Ewald Schmidt 

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ’ 2 Samuel 7:5-7 NIV
 
Every believer wants to live a life honouring God to the best of his or her ability. When the Spirit of God takes control, we want to do as much as possible, using every opportunity to serve God. We do this in gratitude for all his love, kindness and grace he bestows upon our lives. But we cannot do everything ourselves. Today, we learn to discern what our responsibility is and what is not?
 
Every believer is called to love God with all of his or her heart, soul and mind. We are also accountable to God for loving our neighbour as ourselves. This is universal for every believer. But then God has gifted us with the gifts of the Spirit. He has given each of us a different set of opportunities to use it to his glory.
 
David did wonderful things in his service to the Lord. Read the beautiful testimonial God gives him from verse 8. The Lord used him to unite the nation of Israel, and to finally conquer all the land promised to Abraham. With the conquest of Jerusalem, the task was completed. David also brought stability through his military defence of the country against all enemy action. He helped set the kingdom on a good path for the next chapters of its history. He stayed true to the calling of the Lord over his life. In 2 Samuel 7, he wants to put the cherry on top. He wants to build a temple that will be worthy of God. But this was not God’s plan. Even if it sounded like such a good idea.
 
From God’s response, we understand that he was happy with the tent in the desert as a symbol of his presence. He is the mobile God, moving around with his people. Later on, a temple would be built, and time and again the people would think that God was only living inside the temple, that He did not see what was going on in the world outside. 
 
The point here is: David was reminded to stay in his lane. He had to focus on that which God has called him to do. He thought a temple would be a good legacy to leave his people. God gave him an even better one, read 2 Samuel 7:16, “Your house and your kingdom shall endure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.” With this promise the world is being prepared for the arrival of Jesus, who would not live in buildings, but in the hearts of his people.
 
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your goodness and mercy in my life. Thank you for blessing me with the gifts and the opportunities given by the Spirit, equipping me for my calling. Help me to remain faithful and diligent in doing what you prepared for me. Amen.
 

Ewald Schmidt 

“Gaan sê vir my dienaar Dawid: So sê die Here: Wil jy vir My 'n huis bou om in te woon? Vandat Ek die Israeliete uit Egipte laat trek het tot nou toe het Ek nog nooit in 'n huis gewoon nie. Ek het in tent en tabernakel rondgeswerf saam met al die Israeliete.”  2 Samuel 7:5-7a, 1983-vertaling
 
'n Gelowige wil graag voluit vir die Here lewe, Hom eer met ons lewe. As die Heilige Gees ons dring, wil ons soveel as moontlik vir die Here doen, uit dankbaarheid vir sy goedheid en liefde in ons lewens. Vandag leer ons om ook te onderskei: Wat is my roeping, en wat nie?
 
Ons elkeen as gelowiges is geroep om elke dag die Here lief te hê met ons hele hart, siel en verstand. Ons is ook verantwoordelik om ons naaste so lief soos onsself te hê. Dit is waar vir elke gelowige. Maar dan staan elkeen van ons ook verantwoordelik teenoor die Here vir ons unieke roeping, waarvoor ons unieke genadegawes en geleenthede gekry het.
 
Dawid het so baie reggekry in diens van die Here. Lees die mooi getuigskrif van 2 Samuel 7:8 af! Die Here het hom gebruik om die land te verenig, met die inneem van Jerusalem was die intog van die Beloofde Land uiteindelik voltooi. Dawid het die land beveilig teen die baie vyande wat hulle graag wou uitwis. Hy het stabiliteit gebring, en alles gereed gemaak vir die volgende hoofstuk van God se geskiedenis met sy volk. Dawid was getrou aan sy roeping, hy het dit goed gedoen. In 2 Samuel 7 wil hy nou die kersie op die koek sit – hy wil 'n tempel bou wat die Here waardig sal wees. Maar dit was nie die Here se roeping vir hom nie, al klink dit na so 'n mooi plan.
 
Iets mooi hier – die Here was gelukkig in 'n tent en tabernakel saam met sy volk in die woestyn. Hy is die mobiele God, wat saam met sy kinders beweeg. Die volk sou later in die tempel vasval, en dink dat God net daar is. Dat Hy nie meer buite sy tempel 'n invloed het nie, of nie raaksien wat hulle daar buite doen nie.
 
Die punt is: Dawid moes by sy roeping bly. Die Here gee hom 'n wonderlike belofte – in 2 Samuel 7:16 lees ons: "Jou koningshuis en jou koningskap sal vir altyd vas staan; jou troon sal altyd voortbestaan.” Hiermee word die wêreld voorberei op Jesus se koms, wat nie in tempels sou woon nie, maar in die harte van mense.
 
Gebed: Here, dankie vir u groot liefde en genade in my lewe. Dankie dat U my geseën het met die genadegawes en geleenthede nodig om my roeping voluit uit te leef. Help my om getrou te wees oor dit wat U my voor geroep het. Amen.

Ewald Schmidt 

David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, songs, harps, lyres, tambourines, rattles and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.  2 Samuel 6:5-8 NIV
 
This is one of the more complicated stories in the Bible. Uzzah tried to do a good deed, but God struck him down and he died. Why? In 2 Samuel 5, David finally completed the conquest of the Promised Land, when he took over Jerusalem, the city of the Jebusites. David made it his capital, and he wanted to honour God on Mount Zion. The Ark of the Covenant symbolised the presence of God among his people from the time of Moses. David wanted to honour God by building a temple worthy of God. So he sent for the Ark of the Covenant to be brought to Jerusalem.
 
With great festivity, the ark approached Jerusalem. The day started with joy, but ended in tears with the death of Uzzah. The problem was that David was taking shortcuts. He had the ark transported on the back of an ox wagon, it was just more convenient that way. But the ark was a holy relic, not in itself, but for what it stood. It symbolised God’s presence, and there were strict rules prescribing how it should be transported – the Levites had to carry it on their shoulders.
 
The message here was hard but necessary: God is holy, obey him. Follow his commands. Don’t make a show out of religion to score political points. David would have risen in esteem by bringing the ark to its new home. The second time around, they did it the right way. Then the focus was on honouring God. The ark was carried as prescribed. Again, there were festivities, with music and dance. With rejoicing, the ark arrived at Mount Zion, where David erected a special tent to accommodate it. Then the day ended with David blessing the nation.
 
Remember that God is holy. He does not play the game of life according to our rules. He is God, we are mortal. Our own plans lead to death. When we surrender to him, and serve him in humility and obedience, there will be life and joy in abundance. He is our Father. He is approachable (Hebrews 7:25). Remember that he is holy, and serve him with dedication. Then you will have joy and peace!
 
Prayer: Lord, you are holy. You are also my Father, who loves me. Thank you that I may know you, and serve you. Help me always to respect you and obey your commands. Thank you for life in abundance! Amen
 

Ewald Schmidt 

“Dawid en die hele Israel het uitbundig voor die ark van die Here gedans, begelei deur liedere, liere, harpe, tamboeryne, ratels en simbale. Toe hulle by die dorsvloer van Nakon kom, gryp Ussa na die ark van God om dit teë te hou, want die osse het gestruikel. Die toorn van die Here het teen Ussa ontvlam en God het hom net daar, by die daad van heiligskennis, getref. Hy het op die plek gesterf, langs die ark van God.” 2 Samuel 6:5-7, 1983-vertaling
 
Hierdie is een van die moeilike teksgedeeltes in die Bybel. Ussa het probeer goed doen, en die Here het hom daar laat sterf. Hoekom? Dawid het in 2 Samuel 5 Jerusalem uiteindelik oorwin, dit was die stad van die Jebusiete. Dawid maak dit die hoofstad, en wil graag die Here daar eer op Sionsberg. Die verbondsark simboliseer van Moses se tyd af God se teenwoordigheid onder sy volk. Dawid wou in die nuwe hoofstad God eer met 'n nuwe tempel. Daarom laat kom hy die ark solank.
 
Met groot feestelikheid het hulle die verbondsark gaan haal. Die dag eindig in die tragiese dood van Ussa. Die probleem was dat Dawid kortpad gevat het. Hy het die verbondsark sommer agter op 'n wa gelaai. Die verbondsark simboliseer God se teenwoordigheid, en daar was duidelike voorskrifte dat die Leviete die verbondsark moet dra.
 
Die boodskap was duidelik: God is heilig, wees gehoorsaam aan Hom. Volg sy voorskrifte. Die eerste keer se feesvieringe was dalk meer polities van aard – kyk hoe wonderlik is ons om die Here se ark te gaan haal! Die tweede keer doen hulle dit op die regte manier. Toe was die fokus om die Here te dien. Met opregte harte was daar weer feesvieringe, Dawid dans voor die Here, ramshorings blaas en tamboeryne speel. Met gejuig het die verbondsark by die bestemde plek gekom, waar Dawid 'n spesiale tent voor opgeslaan het. Daar kon Dawid die hele volk seën.
 
Onthou dat die Here heilig is. Hy speel nie die spel van die lewe volgens ons reëls nie. Onthou dat Hy God is, en ons mens is. Ons eie planne lei tot die dood. Wanneer ons Hom in nederigheid en afhanklikheid dien, dan is daar lewe en vreugde.
 
God is ons Vader. Hy is nou toeganklik vir almal, deur die offer van Jesus (Hebreërs 7:25). Onthou dat Hy heilig is. Dien Hom met oorgawe. Dan sal jy ook lewe en vreugde beleef.
 
Gebed: Here, U is heilig. Tog is U ook ons Vader, wat vir ons onbeskryflik lief is. Dankie dat ons U mag ken, en dien. Help ons om altyd te onthou wie U is. Dankie dat U vir ons die lewe wil gee. Amen.
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