Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 7:1-7.
“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, 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.” Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the LORD is with you.”
But in the same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? 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. 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?’”’ 2 Samuel 7:1-7.
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The LORD’S words to Nathan show the most excellent quality of love in the LORD.
“God is love.” 1 John 4:8.
Today’s Scripture also leads to meditate on the qualities of love, primarily God’s love.
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
Specifically concerning the LORD’S lack of demand for a house to dwell in, and His contentment to move about in a tent, the LORD showed that He was and still is patient, kind, and not jealous. The LORD does not act unbecomingly and does not seek His own. The LORD bears all things and endures all things.
God has also shown His love for His elect. God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that they might live through Him. 1 John 4:9. God dwells within them. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. God also has shown His love by dwelling among them in heaven. Revelation 21:3.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.” 1 John 4:7-11.
But, there is hope!
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. … But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:16-22-23.
“We love, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 