Whine at me: publicserf@yahoo.com-
I haven't posted in ages due to... turbulent times, and I got out of the habit. I'm going to try to get back in the habit by posting something, anything, with some regularity. My Sunday School class teacher is gone this Sunday, and he asked me to teach. Here's the lesson plan I adapted from the Teacher's Guide.

Sunday School 8-8-10, 2 Samuel 7:1-7, 11-16, 18-21 Focus On God’s Purposes
Step 1
Learner Guide Pg 118-119 Dwight L. Moody changed his focus from money to God’s will. Know of anybody who’s done that?
Step 2
Read 2 Samuel 7:1-7 2Sa 7:1 Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent." 3 And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you."
4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, 5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'

V1-2 David rested in a time of peace. He decided that if he lived in a palace surely God deserved something better than a tent. He came up with a plan to build a temple of cedar. When we are at rest, do we consider how we can serve God? The Ark was already in Jerusalem, and the Jews wouldn’t be wandering anymore.

V3 Why did Nathan approve? We aren’t told why. Perhaps because David was the anointed King, and God had shown His favor with his victories. Perhaps it just seemed right for God to have a grand temple too. He was speaking as a god man, not as a prophet. We should desire to go forward with good works.
Are we too willing to go forward with plans based only on the approval of others? Where did David and Nathan fail? There is no mention that David or Nathan consulted God. Good intentions weren’t enough to perform His will.
What value is there in seeking the advice of others? Cautions? Is there anything our class could do to honor the Lord?
God says if he wanted a grand temple He would have asked for one, a humble tent was fine. So too, Christ was content to dwell in flesh before ascending.
John 5:19 The Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing
Step 3
Read V11b-16 11b Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, 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 to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'"
God was not angry that David wanted to build a temple. In return for David’s good intention to honor Him, God honors him. David’s intentions for a gift to God were honored with a greater gift. God’s plan was much bigger than David’s. Quite a contrast, David wanted to build God a house, God declares he’ll build David a house that will endure forever. David was the first King of Israel to have his son succeed him. Right before him, Saul’s whole family was wiped out.
David received nothing from this covenant immediately, except the joy of his faith in His promise.
But David got to prepare the materials for his son to build the temple. In 1 Chronicles 22:8 God explained that David had too much blood on his hands. His son, a child of peace would build the temple, fulfilling the promise in the near-term, later the Prince of Peace, would bring the eternal temple.
Mt 26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

What guidelines do you use to decide if something is God’s will, Bible study, prayer?
How do we relate to God’s covenant with David? Does it make a difference in our lives?
Step 4
V14-15 As the covenant is for David’s son, Solomon, and descendants, it is also later for Christ’s spiritual children. The promises of chastening and eternal love are ours.
Heb 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.
To be successful we must turn our good intentions over to His will. God intentions are better than good intentions.
Know of anybody who changed their intentions due to God’s will?

Read V18-21 18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD!
20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.
What was David’s response to the covenant? Went in, sat down, talked with God in humility, acknowledged His leadership, expressed confidence in His promise and asked Him to fulfill it, praised God, confessed to being His servant. Do we do this? When? We too, need to claim God’s promises and ask Him to fulfill them.