House Of God

2 Samuel 7:1-14a    Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Today we continue following David as he grows and matures as King of Israel. 

When David, the king, was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent."

It helps to further understand today’s reading if we know that in Hebrew, the word translated as “house”, can mean a palace, a temple, or a dynasty.  David has settled in his new capital city of Jerusalem, the City of David, and he has built for himself a house – made of expensive cedar wood.  Does it qualify as a palace?  It’s not the sort of palace we think of from Medieval times, but a structure similar to the homes of others, only considerably larger, made of the most expensive materials and in the best location.

Having brought home the Ark of God to dwell in the capitol city, David, naturally, begins to consider building a “house”, a temple for the Ark.  That certainly sounds reasonable to us who are all familiar with houses of worship.  But there’s more here than is immediately apparent.  As we learned two Sundays ago, David has been chosen king over all Israel by both the northern and southern kingdoms, and because of this, he has decided to set up his capital city in what, until he conquers it, is Canaanite land.

David is successful in his quest to capture the city he has in mind, and names it Jerusalem, the City of Peace, the City of David.  In setting up this location as the capital he achieves what he has hoped for, neutrality.  The government under his rule is located in a place that is acceptable to both the north and the south.  But there is still a problem. 

While he has created the political capital, David now needs to establish the religious center of the kingdom, because, as mentioned before, for the Children of Israel, their faith is their identity.  And what better move can there be than to create the spiritual center where the political one already exists, to build a temple in Jerusalem to house the Ark of God?  Thus, Jerusalem will become more than simply neutral, it will spiritually unify the north and the south.  But - God isn’t pleased!

Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”

Through His prophet Nathan, God makes it clear to David that the Ark will not rest in a temple, and then God makes David a different offer.  God tells David, “Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.”  While the Ark will remain in a tent, free to move among the people, God will build a “house” for David, a dynasty.  And David obeyed the Lord.

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.”

This is a familiar setting to all of us – Jesus wishing to withdraw with His disciples to some quiet spot where they can all rest, pray, and refresh.  In today’s Gospel, to say they were pushed to their limits is something of an understatement.  They were so busy they didn’t even have time to eat. 

It is difficult to even imagine what that must have been like – to be so pressed upon by people coming and going, sick people, poor people, people bringing sick or disabled loved ones, an endless flow of humanity, that one has no time for food or rest.  It might make us think of some of the workers on the frontline of disasters today.  When we take the time to consider it, we realize the disciples level of exhaustion must have been profound.

As always, Jesus is concerned for His friends, so, we are told they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.  Usually this works.  Jesus gets to separate Himself a bit from the others and speak to His Heavenly Father, and the disciples also have the chance to pray, to rest, and to have something to eat. But this time is different.  News of Jesus’ arrival has gone ahead of Him and as He went ashore, He saw a great crowd.

Jesus knows how important some “down time” is for His followers, so, obviously, the thing to do in this situation, what we’d do today, would be to disperse the crowd.   Modern day celebrities are often confronted with mobs of people, and to insure their health and wellbeing they stay in very posh hotels where their privacy is insured.  When not travelling, they live in residences often surrounded by high brick walls with imposing gates and sometimes even guard stations.

But Jesus had compassion for the crowd, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

What is Jesus doing?  What can He be thinking?  Why can He and the disciples not rest?  And then we remember what God told David – that the Ark of God would not rest in a temple, but would continue to travel among God’s people. 

And then God promised David.  When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish His kingdom. He shall build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever. I will be a Father to Him, and He shall be a Son to Me.

Jesus, the carpenter’s son, possibly a carpenter Himself before He began His ministry, Jesus, Our Lord, is building His House.  From this job He will not rest, not then, and not now.

But what of His followers?  There must have been some quiet grumbling as they stumbled back out into the mobs.  We know all about this!  We, who have pledged ourselves to Jesus, who devote time and effort to the work our Lord puts before us – we grumble when we are asked to do more, to exceed our limits.  We forget we are the builders working for a demanding Contractor, and these demands from Jesus take many forms. 

We are called upon to have more patience than we thought possible, to offer more kindness than we may initially feel, to be generous in ways that so often seem beyond our means – we are called to stretch ourselves until it hurts. 

Why would we do this?  How can we find the strength, the endurance to persevere, when we know our own power is not enough?  We do it for Him.  We do it for Love.  We do it for Jesus, and He sustains us.

Paul reminds us today, “You are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.  In Him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.”

We are the Church.  We are the House of God, and we are the ones called to continue Jesus’ work in this world.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, Your word promises that You “will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”   Your truth nourishes our hearts.  Your love revitalizes us when circumstances threaten our faith.  When we are surrounded by uncertainties, fears, or change, when we struggle with our desire to stop when you call us to carry on, saturate us with Your Presence, and pour Your peace into every fiber of our being.  Lord, grant us endurance in all You call us to do, and help us to trust in the strong and mighty shield of Your Love which endures forever.  Al this we ask, for Your love and mercy’s sake, Amen.