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 26:9), 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 8:27-35.)
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 10:39-42.)
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. 2:3).