Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling… Your throne shall be established forever.’ ” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. (II Samuel 7:1-6; 16,17 ESV)
Landing Safely When Jumping to Conclusions
King David approached the prophet Nathan to suggest David’s brilliant idea. God has been so good to King David. Let’s build God a temple! The idea was so obviously good to Nathan that he immediately agreed. Logically, righteously, perhaps even exegetically, Nathan concludes that King David should start building that temple.
But that night, God approaches Nathan with a different answer. God tells Nathan that King David should not be building a temple for God, but instead God would be building a royal house, a dynasty, a family forever. A family, in fact, that culminates in King Jesus, the Messiah.
We might find reason to shake our heads and wag our fingers at Nathan. He jumped to conclusions. He probably did not approach God in prayer before answering King David. He was far too much Nathan and not enough God’s prophet.
But God was gracious. He did not even mention Nathan’s error. God simply used Nathan’s conclusion-jumping to springboard to one of the greatest promises in the Bible. The promise that a King was coming.
We cannot sidestep God’s path by jumping to conclusions. We can be wrong in our assumptions, conclusions, and declarations. But God is patient with His people. He keeps on going despite us, in spite of us, and then even through us.
He is faithful to His people even when in haste, we are unfaithful to Him, like Nathan.
We are peculiar, we always land safely.