1 Chronicles 14

“Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house.  So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.  Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters. And these are the names of his children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.”  1 Chronicles 14:1-7 (NKJV)

On a fly-over, today’s chapter looks very positive.  Tyre’s king, Hiram, is building David a moth-proof (cedar) castle while the Lord guides David to victory over his most bitter enemies, the Philistines.  But check out the titles of chapters 13 & 15: The Ark Brought From Kirjath Jearim; The Ark Brought To Jerusalem.  All of the action from today’s chapter occurs when God’s ark is not in close proximity.  King Hiram promises to build David a house during a season when David is not regularly seeking the Lord.  Sure, when he needs to fight a battle, David seeks God, but allowing a foreign king (along with multiple marriages and children born to foreign women) to establish his “house” (dynasty)?  Not the type of thing we like to hear from the man “after God’s own heart.”  Eventually, in chapter 15, the ark returns.  Perhaps some guilt wells up in David as he gazes upon God’s tent.

“Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies all around, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, ‘See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.’ Then Nathan said to the king, ‘Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.’ But it happened that night that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, ‘Go and tell My servant David, “Thus says the Lord: Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?”’” 2 Samuel 7:1-5 (NKJV)

Today, we have a stern reminder that our hope, security, and, dare we say, “dynasty” will never be firmly established through worldly channels.  And by no means will we establish God’s kingdom through worldly methods or strategic relationships with non-believers!  God does not need us to build His house; we need Him to build ours, through the One whose title is “Son of David,” Messiah Jesus.  (Matthew 1:1)

“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son.  If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you.  Your throne shall be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (NKJV)