1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:04,080 Speaker 1: The king said unto Nathan the prophet. See now I 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of 3 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: God dwelleth within curtains Second Samuel seven two. Dear Heavenly Father, 4 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: you call our bodies a living temple. Therefore, as I 5 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 1: meditate on David and his heart in Second Samuel and 6 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: First Chronicles, I have now decided to make sure that 7 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: my body will be a temple that is built to 8 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: house your presence. I declare that health and wholeness is 9 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: my focus. I declare that I now have the mindset 10 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 1: to get into the best shape of my life. My 11 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: body is an instrument that is used to bring your 12 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: love and glory to every one I meet. Therefore, I 13 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 1: will be diligent to avoid anything that would hurt and 14 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: hinder my ability to live out my purpose and destiny. 15 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: Thank you Jesus that through you than your sacrifice, I 16 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: now contain the power to overcome any obstacle that would 17 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: stand in the way of my health. As I take 18 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: care of my mind, body, and soul, I thank you 19 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: God that you can see that I am trustworthy enough 20 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: to honor the body and life you've given me. Through 21 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: this trust, you will continue to not only bless me, 22 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 1: but also allow my decision to prioritize health to bless 23 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: my legacy. I decree that my body is the temple 24 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: of the Lord, and I will do whatever is necessary 25 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 1: to make sure that God can keep using me to 26 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: build a kingdom that lasts in Jesus name. Amen, thank 27 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: you for making prayer a priority in your day. To 28 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,559 Speaker 1: learn more about the Bible, stay tuned for today's story, 29 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: brought to you by Bible in a year dot com 30 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: A Kingdom that Lasts. In our last story, we learned 31 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: about David returning the Ark of the Covenant home to 32 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: the people of Israel. Music, singing and dancing filled the 33 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 1: air as the arc made its way down to the 34 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: city of Jerusalem. However, the revelie was quickly replaced by 35 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 1: fear as Uzzah was struck down when he touched the arc. 36 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: David questioned God's goodness, but pressed into God through his doubt. 37 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 1: When the Ark finally returned to Israel, David leapt for 38 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 1: joy and danced among the people. He took off his 39 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: kingly robes, which angered his wife. However, David would not 40 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 1: be embarrassed to show his love for God. Now we 41 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: are introduced to a new prophet by the name of Nathan. 42 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: He would prove as a voice of encouragement, prophecy, and 43 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: correction for David for years to come, and David, with 44 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 1: a heart that loves God, leads the people of Israel 45 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: into more prosperity and victory inspired by his Second Samuel 46 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: and First Chronicles. Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's 47 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: episode of the Bible in a Year podcast. In our 48 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: previous story, we heard how David moved the art to 49 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: Israel into the city of David, where it belonged. Though 50 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,839 Speaker 1: it wasn't an easy task and because David had set 51 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: about it in the wrong way at first, a man died, 52 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: but the arc eventually made its way to Israel, where 53 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: David danced before the Lord without shame. His own wife, Michael, disapproved, 54 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: but David made it clear he was worshiping God. Today 55 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: we will meet a new prophet, a man named Nathan, 56 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: who will both encourage and challenge David in the years 57 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: to come. God will speak through Nathan to guide and 58 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: correct David, who will lead God's people with a righteous 59 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: heart that seeks the Lord, as God will bless Israel 60 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 1: with victory and prosperity under this king who had a 61 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: heart for God. Listen now to today's scripture. David arose 62 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: from his bed early in the morning. The musk of 63 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: cedar and spring flowers filled the room as a soft 64 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: light trickled through the windows. David walked from his bed 65 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:25,039 Speaker 1: towards the window and leaned over. He breathed in the 66 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: crisp morning air and let the new sun warm his face. 67 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 1: He looked around the outside of his home. There were gardens, trees, 68 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: and wild flowers lacing the property. Across the way was 69 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 1: a hall for him to meet with the elders and 70 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 1: his mighty men. Growing up as a shepherd boy, David 71 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 1: would have never fathomed living like a king. David looked 72 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: back at his room. Beautiful cedar beams held up the 73 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: high ceilings. He observed them closely. David tilted his head 74 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: and pressed his lips together, seeing how the large beams 75 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 1: were constructed like pieces of art. Then, in an instant, 76 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: David's eyes widened. David put on his shirt and robe 77 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: and ran outside towards the meeting hall. David burst through 78 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: the doors with a smile on his face. Nathan the 79 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: Prophet was there as he often was if the king 80 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: needed counsel Nathan, David shouted as he hugged him. Nathan 81 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 1: smiled and returned, wondering what had put David in such 82 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: a good mood. David leaned in close as he spoke, saying, 83 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 1: look at this beautiful home I have. I dwell in 84 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: a house of cedar, fortified and filled with beauty. Yet 85 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 1: the ark of God is outside, dwelling in a tent. 86 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: David waved his arms towards the outside and put his 87 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 1: hands on his head. Why wouldn't the Lord be deserving 88 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 1: of a beautiful home? Nathan stroked his beard and pondered 89 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: David's words. He shrugged his shoulders with a grin and said, 90 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,479 Speaker 1: do all that is in your heart, my king. The 91 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: Lord is with you, Sir. David wasted no time in 92 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: beginning the plans to build God a temple home so 93 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: magnificent and glorious that the whole world would awe at 94 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 1: the sight of it. That night, Nathan was praying to 95 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: the Lord on David's behalf. The prophet kneeled at the 96 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: side of his bed, considering the home David desired to 97 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:18,840 Speaker 1: create for God. Then in the quiet, God spoke to Nathan, saying, 98 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 1: go and say these things to David. I have not 99 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: lived in a house since the day I saved the 100 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 1: people of Israel from Egypt. I have been moving among 101 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: my people in a tent in all their history. I 102 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 1: have not asked for a dwelling place, nor have I complained. 103 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 1: Yet here you are, David, prepared to build for me 104 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: a temple. I remember taking you from the pasture among 105 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: your sheep. I have been with you everywhere you have went. 106 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: I have cut off every enemy that pursues you. I 107 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 1: will make you great in all the earth, and I 108 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:55,039 Speaker 1: will set your son up after you. When he sins, 109 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,479 Speaker 1: I shall not depart from him like I did Saul, 110 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 1: nor will I leave you for all the days of 111 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 1: your life. Nathan held these words like precious jewels and 112 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: presented them to David. The next morning. David sang and 113 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: was glad. This interaction between David and God truly showed 114 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: why David was chosen to be king. David was passionate 115 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: after pleasing the heart of God, he was still flawed 116 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: and deeply naive in many ways. Yet his heart sought 117 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: to cling to gods, as Jacob once did many years prior. 118 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: Together David and God shepherded the people of Israel into 119 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 1: an era of prosperity and growth. As God gave David's 120 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: strength as a shepherd to defeat lions and wolves, so 121 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: he gave David the strength to protect the people of Israel. 122 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 1: David rose up against the Philistines and completely subdued them 123 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: and took one of their capitals. After this, he defeated 124 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: the Kingdom of Moab, and the Moabites served Israel and 125 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: prospered as a result. David also thwarted the King of 126 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: zobah Year's battle, the two kings clashed over control of 127 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 1: the Euphrates. He took from him seventeen hundred horsemen and 128 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: twenty thousand soldiers. When the Syrians came to King Zoba's aid, 129 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: David and his mighty men struck them down with a 130 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: mighty blow. Many other kings sought to destroy David, but 131 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: ended up crushed by the power of God. David reigned 132 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 1: over the land with strength and mercy. With each victory, 133 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: the small and helpless nation of Israel rose to a 134 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: place of prominence an influence. Yet David was not just 135 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: a mighty warrior. Each week he would lead the congregation 136 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 1: and worship, singing his psalms before the people, drawing them 137 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: closer to the presence of God. He would write songs 138 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: of God's goodness, power, salvation, and joy. He taught the 139 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 1: people how to be honest before God, whiles showing him reverence. Slowly, 140 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 1: David's heart for God began to translate onto the people 141 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 1: of Israel. The once far off, rebel and fickle people 142 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: of Israel were finally pursuing the Lord once again. As 143 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: we begin today's story, we are introduced to a new character, 144 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 1: the Prophet Nathan. It has been years since God has 145 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 1: spoken through the Prophet Samuel, and now there is a 146 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: new man called to bring God's prophetic word to his 147 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: people and to King David. Nathan and David will form 148 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: a strong bond of trust over many years, and in 149 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 1: today's story we find David seeking Nathan for counsel on 150 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 1: an issue very close to his heart. As King, David 151 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: lives in a palatial home with all the comforts and 152 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: luxuries of a king, and yet as he looks at 153 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 1: the ark and where it is kept a tent, he 154 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: knows that this is not right. God's presence deserves a 155 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: home fit for a king, a heavenly king, something beautiful 156 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: and permanent, a temple that would cast the eye of 157 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:00,439 Speaker 1: all who would see it. So David tells Nathan that 158 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: he wants to build a home, a temple for God, 159 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 1: and Nathan gives his blessing to David, knowing the king's 160 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: heart is right where it belongs. I imagine David is 161 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,560 Speaker 1: like a small child with excitement as he draws up 162 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: the plans to honor God with a temple. Nathan, for 163 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 1: his part, took the request to the Lord in prayer 164 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: to confirm that his guidance to David was correct. God 165 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: was pleased by David's desire to build a temple for generations. 166 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: God had moved with the Israelites, a nomad like them, 167 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: dwelling in temporary houses in the wilderness, going from place 168 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 1: to place. But now as his plan was unfolding and 169 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:39,079 Speaker 1: the man who pursued his heart was leading his people, 170 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: God would provide a permanent home that the world, all 171 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 1: the world could see. Listen to what God says to 172 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 1: Nathan in Second Samuel seven, he shall build a house 173 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: for my name, and I will establish the throne of 174 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: his kingdom. Forever. I will be to him like a father, 175 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: and he shall be to me like a son. When 176 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod 177 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 1: of men, with the stripes of the sons of men. 178 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 1: But my steadfast love will not depart from him. These 179 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: words are specifically about David, but they reflect a desire 180 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: for God's relationship with each one of us. Our father 181 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 1: in heaven wants us to walk with him as his children. 182 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: David's primary interest was not for the power of a king, 183 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: or the position or the recognition. That was what was 184 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: in Saul's heart, and it led him on a destructive path. 185 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: David's desire was to honor God, to be near to 186 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: him and show him love, reverence, and lavish generosity. And 187 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 1: for this God blessed both David and the nation of Israel. 188 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,559 Speaker 1: He led the nation to many victories and battles against 189 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,559 Speaker 1: other nations, and with every victory David gave glory to 190 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: God and made his name known throughout the earth. Dear God, 191 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: we thank you that you are our father and we 192 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: are your children through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Thank you 193 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 1: for the privilege of knowing you and loving you, serving you, 194 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:13,199 Speaker 1: and following you. May we always confess our sins and 195 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: find forgiveness, and may we always live in obedience to 196 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: You in Christ's name. Amen. Thank you for listening to 197 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 1: today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. 198 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 1: Download the Prey dot com app and make prayer and 199 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 1: Bible study a priority in your life. If you enjoyed 200 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: this podcast, share it with someone you love or know. 201 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,560 Speaker 1: And by sharing this podcast, we can get the word 202 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: of God to the world. And if you want more 203 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 1: resources on how to tap into God's power for Christian living, 204 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:49,719 Speaker 1: be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless you. 205 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Medicine, an innovative healthcare solution 206 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 1: for Christian to save money without sacrificing quality