Where God Lives
Now when the king was settled in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." 3 Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind, for the LORD is with you." 4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, 5 "Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in?" (2 Samuel 7:1-5)
David, who at the start of his reign, had been afraid to have the ark of God reside in the city with him, now wanted to build God a dwelling as grand as his own. The prophet Nathan - seemingly without consulting God - gave David the go-ahead. But that night, God spoke a different plan to Nathan. While God had been content to move with the people and have the ark reside in a tent constructed to God's specifications, God was not actually opposed to a more permanent structure - God just had someone else in mind as the builder. However, this was not a rejection of David. Through Nathan, God communicated a plan to establish and bless David's house (lineage) and to establish a kingdom for David's offspring - from whom God would never remove God's love. David was overwhelmed with gratitude for God's gracious generosity.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long. (Psalm 23)
The books of Matthew and Luke both record Jesus remarking that the Son of Man had no place to lay his head. Jesus' ministry kept him on the move, both in order to serve people and for the safety of himself and his disciples. While the ark of God did eventually reside in an ornate temple built by David's son, Solomon, Jesus did not have the security or luxury of a permanent dwelling during his ministry. Jesus made his home wherever there were people in need and his family among those who served along side him. We can't ignore the possibility that our striving for bigger and better homes, luxurious vehicles, and lush vacations may be out of step with God's priorities. Whenever some struggle, we all have need. May God help us to align our priorities and our politics with God's vision of justice and equity that we might live where God abides.
54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him 55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. (Mark 6:54-56)
Comments