The primary objective of this lesson: To study Davids desire to build God a temple. To be acquainted with the fact that initially the Jewish temple fulfilled both political and spiritual purposes.
The life of King David is the study of a man who endured many times of personal adversity and knew many times of personal success. The low point seems to be when he sought refuge in the city of Gath, a Philistine city, and pretended to be insane to save his life (1 Samuel 21:10-15). The high point seems to be when he was the king of the whole nation in the city of Jerusalem.
Point out that Davids adult life was a combination of successes and failures. Note that most of his greatest successes came when he was physically stressed and obviously dependent on God, and most of his failures came when he was successful materially and forgot his dependence on God. Some times success is our enemywe seem to do better at coping with stress than we do with managing success.
In choosing Jerusalem as Israels capital, David demonstrated his political brilliance. He did not choose King Sauls ruling city, nor Mahanaim the capital of Sauls son (Ishbosheth2 Samuel 2:8, 9), and thus show possible favoritism to the tribes often called Israel. He did not choose Hebron to be his capital, and thus show possible favoritism to the tribes known as Judah (see 2 Samuel 2:10, 11). David sought to heal the civil war in the nation of Israel by conquering a city and making it his capitala city that belonged to no Jewish tribe: Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6-10).
Ending the conflict of civil war is a delicate combination of responsibilities. Addressing the emotions, the jealousies, and the distrustfulness of such violence is a challenge! Not all the wounds of the American civil war have healed yet! Destroying the resentments and distrust between Israel and Judah to build a single nation from both was a major challenge!
In yet another brilliant move, he planned to make Jerusalem both the political center and the spiritual center of the nation. When Israelites came to Jerusalem for justice in difficult matters (one of the primary responsibilities of the king was to decide justly), they also would see the spiritual center of the nation. When Israelites came to offer sacrifices, they would see the political workings of the nation. David thereby promoted the concept of nation as superior to the concept of tribe or even a group of tribes.
There was to be a permanent separation of power between the king of the nation and the high priest. The king should never assume the sacrificial duties of the high priest! Before King David, Gods worship center was in one geographical place, and the king ruled in another. One primary responsibility of a good king was to hear difficult cases and render just decisions. Thus, the people went to one place for sacrificial worship, and another for justice. That could result in a rivalry between the two centers concerning who had the most influence over the people.
No matter what the concern of the people, they would need to come to Jerusalem. No longer would there be two centers of the nation: the political one and the religious one. There would be only one center! That center would belong to the entire nation, not just to the special interests of a group of tribes. Davids intent was truly brilliant! It offered healing and hope for a war- weary people. Judah and Israel could be one nation, one people as God intended.
Stress the fact that David was dedicated to building Gods nation rather than the people being shackled with no more than a collation of tribes. Though it had been many generations since Egypt, Israel as a people had never achieved their potential as a nation. This seems to be an understood goal of King David.
Because we submit to God does not mean that we abandon our abilities.
However, something troubled King Davids conscience. He lived in a palace built of the finest building materials known then. That which represented Gods presence (the Ark of the Covenant) was placed in a tent in Jerusalem. That was not proper! How could the king who ruled the nation live in better physical circumstances than God who ruled the universe?
We all have our judgment/opinion of what is and is not proper. This usually triggers a conscience reaction. To King David, the situation was not appropriate. Note this is centered in a human concern, not a divine concern. Also note God knew the human concern was genuine and from good motives.
He told Nathan, the prophet to the King, about the Kings concerns. Nathan said, Do what you have in mind to do. It is obvious that God is with you.
Nathans initial reaction was positive and supportive. He saw nothing wrong with King Davids desire. The man who would later say, You are the man! (2 Samuel 12:7) would not be timid about expressing himself.
That night God spoke to Nathan in a vision with a message for King David. The summary of that revelation follows:
Gods reaction differed from Nathans initial reaction.
1. You want to build a permanent structure for Me? I never asked any Israelite for that!
2. The focus is not on what you will do for Me, but on what I will do for you. I will make you a dynasty in Israel (a house).
3. Your descendant will build a house for me.
4. You will die, I will establish your dynasty, and I will provide your descendant abundant opportunity and responsibility.
5. Your dynasty will be eternal. (Jesus was a descendant of DavidMatthew 1:2-16; all Christians are descendants of Abraham and, thereby, a part of Gods nation or kingdomGalatians 3:29.)
Note each of the five things. Note the focus is on what God will do for David, not on what David will do for God. Make applications to today. God can do fine without the help of people, but people cannot do fine without the help of God.
Consider a contrast in the tabernacle and the temple:
1. The tabernacle was designed by God; the Jewish temple may not have been (see 1 Chronicles 28:9-19was it Davids design, was it Gods design given through revelation, was it a combination of both?). Seemingly, the structure called the temple by Israelites followed the basic pattern of the tabernacle. The temple was built and rebuilt three times: Solomons temple, which was destroyed (2 Kings 25:9, 13-17); the second temple built by the Jewish exiles who returned from captivity; and Herod the Greats remodeling enterprise that began in 19 BC, was totally complete in AD 64, and was destroyed by the Roman military in AD 70.
2. The tabernacle was commanded and accepted by God (Exodus 40:33-35). The temple was not the result of Gods command (see 2 Samuel 7:6, 7), but was accepted by God (read 2 Chronicles 5:11-14, 6:4-8, and 7:11-16).
3. The tabernacle was only for Israelites. The temple was to bless both Israelites and gentiles (see 1 Kings 8:41-43).
4. The tabernacle was portable. The temple was a permanent structure.
Discuss each of the four things. Note the structure did not change the way they worshipped God, but the place they worshipped God. It was the same sacrificial worship administered by the same priesthood. The same sacrifices were offered. The sacrificial animals and produce served the same purposes.
Consider some comparisons:
1. Both existed as the center for sacrificial worship to glorify Gods name.
2. Both signified Gods presence.
3. Both were a reminder of Gods acts and a promise of Gods blessings.
4. Both served as Israels religious focal point.
Recognize each of the four things. Again note it is not a change in system of worship, but a change in place of worship.
The principle point: Gods people worship God. They know they depend on God; He is not dependent on them. God will forever continue even if His people reject Him.
The challenge in all ages has been the same; there has been very little change. In idolatry, people take care of the idol to protect themselves from what they regarded as divine harm. The god represented by the idol was not directly interested in human affairs unless a human successfully appealed to and interested the god. God the Creator is not dependent on people, is naturally interested in people, and sustains people who follow Him. In that contrast is a basic difference between the worship of an idol and the worship of the Creator. People who worship God the Creator do so in appreciation, not in fear.
For Thought and Discussion
1. What do you personally most admire about King Davids life? Least admire? In answering both, explain why.
The answer will be individual. The whys will be individual. The teacher should listen a lot, ask for explanations/examples in seeking to understand rather than to fix, and be certain to understand the view being shared before sharing a view.
2. How did King David demonstrate political brilliance in making Jerusalem his capital?
He chose a city that did not belong to either side, and thus He avoided the problem of appearing to show favoritism to any faction.
3. How did King David demonstrate political brilliance in making Jerusalem both the political center and the religious center of the nation?
When an Israelite came to Jerusalem for any political or religious reason, both the political center and the religious reinforced each other. The concept of a nation, not a faction, was reinforced.
4. What troubled Kind Davids conscience?
The King of the nation lived in a permanent residence built of their finest building materials, and the Ark of the Covenant (representing Gods presence) was in a tent. King David did not feel it was appropriate for the King of the nation to live in better circumstances than the God of universe.
5. What did Nathan, the prophet, first say to the king?
Do what you have in mind to do. It is obvious God is with you.
6. What instruction did God give Nathan in a vision that night?
Take this message to King David.
7. Summarize Gods message to King David.
a) I, God, never asked any Israelite for a building.
b) The focus should be on what I will do for you.
c) Your descendant will build a house for me.
d) Your descendant will have abundant opportunity and responsibility.
e) Your dynasty will be eternal.
8. Contrast the tabernacle and the temple.
a) The tabernacle was designed by God; the temple may not have beenat least not entirely.
b) The tabernacle was commanded and accepted by God; the temple was not commanded by God, but was accepted by God.
c) The tabernacle was just for Israelites; the temple originally was to bless both Israelites and gentiles (non-Jews).
9. In what ways were both alike?
a) Both were centers of sacrificial worship existing to glorify Gods name.
b) Both signified Gods presence.
c) Both were reminders of Gods acts and promises.
d) Both served as Israels religious focal point.
10. What is the principle point of this lesson?
The principle point: Gods people worship God. (a) They know they depend on God, not He on them. (b) God will continue even if His people reject Him.
11. What did you learn from this lesson that impresses you?
This response will depend on the view of the individual. The teacher mostly listens.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 2