“DAVID'S DYNASTY”
Our title this morning is a bit of a misnomer. Sorry about that. After all, David's story, David's legacy, is really a tale of two dynasties. It reminds me of a recent trip to the library....
Librarian: (setting up some books from behind altar) Good morning, sir. Can I help you?
Don: Yes. I'm looking for the book, David Coperfield.
Librarian: Ah, yes – Dickens.
Don: No. No, not that one. The author is Edmund Smells.
Librarian: Uh, excuse me but I think you'll find that Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield, sir.
Don: No, no, no, no! Dickens wrote David Copperfield with two p's. This is David Coperfield with one p, by Edmund Smells.
Librarian: David Copperfield with one p? Well, I'm sorry sir, but we don't have it.
Don: Really? Huh? You''ve got a lot of books here.... Are you sure...?
Librarian: Yes, we do, sir, but we don't have that one, I'm positive.
Don: Really? It's not worth taking a quick gander....?
Librarian: No. Definitely not.
Don: Well, how about Knickerless Nickleby by Edmund Smells? That's Knickerless....
Librarian: No. We don't have it.
Don: You seem awful sure. Well how about, A Tail of Two Kitties?
Librarian: A Tale of Two Kitties? Of for goodness sake! The things we librarians deal with...!
(storms off & returns to her seat)
Huh? I wonder what's wrong with her...? Like her, you may never have heard of A Tail of Two Kitties, but surely you've heard the tale of two dynasties...? Max Lucado paints it like this:
“His story started in a sheep pasture. He had several brothers, but he alone was chosen. Set apart by heaven, he was anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit. Bethlehem's boy became Israel's king, but the road out of Bethlehem was treacherous, fraught with conflict and malice. His leaders tried to kill him. His neighbors fought over him. His own family didn't know what to do with him.
In the end, they celebrated him. His words were preserved and still speak to us today. His legacy lives on. Love or hate him, society keeps turning to him, reading his thoughts and pondering his deeds. More pages have been written about Bethlehem's prodigy than can fill our local library.
You know of whom I speak, don't you? The anointing that preceded it all. The clamor to claim him as king. The relevance of his significance; the legacy that lives on even today!
Who is this boy from Bethlehem? David, of course! Or was I just describing his greatest descendant, another shepherd king by the name of....Jesus? Could be. Could be both. A Tale of Two...
(from Max Lucado's Facing Your Giants)
At this point, in this tale of two dynasties, we're told that “King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies...” (2 Samuel 7:1)
That is, he's arrived! Firmly established as he is as king, with his capital now in Jerusalem, the construction of his palace there complete and his enemies defeated David makes plans to build the Lord a temple to honor Him and to make his new capital the center of His worship.
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In the previous chapter, David returns to Jerusalem, leading a procession bringing the Ark of the Covenenat to the capital, dancing to the Lord, as they enter the city gates. What's more, the chapters before and after tell of his final conquests over his enemies. David is on cloud nine, and in his euphoria, he comes up with a brilliant plan, “to build a house for (God) to live in.” (2 Samuel 7:5)
Even Nathan thinks it's a great idea! “Nathan replied, 'Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind for the Lord is with you.” (2 Samuel 7:3) Caught up in David's enthusiasm, Nathan forgets to check with God himself first. He's thinking it makes sense. And it does, from a human logic perspec-tive. But God's plans are not our plans. David & Nathan are in for a bit of a disappointment.
(“God” walks up and stand behind the altar)
Ever been there? Convinced you were doing something God would approve of, or favor, you nurture this idea of yours...., and make plans to see it done. But then things don't turn out as planned. As the old fiddish saying goes, “When man plans, God giggles.” Just ask Evan...
[DVD clip from Evan Almighty...., or....]
Evan: (facing out, slowly looking at each other) So..., you're really 'Him', aren't you?
God: You want more proof? I haven't done the pillar of salt thing in while.
Evan: That's alright. I just – I just don't understand why you chose me!
God: You want to change the world, don't you, son? So do I.
Evan: Yeah, but why an ark? I mean you wouldn't do that again. You wouldn't do that.
Would you do that?
God: Let's just say that whatever I do, I do because I love you.
Evan: Well, then, you have to understand that this whole ark thing is not part of my plans
here. I need to settle into my new house. I need to make a good impression at work...
(God bursts out laughing) What?
God: (laughing) Your plans....? (bursts out again...)
Evan: What's so funny...? What are you...? I don't even know how to begin here...!
God: Well, I hear that a lot. You want to change the world, right son? Here's how its done.
(walking behind someone and rubbing shoulder) One random act of kindness at a time.
Some times....in the midst of our settling in, or trying to make a good impression, God redirects us. That's what he does with David. He assures David that a house of worship will be built, just not by him. It is only in hindsight that God provides David insight as to why that would be. “David rose to his feet and said, 'My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the Lord's Covenant could rest pernamently. I made the necessary preparations but God said to me, 'You must not build a Temple to honor my name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.'” (1 Chronicles 28:2-3)
God had His reasons. Meanwhile David purchased all the supplies that would be needed so that as soon as he was gone his son/successor, Solomon as it turned out, could begin building immediately.
David got on board. Wholeheartedly. God helped him do so by redirecting him. He made him the promise of the ages. As David utters on his deathbed: “God has made an everlasting covenant with me and my family. His plan is is arranged and guaranteed down to every minute detail!” (2 Samuel 23:5)
A covenant is a promise between God and his people and among his people. It's a promise from God that's a sealed deal. David realized what God was doing thru his family was historically epic!
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As God articulates this promise He reminds David of his story, of their story, because our stories are all part of the larger God story that Scripture articulates. Sometimes we need to be reminded
that this is so because the world is constantly at us selling us a narrative that isolates us; 'individualism'
Some times, like David, we need to remember the God moments in our lives to gain perspective
“This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies declares: '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.” (2 Samuel 7:8-9)
If God gave you a life review, how would the story go? If God took you on a journey thru the days of your life, all the way back to your early pasture days, what would God show you about how He was with you wherever you have gone, even selecting you to be about God moments for others. What's your story? What kind of giants might God help you take down? What trouble seems to be chasing you that you could use a little divine guidance in evading? How are you living out your Davidic legacy?
“The Lord declares that he will make a house for you – a dynasty of kings. I will raise up one of your descendances, 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. Your house and kingdom will continue before me for all time.”
(2 Samuel 7:11-16)
It's a tale of two dynasties. One, is the house of David, with all the earthly kings of Israel that ruled in his wake. For four hundred years this Davidic dynasty ruled over Israel.
And two, is the kingdom of the Messiah, the anointed Son of David, a theme we'll explore dur-ing the four weeks of Advent, starting with the prophetic voice of David. In this Davidic covenant, God offers three distinct markers of the messianic promise that finds it origins here in this promise.
One, this Messianic king will rule over an eternal house and kingdom; it will endure for all time
Two, this Messiah, will enjoy a unique father-son relationship with God;“I will be his father...”
and Three, this Messiah King, will be powerfully endowed and guided by the Holy Spirit, as articulated later by David and the prophets: “Out of the stump of David's family will grow a new branch..., and the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him...” (Isaiah 11:1-2)
That's no doubt, David's greatest legacy. And now it's yours, because this promise of the ages has now been extended to you as well. It's why Jesus spoke so often about the kingdom of God. By inviting Jesus to be Lord and King of your life, in this one and in the one to come, you take claim to this promise of the ages, this Davidic covenant, and say, along with all his people, Long Live the King!
Or as David so eloquently put it: “I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever! I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever! For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations! You always keep your promises!”
(Psalm 145:1-2,13)
Our King is alive! Long live the King!