2 Samuel 7:11
“even from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you”.
David is a good guy. He saw that he and the people were at rest from their enemies and that God had done it. He has the idea of building a house for God. It would be a huge endeavor. It exhausts me just to think about it. But not David. He brings in Nathan the prophet and he says to do it. But God tells Nathan, "No". In His response He tells Nathan that He will build a house for David.
God said that He took David out of the shepherds field. It wasn't out of the prep school as the privileged. He chose David, the unlikely. His father, Jesse, didn't invite him to Samuel's dinner. But God overrode him and brought David in.
This is what God does. He uses all of us and blesses us. David says in Psalm 23, "Thou prepareth a table for me in the presence of my enemies." It's not like we are seeking vengeance. As we trust Him and obey Him by loving all we encounter, He vindicates and exhalts us.
We read stories like this in novels. But He makes it a reality as we trust and obey. Stories of the little guy winning. Again, we have no involvement. We do live through it. There will be stress and concern. We pray and leave these things in His hands. He works it out. These stories rarely get traction with an audience. However, we see it as do those who sought to harm us. This is God making a home for us.
It reminds me of the spiritual warfare mentioned in Ephesians 6:13, "Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." It doesn't say that we are to march forth demonstrating brilliant tactics in the fight. It says to stand firm. He will do the rest. He employs the manuvers and slays the enemy. The Old Testament has many battles in which Israel does very little, yet God brings the victory. God says watch and see.
We don't have to build a house for God. When I was a new believer, I thought I had to be busy for God. The challenge, "What would Jesus do", caused me to have no rest. If I ever had free moments, guilt would fill them as I thought I should be busy for God. Then the message of grace began to make sense. Just as with David, God said I didn't have to build a house for Him. The work to satiate God's desire for forgiveness was done through Jesus. We do have to follow Him, but not to be saved. We follow Him because we have been saved.
What does happen in us is a desire to bless others, as He has blessed us. Not out of guilt or obligation, but out of desire. He has put a new heart in us and we begin to do the things He would do (Ezekiel 36:26). Simply amazing. We no longer seek to be those selfish ones we used to be.
Thank You God that the work has been done. We don't have to build a house for You. On the contrary, You've built one for us. Thank You, God.