December 20, 2020 Text: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Dear Friends in Christ,
The rock band the Who penned a song entitled, “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” This one line sums up the message of the tune – “Meet the new boss – same as the old boss!” With these past 10 months we can now all say we have lived through life altering events. But most of us can look back over many such times. The Depression, World War II, the Vietnam War era, the high inflation of the 1970’s, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Each time something happens in our world we think it is the worst thing that could happen. But is it?
As each crisis drifts from our conscience, the devil just laughs and laughs because he knows he can fool us again – “”Meet the new boss – same as the old boss!”
King David had a good track record behind him. He had slain Goliath, he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and set it in a tent. Now in our text the Lord is giving him rest from his enemies and Nathan the prophet tells him, “The Lord is with you.” All right, things are looking good . . . my future’s so bright I gotta wear shades. Human effort and a cool pair of sunglasses can’t hide the fact that man and woman are still sinful.
“WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN”
King David settles on his throne and wants to do something good for God. As is want to happen the power grab of humanity leads to blockheaded thinking. David prioritizes buildings things for himself and others rather than building for God.
The irony of the situation of course is that David has troubles to come, and they will primarily be with . . . his own house! His sin with Bathsheba, their child’s death, incest among his children, and rebellion from a son and others are the main stories in the rest of Samuel 2. David didn’t get the temple built for God’s House and he also failed at building God’s “house” with his family and personal behavior. In two generations David’s kingdom would be split by civil war and then David’s monarchy would eventually be destroyed.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” (Ps. 127:1) God does encourage our heart as He did David to look for things to do for Him. But what is most important is always to know what He has done for you in the past and what He does for you and through you in the future.
God constructs what is perfect and lasting. God reminded David of all the things He did for him and his ancestors. Delivered from slavery in Egypt and shepherded them through an Exodus and gave them a respite from those who were out to destroy them.
God does the same for you. We all have the same sinful insufficiencies that David had. We try to fool ourselves that God must be pretty pleased with this strutting peacock I call me. Our priorities displace God’s priorities. And Satan pushes us farther from the church. Our families struggle with direction, misplaced fears and worldly thinking. In the end, we all die and everything turns to dust.
But look at what our gracious God does. He knows we get fooled again and again by other voices. He knows we stumble in the darkness of evil induced information. He knows we forget that sin and troubles are always, always going to be with us. You can’t build a shelter for that. Hello, you in there?
I am Lord. I know I need you. He wraps His love around you in the person of Jesus Christ and delivers you from your tomfoolery of sin and slavery. He baptizes you to wash away the filth that has built up in your mind. He shepherds you with his Scriptures and His Sacraments. He has conquered Satan and limited his eternal power. He has built for you the ultimate temple – Jesus! He provides everything that makes your life worth living.
The baby about to be born was predicted to reign over David’s kingdom. Jesus called himself the temple in John 2 and He provides an eternal house, a never-ending home for you with God.
When 9/11 happened a young man called his father and his first words on the phone were, “Boy, Dad, our world has really changed since we last talked.” His father, a wise Lutheran Pastor with 50 years of experience in teaching the Bible said, “No, it hasn’t .” He assured his son that the terrorist attacks were the same old sin seen since the Garden of Eden, but that the same Savior was still handling humanity’s sin the same way, punishing the unrepentant but giving His forgiving love to those who trust in His shed blood.
The temple finally got built in Jerusalem and lasted four hundred years. Its replacements were also demolished fairly quickly. God wanted his people to have lasting hope, not in earthy things or man’s accomplishments, but in His eternal King, Jesus. Let us all pray that as we keep on inhabiting this earth we . . . won’t get fooled again. Amen.