Christmas in Temecula, Pt. 2—David’s Joy
2 Sam. 7:8-29

David had joy in the PRESENT

David was born around 1010 BC as the youngest of eight brothers to their father Jesse, who was the grandson of Boaz and Ruth. Jesse and his family lived in Bethlehem and owned a large amount of animals of whom David was the shepherd. Being the youngest and least experienced of the family, people were continually prejudiced against him, both inside and outside his family. When he was chosen to be anointed as king of Israel by the prophet Samuel, he wasn’t even invited to the ceremony but was left out to tend the sheep by his family (1 Sam. 16:11). The prejudice of people cannot stop the purpose of God! As all seven sons are presented before Samuel, God rejects all of them until there are none left. When Samuel asks if there are any other sons, Jesse tells him the youngest and least honored son was left to guard the sheep. Samuel sends for David and when he enters, Samuel anoints him with oil as the next king of Israel. David had joy in obscurity and difficulty, trusting God with his future. Greatness does not come from human affirmation but divine confirmation.

David had joy for the FUTURE

Though imperfect himself, and despite all the problems and difficulties he encountered throughout his life, David’s great desire was to bring God glory. As a man after God’s own heart and king over God’s people, David desired to build God a house or temple to honor Him (Acts 13:22, 23). But because he was a man of war, God let Solomon his son eventually build the temple. Instead, God told him that He would build David a ‘house’. This meant an enduring legacy of men carrying on the royal lineage and right to the throne of Israel until the Messiah would rule from it (Ezek. 21:27). Though a ruling king did not endure until Jesus, his royal lineage did. David had joy knowing that beyond his lifetime God would be faithful to His promise to build him a ‘house’ that would endure forever in the God-man and Messiah, Jesus (Is. 9:6, 7; 11:1-10; Matt. 1:1; Luke 1:31-33; Rom. 1:2-4; Rev. 22:16). David’s joy came from looking at God and His character, not men and theirs (2 Sam. 7:28). While joy can be happiness, happiness is not always joy. Happiness is emotionally based on happenstance, while joy is founded in the security and truthfulness of God in any circumstance (Phil. 4:4).