(Read 2 Sam 7:8-17)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” We pick up the story of David in a conversation between the prophet Nathan and God. David told Nathan that he wanted to build God a house, out of the gratitude of his heart, and because he did not feel comfortable living in a lavish home while the Ark of the Covenant (and the presence of the Lord) remained in a tent. The prophet took the word to the Lord and the Lord was pleased. The Lord instructed Nathan to tell David, “I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.” What a tremendous blessing! With those words David was reminded of his past and the Lord pronounced a blessing over the nation of Israel.
If the Lord had not gone any further, what He had already spoken over Israel would have been good enough. However, the Lord often blesses us beyond measure. Since David was looking to be a blessing to God, God was looking to be a blessing to him. So the Lord went on to say, “Furthermore, the LORD declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.” Nathan then went back to David and told him everything the LORD had said.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. The Lord loves it when our heart is set on blessing Him. While it is true that we were created to expand God’s Kingdom in the earth, it is also true that we were created to worship and bless the Lord (Ps 102:18, Rev 4:11). Once David was in position as King of Israel, his first thought was to be a blessing to the Lord. This was pleasing in God’s sight. You can do the same. Like David, you can look around and acknowledge how blessed you are. You can see the grace and favor of God on your life. And also like David, you should look for ways to bless the Lord. If you do, the Lord will be pleased and when He is pleased with you, you will surely like the results.
2. You can’t beat God’s giving. When your goal is to give to God, to be a blessing to Him, you will find that He will find ways to out-bless you. David wanted to build God a house, so God established David’s house forever. What David wanted to do would last a few generations, but what God did for Him endured from generation to generation. God will do the same for you. He may not give you the same blessing He gave David, but when your goal is to bless Him, you will find that He will surely bless you. And His blessing towards you will be far greater than anything you could ever give Him. Our God has a way of blessing us beyond anything we could ever think or imagine (Eph 3:20).
3. Our God is a God of legacy. The Lord wants to bless you and your children (Ps 115:14). He wants you to be so blessed that you are able to leave and inheritance for our children’s children (Prov 13:22), and He wants the inheritance to be far greater than just money. When God looks at you He sees your seed. When He deals with you, He will setting up your kids and grandkids. When God seeks to eradicate unrighteous behavior in your life, He is looking to change you, but He is also looking to protect your lineage. What God wants to do in your life is much bigger than just you. David found this out and I pray you do as well. What God wants to do TO you is about what He wants to do THROUGH you. So don’t fight the process. Allow the Lord to help stop unrighteous behavior in your generation and start new trends in your family, trends that please the Lord.
Closing Confession: Father, my heart is set on blessing You. I acknowledge how blessed I am. You have been better to me than I have been to You, and even better to me than I have been to myself. You are exceedingly kind towards me and You bless me by Your amazing grace. When I look around and see how blessed I am, I can’t help but want to do something for You. I look for ways to be a blessing to You daily. I want You to get the glory out of everything I do. I seek to bless You today in every meeting, conversation and activity I engage in. And as I seek to bless You, I know You will seek to bless me. While I am focused on being a blessing to You, I know You will be focused on being a blessing to me. You will bless me, more and more, me and my children. With that in mind, I declare, by faith, that I will parent for a legacy. I will take everything You have poured into me and release it to my children. I will pray over them fervently and diligently. They will not have to start where I started. I want to see them do more and make a greater impact in Your Kingdom than I ever will. I want better for my children and I thank You for being a God that transfers Blessing to the second and third generation. My children and my children’s children shall be blessed because of Your hand upon my life. Thank You Father, for teaching me what it means to be a Godly parent! I seek Your face, I seek to bless you richly, and I am blessed because of it! In Jesus’ Name! Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
