Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 7:1-17.
“1 Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains.” 3 Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But in the same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? 6 For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’
8 “Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth. 10 I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly, 11 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you. 12 When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” 17 In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.” 2 Samuel 7:1-17.
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In summary, David “said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains.” See verse 2 David wanted to build a permanent temple for the LORD.
But, the LORD replied: “The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you. … I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. … Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” See verses 11-12 and 16. Most importantly, the LORD promised to raise up a descendant of David, namely Christ, and establish Christ’s heavenly kingdom forever.
We too from time to time focus on ourselves and what we consider to do for the LORD.
But, we learn again from today’s Scripture that the LORD turns our focus to Himself and what He has done and will do for us.
Other doctrine continually puts the focus on man, man’s alleged free-will, and the alleged goodness of man to do good things for the LORD.
But, Reformed Doctrine starts with a consideration of man’s “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. And, logically, Reformed Doctrine turns its attention to the LORD for hope. Reformed Doctrine eagerly studies at what the LORD has done and will do for us from “Unconditional Election” through “Preservation of the Saints” (and in between “Limited Atonement” and “Irresistible Grace”) all of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.
Consistent with this start, the LORD reminds David of His “Unconditional Election” by his starting words to David: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.” Verse 8.
Reformed Doctrine prefers to praise rather than to propose.
“For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done,
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.” Psalm 92:4.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 