When We Get a No Answer

O. T. #692 "When We Get a No Answer"
February 10, 2016
2 Samuel 7-Part 3
Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.  2 Chronicles 6:-9

LET IT GLOW

Do you find it hard when you get a "no" to a question or instruction, like me? I like my plans to go the way I want them. It is very difficult when otherwise happens to me. Do I hear amen? If only I could always seek God's ways first, then I would  avoid so many "nos." How did David react when he got a no answer?

David had great plans, but Prophet Nathan told him that he would not e the one to build God's temple. Instead, it would be his son, which turned out to be Solomon. The Davidic covenant that God made with him included David's seed always reigning over Israel. His lineage included the Messiah, King Jesus, who now sits on the throne in heaven.

David submitted wholeheartedly to the will of God unaware of the eternal implications. As a result, the whole world has been blessed, referring to the salvation provided through the seed of David, Jesus Christ the Savior.

Was David disappointed? I tend to think so. However, David was more concerned with God's will being done and God's name glorified than his feelings being hurt or disappointment in the matter. David fulfilled his purpose in life, being that of leading God's people and not building a temple.

Is it hard when we find out that God's plans are not the same as our plans? There have times that my jobs were eliminated, my husband's church field was changed, and doors closed while others opened for us. We may have fulfilled our mission there so we needed to move on. Perhaps Go was protecting us from something which we did not need to be a part of later on down the road. I hoe He will explain it all some day. In the meantime, I live by faith and not by sight.

When our dream, idea, plans, are not in accordance with God's will, how do we react? Do we cheerfully accept the new assignment? Or not? For reassurance read Jeremiah 29:11.

This was more than an idea or project of David's. It was in his heart to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. (2 Chron. 6:7-9)

Is our heart sensitive to God's heart? I was as if God was commending David for such a thought. (Swindoll)

LET IT GROW

Charles Swindoll's book, David, A Story of Passion and Destiny, explains two points for us to learn from this:

1. When God says "no" it is not necessarily discipline or rejection. It may simply be redirection. I we pursue and want to do God's will, but it doesn't work out, what then? Maybe we mapped out our life but it didn't transpire for some reason. What now? It was well that it was in our heart, but who is to say that it was, in fact, His will. Perhaps the very road you are traveling is God's will. So listen to God carefully day to day. Ask God if that is His plan. If it isn't, ask Him to redirect your life.
2. God does not call everybody to build temples. He calls some to work in trenches; represent Him on foreign soil. He doesn't call everyone. God has all kinds of creative ways to use us-ways e can't imagine and certainly can't see up there around the next bend in the road. One of the hardest things is to hear that God is going to use someone else to accomplish something you thought was your objective. That's what David had to hear.

Look at our key verse. How was David's posture? He was sitting before the LORD. Was he in his study, his bedroom, in his throne room? No answer to that question. It doesn't matter the "where" but the "how." Like a child, David begins to express grateful questions to the Lord. We will discuss it next time. Are we God's child who sits before Him, listening?

LET IT GO

When God's answer to my prayer is a "no," accept it.

Listen and look for God's redirection.

Have a happy heart in serving God where and how I am serving.

Spend my time daily sitting before the Lord.

 *Sorry this is late. Our area is having server problems. I had to drive to the office to type this.