2 Samuel 7:12-13 (NKJV) “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.”
King David was very different from other kings because he sought after God even after ascending to the throne. His love and passion for God caused him to desire to build God’s house, the temple. However, God did not grant that he perform this task. Instead, God entered into a covenant with David and promised that David’s son would be the one to construct the temple. Despite all that David had done, even he needed to know that the plans of God are realized with God’s timing. God is the one who ultimately fulfills his own plans.
David’s son, King Solomon, did build the temple, but no nation’s throne can be established forever, not even by Solomon, because he, like us, was a fallible human being. Jerusalem fell, the temple was destroyed, and the people were marched off into slavery. But it all works out! Jesus acts as the fulfillment of God’s covenant with David, as Jesus was also one of his descendants, and both came from Bethlehem.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV) “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace. There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom. To order it and establish it with judgment and justice. From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
After twenty-six generations, Jesus fulfilled all these promises and established the eternal throne. David, naturally, did not live to see it. And this was not the first point that tested David’s willingness to let God choose the timing. David was anointed the future king as a young man, but it was years before his throne was established. What did David do in the interim?
He was known to be very faithful and loyal to King Saul, and patient on God’s timing. He was unassuming in his ways. He knew God, and he knew the way of God. David never undermined King Saul’s leadership or position, despite the crowds crying out in the square that David had killed tens of thousands whereas King Saul had killed only his thousands.
It takes a man of character to be loyal and faithful to his leader when that same man is elevated into a high position by the people. Yet, even when King Saul became insecure and sought to kill David, David never once sought to sabotage King Saul or lay his hands on him. There were many opportunities to do so, such as when he was in the same cave as him, but knew that King Saul was God’s anointed, despite the king’s waywardness, and so he chose to remain loyal. And he knew that God would make good on his promise without him having to “hurry up” the process. His mighty men took their cues from their leader, and followed suit with their loyalty. They believed in David’s leadership, his vision and the calling that was upon his life. And, of course, David was eventually crowned king, his patience and faithfulness rewarded.
Although David was not a perfect king, and mishandled some big issues, there are still many things we can learn from him, such as his patience and his trust that God is ultimately the one who realizes his own plans, not us. We may feel that it is incumbent upon us to ram home the commission we’ve been given by God. It is not. It is our job to obey and to pursue the vision, but the successful realization of God’s plan is a matter to leave in God’s hands.
Sermon Series: King David’s Men
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撒母耳记下 7:12-13 “你寿数满足，与你列祖同睡的时候，我必使你的后裔接续你的位。我也必坚定他的国。他必为我的名建造殿宇。我必坚定他的国位，直到永远。”
大卫王和其他的君王很不一样，因为即使已经登上了王的宝座，他还是寻求神。他对神的爱和热情使他渴望为神建造一个居住的殿宇 。然而，神并没有许可大卫去完成这项任务。相反，神与大卫立约，并应许大卫的儿子将成为建造圣殿的人。 不管大卫做了多少，他也要知道神有祂的定时来成就祂的计划。神是最终成就祂自己计划的那位。
大卫的儿子，所罗门王建造了圣殿，但是，没有一个国位是可以永远坚定的，即使是所罗门的也无不列外，因为他和我们一样，难免会犯错。耶路撒冷沦陷，圣殿被毁坏，人民被奴役。但这一切都得到了解决！耶稣成就了神与大卫的盟约，因为耶稣也是大卫的后裔，他们都来自伯利恒。
以赛亚书 9:6-7 “因有一婴孩为我们而生，有一子赐给我们。政权必担在他的肩头上。他名称为奇妙，策士，全能的神，永在的父，和平的君。他的政权与平安必加增无穷。他必在大卫的宝座上，治理他的国，以公平公义使国坚定稳固，从今直到永远。万军之耶和华的热心，必成就这事。”
经过了二十六个世代，耶稣成就了所有的应许，建立了永恒的国度。大卫，当然，没有活着看到这一切。这并不是第一次大卫受到顺服的考验来让神来选择祂的时机。在大卫年轻时就被膏抹为将来的君王，然而一直过去了好多年，他的王权才被建立。大卫在这期间做了什么？
众所周知，他对扫罗王非常忠诚和信实，对神的定时极有耐心。他举止谦逊，他认识神，也知道神的道路。大卫从未削弱扫罗王的领导或地位，尽管人群在广场上喊叫扫罗杀死千千，大卫杀死万万。
对领导忠心和信实是一个人的品格，同样的一个人当被他的百姓拥戴位居高位时也会如此。即使当扫罗王心中感到不安而试图杀死大卫时，大卫从未试图伸手伤害扫罗。大卫有很多次机会可以这样做，比如当他和扫罗在同一个洞穴里，但大卫知道扫罗是神的受膏者，尽管扫罗王一意孤行，大卫还是选择对他忠诚，而且他知道神会信守诺言，而不需要由他来 “加速” 这个过程。大卫的大能勇士从自己领袖身上得到了启示，便以忠诚为他效力。他们相信大卫的带领、他的异象和他生命中的呼召。当然，大卫最终加冕为国王，他的耐心和忠诚得到了回报。
虽然大卫并不是个完美的王，在一些重大问题上也处理不当，但仍有很多事情值得我们向他学习，比如他的耐心。他相信神是最终成就自己的计划那位，而不是我们自己。或许我们会认为对神所赋予的使命，我们有义不容辞的责任去完成。不是的，我们所要做的就是先顺服和寻求异象，而神计划的成就这件事要交托在神的手里。
讲章系列：大卫王的勇士
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