Pastoral Letter 222
Dear Members of St. Andrew’s Uniting Church, Friends and Adherents,
Grace and peace to you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
As you know, some of our church members are not doing well, with some serious medical issues. As they undergo treatment, let us remember them in our prayers, seeking God’s help, healing and presence, in these difficult times. As Christians and sisters and brothers, it is our duty to remember them in our prayers and bring them to God, trusting and believing that all will be good, regardless of the outcome. We are called to be supports and bearing one another, especially when they are in need of help and encouragement.
Another week is gone! And we are just two weeks away from our traditional annual Market Morning, which will be held on Saturday 3 August 2023, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. The Market Morning banner is up at the corner of Rever Road and Kenneth Street and our sign board reminds and invites our local community and friends to the Market. Already different kinds of jams have been bottled, plants are being prepared, cakes and sweets will be baked soon. It’s time to bring in our donations if we have more and let people around us know that we are happy to receive goods for Market Morning. Please be available the week commencing on Monday 29 July for setting up the hall. Our aim this year is “everything should go!”.
The Documentary “The Golden Chain of Mercy” will be World Premiered in Sydney, in Event Cinemas, Top Ryde, on the Opening Gala Night of the Armenian Film Festival, Friday 16 August 2024 6:30 pm. If you want to be there, please secure your tickets as soon as possible by clicking to the link:
The film will be rescreened, on Sunday 25 August 2024 3:00 pm (time to be confirmed).
Please continue to pray for those who are going through difficult and tough times, seeking God’s presence, help and healing and let me know if you or anyone else has prayer points. Especially remember in your prayers Virginia, Frank and the family.
If you are not able to join us tomorrow for worship, please light a candle and worship with us following to the attached Order of Service.
Here are some prayer points for this week:
- Pray for the sick, the poor, the homeless, refugees and those who feel lonely.
- Pray for those who are under the pressure of financial burdens and struggling to make ends meet.
- Pray for world peace, especially for the Middle East, Palestine and Israel.
- Pray for the Lane Cove Chaplain, Liam Mckenna, who is going to be ordained next Saturday at Neutral Bay Uniting Church.
- Pray for the days ahead and the guidance of the Presbytery leaders for the future of our church.
Best Regards
In Christ
Krikor
MESSAGE
God’s Promise and David’s Prayer!
2 Samuel 7:1-129
Promise is a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified. It is a legally binding affirmation that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance of a specified act. That’s how the word ‘promise” is defined in Miriam Webster dictionary and similar definitions are given in other dictionaries. The promise and the words stated or written by someone makes the person vowing to fulfill his or her pledge when the time comes. We, as people, hope and expect that promises made to be implemented as a word of honour the person who made the promise.
A. God’s Promise
In our passage today we see a promise that God makes to His loving servant king David, who came to God with a request to get His permission and blessing for the project he had of building a temple to the Lord Almighty. It was a genuine request, but God had different plans for David. And to implement His plans, He makes a promise, which goes far beyond words. A promise of hope and a promise for something which is not bound to the limits of this world and time. It was a promise of a greater plan of salvation and eternal kingdom.
When David had secured peace within his kingdom and with the surrounding nations, he desired to honour God by building a “house” for Him in Jerusalem. In the ancient world a god was truly established when he had a fitting home. The temple that David decided to build for the Lord was to replace the tent that had sheltered the Ark of the Covenant since the days at Sinai; he also intended it to be a place of worship, where praise and sacrifices would be offered to God.
Instead of affirming David’s plan, God surprised him by revealing a much greater plan. Through the prophet Nathan, God told David that he was not to construct a dwelling place for Him. Rather, God intended to build a “house” for David, that is, a dynasty that would rule over His people. The Lord declared to David that one of his descendants would always sit on the throne, thus promising to establish David’s house for all time: “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever” (2 Samuel 7:16).
This promise to David amplified the covenants with Abraham and with Israel at Sinai. God did not expect or require anything of David in return for the promise; it was a grant made freely to David and his descendants, not a treaty that stipulated obligations.
Solomon succeeded to his father David’s throne, but soon after his death, Israel and Judah, which had been united as one kingdom under David, broke apart. The monarchy was plagued with conflict and began to decline under Solomon’s son, King Rehoboam, and his heirs. Two centuries later around 722 B.C. Israel was overcome by Assyria. In 587 the Babylonians wiped out Judah, destroying the temple, burning Jerusalem, and sending many of the city’s inhabitants into exile. Yet, memories of the brilliant days of David’s reign lived on in God’s chosen people.
Despite the failings of the kings of Israel, Judah, and His chosen people, God did not retract His promises to them. Instead, He continued to love them steadfastly and to unfold His plan for salvation through the prophets that He sent to them.
The Jewish people recalled the promises God had made to David, promises of an eternal kingdom that would last forever. Faced with the disasters and sins of the monarchy that unfolded after the reign of David, they came to hope that these promises would be fulfilled by a future “King” or “Messiah” would be descended from David, a conqueror who would restore the kingdom, and establish perfect justice. Jewish expectations were focused on the “David” of the future—a figure who would revive and carry on the glorious reign of David forever.
Many of the OT psalms have royal and messianic effects. Several are quoted in the NT as prophecies about Jesus, who fulfilled Israel’s hopes and yearnings for the rule of one who would truly be God’s anointed king and Messiah. Psalm 89 in particular recounts God’s dealings with Israel and joyously celebrates the absolute and unconditional promise that God made to establish David’s dynasty. Although David and his descendants failed to keep God’s commands and were to be justly punished as a consequence (Psalm 89:31-33), God nevertheless declared:
I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips. Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David. His line shall endure for eve (89:34-36).
However, in events that seemed to contradict God’s word, Israel fell into disgrace at the hands of a foreign nation; her king was brought down, and it appeared that David’s line had been cut off (Psalm 89:38-45).
How could Israel reconcile this destruction with God’s promises?
The situation required that God’s promise to David be understood in a new sense—as a description of an ideal king who would one day inherit David’s throne.
Psalm 89 ends with a great cry twisted from the heart of a disappointed yet hopeful people (89:46-52). In anguish, the psalmist implores God to remember His promise and restore His people by sending a righteous king to reign over them again: Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you did swear to David? (89:49)
The people of Israel were mistaken in their understanding and expectation of a political ruler, yet their faith would finally be vindicated: God would answer their pleas not by restoring the ancient monarchy but by raising up, “great David’s greater son.” A descendant of David would in the end rule as king overall.
God’s promise is summarised in the following four points:
1. I will make your name great
2. I will provide a place for my people
3. I will plant the house/home/dynasty
4. I will give them rest
Following his account of Jesus’ baptism, John the records the first proclamation of Jesus’ messianic identity: “Andrew first found his brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah Christ” (John 1:41).
Ultimately, God’s promise to David and Israel’s hopes would be fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. And God was giving the real promise of building the house of the Lord through His son, our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.
That was God’s promise which initiated its fulfilment by the coming of Jesus as the son of David. Hence His promise is beyond words. It is a solemn promise, not only of erecting a temple or a house of worship, which was and is still essential, but rather it was a promise of a Messiah, a king who kingdom will be established for eternity and all who become part of that kingdom, will inherit eternal life and have salvation through the promised eternal King of kings and Lord of Lords, our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. To whom be the glory and honour for all ages.
B. David’s Response
In any relationship it is good to spend some time thinking about that relationship and expressing our thanksgiving for it.
Let’s think about our relationship with God and His commitment to us and how we are to respond in trust and obedience.
But there is more than simply trusting and obeying God.
David shares with us his response to God for the promises God had just made to him. Promises of building a house and a dynasty; so that his descendants would rule forever and a promise of rest from his enemies.
Today we see how David responds, as God wants us to respond more than trust or obedience. As we listen to David may his words become our words and may we feel free to express our love to God.
Let’s listen to David.
– David goes into the tent where the ark was kept. Although we can talk to God anywhere, sometimes it is good to come to a place where we sense God’s presence. Some at times come into a sanctuary to pray before God. It makes it a special time.
– After hearing all that he heard, David begins with the words: “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord“. “Lord, you are God, you are Sovereign. You can do whatever you want. You can choose anyone or any people on earth to rule.” (Ps 8:3-4)
– Why does God even care about man? David has a sense of humility. He comes from the tribe of Judah whom God had told through Jacob would rule forever in Gen 49. The royal tribe: and yet that does not make David proud or even give a reason why God chose his family.
– It is humbling to think about what God has done for us. For how far He has brought us.
– David thanks God for bringing him this far.
– What is it we can thank God for doing in our lives? God has been committed to us and we see evidence of that.
– But there is much more to come. God had done much for David – He had made Him King. But the promise of a lasting rule would be even greater, for no other king has or ever will receive that promise.
– As much as we thank God for what He has done, the future will even be greater – the hope of heaven – the place of rest from our enemies is indeed a real reason to rejoice (Rom 8:18).
– And what makes this even greater is that God has revealed the future to us. God lets us know what lies ahead. We do not know everything. Not know hardships that lie ahead but know what is most important – promises of God and what He will do.
– And what is amazing is why God is doing it. Vs. 21 – for the sake of His word and according to His own will. God would make David great because He had promised it, and it was His will. It was for His own sake.
– When God promises something to us it is not just for our sake. His future and our future are bound together. His will is that all things do work together for our good. In vs. 25 David says do as you promised so that your name will be great. The kingdom promised to David is the kingdom that would establish the rule of God through Christ.
– It is the house of God – a heavenly kingdom which, we on earth, through our lives and church, bring into power. God has chosen us to be part of this glorious work.
– As we experience the blessings of God we rejoice, we show the world the joy which we have. We live holy lives not as a burden but as a free expression of our love for the Lord.
– We know that just as God drove out those nations and gods which were opposed to His rule so He will do for us. Nothing can oppose His church.
– We have been redeemed from our sin and we will be redeemed from that in this world that is opposed to us.
– God has established us and became our God. Thanks be to God for choosing us to be His people as He chose Israel.
– He will use us to make His name great.
– We praise God for what He has done and will do, but we praise Him for what He is doing right now.
Friends, how can we not but be touched and moved by our God. May God renew that sense of being touched down to our core. May our lives be lived as expressions of our love for Him. Let us renew our covenant promises to God.
May we seek to honour Him.
Things for David were as good as they might ever be:
– He was king over the entire nation.
– He had established a new capital, “the city of David”.
– He could sit at home in the evening with family and friends.
– He had a new close spiritual advisor, the prophet Nathan.
– He was living in a time of peace everywhere (7:1).
David began to dream. Dreams are usually:
– Noble, great resolves idealistic and goal-driven.
David talked to his prophet friend, Nathan. Nathan said yes, God is with you (7:3). But God told David “No,” he would not build (1 Chronicles 17:3-4). Nathan was wrong at first.
It’s hard to know what God wants. It’s even harder when God says you can’t have what you want.
Even though God said “No:”
– He reminded David how precious he was (7:8-9).
– He did not reject David, just re-direct him.
– He left David where He placed him: as a soldier, not temple-builder.
For us:
– When God says “No,” it often means He has a better way. We need to support it.
– My best reaction is cooperation and humility.
God is great, God is good… Everything about God is Great – His: Principles, Power, Promises, Peace, Provisions, Position, Purpose, and Pardon.
- Our God is great
- He has done great things
- His mercy is great
- His name is great
- His love is great
- His word is great
- His salvation s great
- His promises are always s fulfilled
Sometimes we think we know what God wants. Sometimes we think we know what God can or cannot do. God is God. He is greater than us. He is mightier than us. He is wiser than us. Let us seek God’s counsel to see if it is something He wants.
A Song of Ascents, of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain (Ps. 127:1).
God makes promise and assures us that He will fulfill them at some stage. The important thing is our response to it. How do we do respond to Him.
David, though a human with some weaknesses and shortfalls, is a good example for us.
Amen!