David served his generation when the Lord took him “from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over [His] people, over Israel” (2 Sam. 7:8) and made his name great in the earth. It was the time of David’s “trouble,” but it was also the time of his real greatness and of his most important service to his generation. David then magnified the Lord, and the Lord magnified David in the sight of all Israel. Walking before the Lord, David could afford to appear vile in the eyes of Michal and of all who despised him. These two things — exaltation and humiliation — are morally opposite. Here truly is found the need of “hinds’ feet” (Psa. 18:3333He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. (Psalm 18:33)) to tread on our high places.
The Desire to Build the Lord’s House
David continued serving his generation “when the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies” (2 Sam. 7:1). At that time, “when the king sat in his house,” the thought came into his heart that it was not suitable for the ark of the Lord to dwell in curtains, while he was dwelling in a house of cedar. David knew well the value of the presence of the Lord, and he sought to secure it in a way which seemed right in his own eyes. This commended itself also to the judgment of Nathan the prophet. But “who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him?” (1 Cor. 2:16). Both the man after God’s own heart and the inspired prophet are alike destitute of true counsel when not walking by faith under the immediate guidance of the Spirit of truth. The thought of David was a pious thought; it was the expression of desire for rest, without conflict, in the immediate presence of God. “Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart: notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house” (2 Chron. 6:8). Zeal without knowledge and piety apart from actual dependence on God are alike dangerous to the work of God. God in His grace is pleased to provide “some better thing for us.” It was out of character for David to build the house which his son built. Many a soul is drawn to David while few are interested in Solomon. David “in his troubles” finds true sympathy in our hearts more than “Solomon in all his glory.” We easily see what David would have lost if he had acted for another generation, instead of serving God in his own.
A Message from the Lord
Nathan is sent to David with the message of the Lord. The first great truth announced is that the will of the saint is not to take the lead in the things of God; if permitted, the result would be “will worship,” one of the most fearful evils in the church of God. Our part is to prove what is “that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:22And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)). So long as God is pleased to “walk in a tent, and in a tabernacle,” it is not for anyone to build Him a house. Solomon, according to the promise of God to David his father, did build a house for the Lord; the house was filled with the glory of the Lord and called by His name.
The next thing announced by Nathan was the determinate counsel of the Lord, in His own time and way, to give settled rest to His people Israel in a way far beyond their heart’s desire.
The Lord’s Plan
The Lord can do without us, but we cannot do without Him. If He is pleased to use us, sufficient is the honor of being the servants of such a master, but we only really serve Him as we do the work of our own generation. The moment we cease to serve by faith, we regard the sphere of service as our own, forgetting that the husbandry and building with which we are occupied is not ours, but His whom we serve. All the thought of David’s estimation becomes small in comparison with the promise of the Lord of making him a house. David’s work of making a house for the Lord is now superseded by the happier thought of God’s making him a house. We are happier and more effective by serving our generation, and it is done by giving the Lord His due preeminence. When David was occupied with the Lord’s plan, he says, “This was yet a small thing in Thy sight, O Lord God; but Thou hast spoken also of Thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God?” (2 Sam. 7:1919And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God? (2 Samuel 7:19)). The manner of man is to rejoice in the work of his hands, seeking to achieve something great to make himself a name. But what God does is forever. David served his generation and fell asleep, but the promise of God to David, when he was stopped in his desire to build a house for the Lord, became the sustainment of faith throughout Israel’s dreary history.
No Disappointments
But how different the last words of David! The lesson he teaches is not only happier but deeper: “Although my house be not so with God; yet hath He made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although He make it not to grow” (2 Sam. 23:55Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. (2 Samuel 23:5)). These are important last words, and such will always be the train of thought of those who serve their generation. There will be no rejoicing in any result of their own service, for the only satisfying result will be that which the Lord Himself has done. Our expectations may not be realized, but this does not cause disappointment for those whose expectation is from the Lord. If a present palpable result is the object we propose to ourselves, we shall certainly be disappointed. But if we seek the honor of Christ and there is no present result answering the desire of our heart, while we are deeply humbled under the sense of our own imperfection, we may take comfort from the language of the only perfect Servant: “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God” (Isa. 49:44Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God. (Isaiah 49:4)).
The Christian will best serve his own generation by maintaining his own proper ground and asserting the blessedness of the knowledge of Christ at the very moment when man is magnifying himself. It is well, indeed, to be able truthfully to say of Christ, He is “all my salvation,” and even more blessed to add, He is “all my desire,” in the face of all appearances that He is not making our desires “to grow.”
The Present Testimony (adapted)