Leaving a Legacy
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Key Verse: “Thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.” Selected Scripture: |
KING DAVID HAD A DESIRE to build a house for the Lord. It seemed even more appropriate, therefore, when he confided his idea to the Lord’s prophet, and received a positive response to the proposal.
Concerning this matter we read: “The king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.” (II Sam. 7:2) David, as king of Israel, wanted to provide a permanent resting place in which the Ark of the Covenant could be placed. The Israelites had always enclosed the Ark within the curtains of the Most Holy of the Tabernacle, but they transported this, and the numerous other furnishings, from place to place as they journeyed. To David this seemed to be too temporary an arrangement, and he reasoned that it was time to bring the Ark to a permanent home in Jerusalem. When he approached the Lord’s prophet with the idea, “Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee.”—vs. 3
His plan, however, proved to be contrary to God’s will. Later that night, God spoke to Nathan revealing to him that the time had not yet come for the building of the Temple, or placing the Ark within it. The scriptural record continues, “In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?” (vs. 7) No instructions had been given for the construction of such a building.
Before any of this could happen, there were enemies to conquer. Building a ‘house’ for the Lord would not occur during his time as Israel’s king. Instead it would be given to his successor, Solomon, to build. David, however, had been especially called of the Lord and would be given an abundant share in preparing the construction materials and other items for the project when that time came.
Although Solomon would be given the task of building the Temple for the Lord, it was David, and his offspring, that would serve in the grander fulfillment. As a special promise to King David we read further, “When thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.” (vss. 12,13) This portion of the record indicates that these were to be illustrations of a greater ‘house,’ and a greater king that would be brought forth sometime in the far distant future.
David’s life and position as Israel’s king was used to illustrate the call of the Lord’s people during the present Gospel Age, and their overcoming of obstacles and enemies. Solomon, however, represents the glorified church in power and glory. These men are thus typical of these two major features in the preparation of God’s spiritual family that will one day reign victoriously in power and great glory.
It will then be true that the greater David will establish his throne over the nations. ‘Thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee; thy throne shall be established for ever.’ This will be the true legacy that will have been left for the whole human family during that wonderful time of the future.