Originally posted: 4/30/2020
“Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for My name…” (22:9-10).
The heart of King David… how he wanted to build a proper place for the Lord, his God. The problem… David was not a suitable builder.
David said to Solomon, “My son, I had intended to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. 8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house to My name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth before Me,” (22:7-8).
David wanted to build a house for his God, but he was disqualified in that he had shed so much blood. And thoughts immediately emerged of another, of the One Who had also shed much blood… His own.
“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins,” (Matthew 26:28 NKJV).
And as David continued to exhort his young son with the monumental task of building a house for the Lord that was to be “exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all lands” (22:5), he shared the prophetic words spoken by the Lord, his God.
“He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever,” (22:10).
And while the returning exiles now found themselves back in their land, they also found themselves without a king. Perhaps as they pondered this declaration of His throne established forever, they would be prompted to look ahead, to a future that would be Built by One, and only One, qualified for this task; His promised Deliverer and Messiah.
Through David’s counsel to his son, Solomon, the people would be reminded of God’s promise while being instructed in the qualifications of the One Who would ultimately become His Befitting Builder: His only begotten Son, the only One suitable and right to Build His House.
Befitting: “suitable or right for someone or something.”
“Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ 11 Now, my son, the Lord be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the Lord your God just as He has spoken concerning you. 12 Only the Lord give you discretion and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed,” (22:9-13).
Consider Him, the Befitting Builder
- Befitting as the Son born: “Behold, a son will be born to you…”
- The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus,” (Luke 1:30-31).
- Befitting as the Man of rest: “who shall be a man of rest…”
- “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,” (Matthew 11:28-29).
- Befitting as the Man of peace and quiet: “and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days…”
- “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace,” (Isaiah 9:6).
- “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
- Befitting as the One Who builds the Father’s house: “He shall build a house for My name…”
- “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you,” (John 14:1-2).
- Befitting as the Son of His Father: “and he shall be My son and I will be his father…”
- For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased,” (2 Peter 1:17).
- Befitting in His throne established forever: “and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever…”
- “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever,” (Revelation 11:15).
- Befitting in God Who is with Him: “Now, my son, the Lord be with you that you may be successful…
- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God, (John 1:1-2).
- Befitting in building just as His Father had spoken: “and build the house of the Lord your God just as He has spoken concerning you…
- “but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me,” (John 14:31).
- Befitting in His discretion and understanding: “Only the Lord give you discretion and understanding…”
- When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there. 54 He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” (Matthew 13:53-54).
- Befitting in His charge over Israel: “and give you charge over Israel…”
- So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “It is as you say,” (Luke 23:3).
- Befitting as He keeps the law: “so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God…”
- “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished,” (Matthew 5:17-18).
- Befitting as He prospers through His obedience: “Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel…”
- Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, (Philippians 2:8-9).
- Befitting in His strength and courage: “Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed…””
- These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33).
How do we respond to Him, the Befitting Builder?
In conquering his enemy, King David shed much blood, bringing death to many. Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, the Son of God, shed His own blood to conquer the enemy and death, bringing eternal life to the many who would place their faith in Him, the Befitting Builder.
Don’t you love seeing Jesus revealed throughout His Word? Today, let’s take time to reflect on some truths of Him, the Befitting Builder.
When we are born again by faith in Jesus, we receive His peace and rest from our own works, to be Built anew in Him.
Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for My name… (22:9-10).
For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens… 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come, (2 Corinthians 5:1, 17)
In Christ, we are created to live our days on earth as His new creation, but He continues the work of Building us up in Him until the day we receive our eternal house from Him. Until then, let us commit to follow the example of our Savior Who endured rejection, suffering and death, in order to make us acceptable to God.
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ… 21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, (1 Peter 2:4-5, 21).
Oh, that we would so grow in faith and commitment to complete the task to which we, as His sons and daughters in Christ, have been called.
But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God, (Acts 20:24).
For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ, (1 Corinthians 3:11).
And let us pray He would grow our desire to join Him in the work of Building up the body of Christ. In whatever circumstances we find ourselves, may we commit by faith to selflessly pursue the things necessary in order to be on task with Him, the Befitting Builder.
So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another, (Romans 14:19).
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up, (1 Corinthians 14:26).
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear, (Ephesians 4:29 ESV).
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing, (1 Thessalonians 5:11).