Fri.’s Devo - God’s House

Read: 1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17 The Ark rested in a special tent David had prepared in the city of David, but the sacrificing and burnt offerings took place at the Tabernacle in Gibeon. It bothered David that he had this wonderful palace to live in and God’s house was in a tent so he summoned Nathan and told him how he felt. Nathan told him to do whatever was in his heart to do because God was with him. *** But that night, God spoke to Nathan and told him that he had always lived in a tent and moved with the people wherever they went. He had never asked them to build him a permanent house on earth. *** God was going to make David famous across the world and they would rest secure and peaceful. He would defeat all their enemies. God would build a house for him and it would be a dynasty of kings. One of his descendants would build him a temple and he would be a son to Him. He would never lose his favor with God and his kingdom would be secure forever. We know this to be Solomon for the short time and Jesus for forever. *** When Nathan told David what the Lord had said, David went apart to talk to God. He told him how humbled he was that God would choose him to exalt in the earth. He praised God for being the great Father of his people. He called to attention all God had done for Israel and now for his family. He ended his prayer with saying that when God grants a blessing, it is an eternal blessing. *** Then David went on to defeat Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia and Amalek. They all paid him tribute and he put their gifts in the royal treasury. *** In Romans, Paul had just given a list of the evil things that non-believers did. He told the believers that they had no business judging what the non-believers did when they were doing the same things. God’s kindness is meant to make them turn from their sin. By continuing their sin, they are storing up their own judgment. Everyone will be judged according to their deeds, good or evil. Glory and honor and peace is a promise to all who do good, but trouble and clarity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil. Everyone is subject to law. The Jews are subject to the written laws and the Gentiles are subject to the law of their own conscience. *** Paul rebuked the Roman Christians for teaching one thing and not living it in their own lives.