2 Samuel 7:1-29; John 14:1-14; Psalms 119:25-32; Proverbs 25:17
OT: ““So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a great name for you like that of the greatest on the earth… When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’”” (2 Samuel 7:8-9, 12-16 CSB)
After King David established Jerusalem as his capital city and brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, he did not think it honoring to live in a palace while the Ark of the Covenant – the representation of God’s presence – to be housed in a tent-like tabernacle. He wanted to build God a temple to honor His name. God, however would not allow him. In answer to David’s request to build a temple, God sent this message to David via the prophet Nathan. Instead of allowing David to build God a house, God promised David an everlasting house. With most prophecies, this prophecy had an immediate fulfillment, a future fulfillment, and an ultimate fulfillment. King Solomon was the immediate fulfillment. While Solomon did end up building the temple, Solomon’s reign did not last forever. In fact, because of Solomon’s unfaithfulness, David’s line lost its reign over eleven of the twelve tribes. The future fulfillment came in Jesus Christ, who was a descendant of David, but was also the Son of God. Jesus Christ, after He ascended into heaven, has been building a spiritual kingdom, where those who believe in Him become the temple of the Holy Spirit. The ultimate fulfillment will come when the Root of Jesse, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords returns to earth for His bride (the church), defeats death, hell, and the grace, and establishes His eternal kingdom in the New Jerusalem on the New Earth.
NT: ““Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.” “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him… Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”” (John 14:1-7, 12-13 CSB)
As Jesus spoke to His remaining eleven disciples about His imminent departure, He comforted them by explaining why He was going away and to not let their hearts be troubled. Jesus was going away to prepare a place for those who believe in Him. The language that Jesus used is marriage language… it is the language a bridegroom would say to His betrothed: I am going away to prepare a house… and then I will return for you. Those who place their faith in Christ are known as the Bride of Christ. Jesus went away to prepare a place for all who place their faith in Him… and one day, He will return to claim His bride and throw an enormous wedding feast. When Thomas wanted to know the way to get to where Jesus was going, Jesus replied with His sixth I AM statement. He said, “I AM the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus wasn’t going to point the way… He wasn’t going to leave behind a map with instructions… He wasn’t going to give us a heavenly GPS device. He said, “I AM the way.” The only way to get to the Father in heaven is through Jesus, by placing your faith in Him. Then Jesus said something else that was very encouraging. He said, “If you believe in Me, you will do the same works that I did while on the earth… in fact, you will do greater works because I am going to the Father.” As Jesus would explain later, in going to the Father, Jesus was going to send the Holy Spirit of God to fill the lives of all who place their faith in Him… and by becoming living, breathing temples of the Holy Spirit (just like Jesus was on earth), believers in Christ would carry on the great works of Christ on the earth until He returns. The same life that abided in Jesus would abide in all who place faith in Him and believe on His name… all to the glory of God.
Jamie Hicks 