be true for you in your life. There may be something that you really wanted or wanted God to lead you to do but he has other (better) plans for your life.


God's promise to David was for an everlasting kingdom. This was realized through Solomon, David's son, who built the Temple as a place for the Ark of the covenant to reside. More importantly, God's promise to David (vs. 13) of a kingdom that will last forever is a foreshadowing of the promised Messiah who would come to deliver the children of Israel. This verse goes beyond Solomon and other descendants of David to Jesus of Nazareth, a descendant who would establish a kingdom to last forever through his life, death, and resurrection.


As you think about the promises of God to David and his descendants, remind yourself of the promises of God to you as his child. He has promised you eternal life with him. He has promised that he will always be faithful to you even when you are not faithful to him. He has promised to provide for your needs. He has promised to love you unconditionally. Use David's prayer at the end of this chapter as your own today. 


Prayer: "O Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever." Amen.

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