◄ What Does 2 Samuel 7:22 Mean? ►

David's dear desire was to build a Temple for the Lord, but he was required to forgo the longings of his heart in favour of his son, whom God had decided would be the man to erect the House of God, for His greater glory.

God's call on David's life was to fight the enemies of His people and to establish peace in the Promised Land. King David was permitted to make preparations for the foundation of the Temple, but the building and beautifying of the House of the Lord was to be carried out by his son, Solomon.

Both kings of Israel were human vessels whom God would use to forward His eternal plans and purposes for the human race, and both men are also seen as a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Both David and Solomon illustrate their own unique aspects of Christ's role as Saviour of the world and King of Israel. The lives of both these kings were used by God to illustrate different aspects of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ Who, like David, would shepherd His people Israel and, like Solomon, will one day set up His eternal kingdom of peace and prosperity, to the praise of God and for the benefit of humankind.

David was a man whose life illustrated much of the suffering service of Christ's ministry during his sojourn on earth. Like David, Christ is the anointed king of Israel, having to wait many years for his coronation. And Christ, like David, was rejected by His brethren, despised by his family, and lived much of his life wandering from place to place with nowhere to lay his head.

But David slew the mighty Goliath, which paints the picture of Christ's eternal, triumphant victory over Satan, sin, death, and hell. The conflicts, hostility, and rejection that peppered David's path, exemplify the conflicts Christ endured during His earthly walk, but just as David was finally enthroned by all the 12 tribes of Israel, so the nation that rejected their anointed Messiah will welcome Him at His Second Coming, to rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

What heartfelt devotion David displayed towards the Lord in his psalm of praise Whose glory and greatness, might, majesty, dominion, and power, so starkly contrasts with His lowly servant who is proclaiming his rapt adoration of His heavenly Lord.

No surprise that David would proclaim: "You are great, O LORD God, there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears." How similar to the lowly life of Jesus Christ Himself Whose delight was to carry out the will of the Father, and to do God's perfect will.

David rejoiced to sing praises to the Lord His God Who does great things for His servants and Whose glorious character and attributes are proclaimed abroad, trumpeted throughout the extremity of the heavens by creation itself, and hidden in plain sight within the pages of sacred Scripture. 

Both the performances and the promises of God are the subject of David's high acclaim and great rejoicing in God's eternal splendour, which is further revealed in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Who is the final revelation of the greatness of God, Whom to know is life eternal.

Heavenly Father, I bow in reverence before You and praise You in hushed whispers because You have stooped down to the children of men, lifted us up, and seated us together with Christ in heavenly places. I am not worthy to gather the crumbs under Your table, for You are great and Your glory reaches into the extremity of the universe. And yet, in love, You sought me and made me accepted in the Beloved. Thank You, Father. In Jesus' name, AMEN.