The king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 2 Samuel 7:2
My son just happened to be born on my wife’s 30th birthday, causing my wife to call him the best birthday present ever. That first year of his life, like any good mother, she poured all her time and energy into caring for him. And, a year later, when their birthdays came around, it was all about our son. Yes, we celebrated her birthday too, but her special day was overshadowed by our son’s first birthday. On that first birthday, my son didn’t get my wife anything, and she wasn’t disappointed because a one-year-old doesn’t understand age, time, or giving to others. On his second birthday, I bought my wife something “from him”. Later though, as he grew, we taught him the concept of giving. As an infant, he only took. As he matured, he became able to think about something other than his own needs. His world became less self-centered and eventually, as he recognized his love for his mother, he began making presents for her birthdays. That was a rewarding moment for his mother.
This is the idea that is illustrated in today’s passage. In the story, David ascended to the throne of Israel, conquered Jerusalem, and moved into his new palace. As David enjoyed the luxury of his new home though, he began to think about God and his temple, which at that point was a tent. For centuries, the Israelites had kept the ark of the covenant in a structure made of fabric. Now, as David lounged in his house of cedar, he recognized that he’d put himself before God. As he grew into his monarchy, he recognized that it wasn’t all about him and his needs. God had brought him to this point and now, because of his love for God, he wanted to return that love, giving back to God. So, becoming less self-centered, he planned to build a new temple for God. Even though it would be David’s son who would build the temple, God was pleased that David wanted to do it for him.
The obvious lesson for me is that, as God has given so much to me, I must give back to God. When I was an infant in recovery, struggling to get sober, I was all need. I desperately needed God to save me from myself. As the years have passed and I’ve grown into this new blessed life, I’ve recognized my love for God and want to give back to him. The challenge today though, is that regression is a continual temptation. Though I love God and am thankful for what he’s done for me, it’s my nature to return to the self-centeredness of my infancy. Daily then, I must remember what God has done for me. Daily, if I want to remain in recovery, I must act like a grown up and give back to God. We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).