Wednesday Thought – March 2, 2106

Good Morning Friends,

David final great dream was to build a grand temple for the Lord. He had defeated the enemies of Israel and was living in peace. (2 Samuel 7:1) He had a beautiful palace for himself and was enjoying life in it. (2 Samuel 7:2) Now, David wanted to build a temple that would honor God.

Before pursuing his dream he inquired of the Lord through the prophet Nathan about whether it would please God. Initially, Nathan gave David his own opinion that it would please the Lord and God would bless it. That night the Lord spoke to Nathan and told him that David was not to build the temple.

God gave David an even better dream. “The Lord declares to you that He will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. … Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:11-16)

God promised an enduring kingdom, with his offspring sitting on the throne forever. God promised that it would be his son who would build the temple. It was a dream beyond David’s wildest imagination. David’s house would contain a long line of kings … with one King who would sit on the throne forever.

Sometimes God allows us to have our dreams, pursue them, and accomplish them. Sometimes our dreams are thwarted – by our mistakes, opposition, circumstances, even by God Himself. Sometimes when our dreams are thwarted, God has even grander plans for us. That is what God promised to us – the dreams God has for us will be even more amazing than any dream we would ever have.

Paul wrote, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

His, by Grace, Steve