1 Chronicles 17
At the opening of this chapter we read that David was sitting in his house where he had been considering certain plans which he intended to carry out. David made known his thoughts to Nathan the prophet, and the latter encouraged David to proceed with his plans.
No doubt we have many times sat in our own houses and considered what we would like to do, and in some cases have made known our intentions to others. And perhaps like David we have forgotten to ask the Lord about what we hoped to do, and to seek His mind in such matters. We need to ask the Lord what He would have us to do. Saul of Tarsus once thought to do many things (Acts 26:99I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. (Acts 26:9)), but the mind of the Lord was otherwise and Saul was stopped in his course; and we read that he fell to the earth and said, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"
So we find in David's case that the Lord intervened and that same night He spoke to Nathan and told him to go to David and tell him that he would not be allowed to carry out his intentions. On the other hand, David was to be told what God had done for him and what God would yet do for him, his seed, and for the children of Israel.
After David had listened to God's word, he left his own house and went and sat before the Lord (v. 16). Now he was no longer occupied with his own thoughts and plans. He owned his own nothingness and acknowledged what great things God had done for him. He realized that God had done him great honor in making known to him all God's thoughts and purposes. David believed what God had told him and he desired that the name of the Lord be magnified (v. 24). Further, David asked that God would bless his house, for he knew that if God is pleased to bless, it will be forever (v. 27).
We can learn much from this incident in the life of David. To sit before the Lord is the privilege of every believer, and indeed it should be the place of our choice. There are other examples in the Word of God which also illustrate this point. When the Lord was on earth he healed a poor man who was possessed with demons. This man knew no rest, for he was wild and untameable and dwelt apart from his fellow men—in the tombs and in the desert. But when the blessed Savior had cast out the demons, the people who knew the man came to see him. They found him now in his right mind, clothed, and sitting at the feet of Jesus. No longer wild and restless, now he is at peace and rest as he sat before the Lord. (Read Luke 8:27-3527And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. 29(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) 30And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. 31And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. 32And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. 33Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. 34When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. 35Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. (Luke 8:27‑35).)
Then there was Mary of Bethany, and the first thing we read about her is that she sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. It was the place she chose, and the Lord called it "that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:39-4239And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:39‑42).)
In chapter 11 of the Gospel of John we read of Mary and Martha at a time of great sorrow when their brother Lazarus had fallen ill. They both knew to whom they could turn in their sorrow, but the Lord did not go to them at once. However, as soon as Martha heard that the Lord was coming, she went immediately to meet Him.
But Mary sat still in the house. It was not that Mary was less concerned than her sister, but no doubt she knew that if Jesus was coming, she could quietly wait for Him. In fact as soon as Mary heard that Jesus had called for her, she rose up and went to Him, and fell down at His feet. There in her sorrow she would know His sympathy. Soon she would witness His power in raising her brother from the dead.
Beloved, have we made the place of our choice to sit "at the feet of Jesus"? There we find peace and rest, there we can listen to His word, and there is the place where we shall find comfort in time of sorrow. Then like one of old we can say, "I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste" (S. of Sol. 2:33As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. (Song of Solomon 2:3)).