2020 Advent Devotional
Sunday, December 20, 2020
A House of Cedar
Read 2 Samuel 7:1-11
Devotional by Charles Grissom
This text doesn’t fit the usual Advent or Christmas narrative. How in the world does David, living in a house of cedar, and the Ark moving from place to place and sheltered in a tent, have anything to do with the anticipated birth of our Savior? But that’s where God’s infinite mind and our extremely limited understanding are exposed.
Jesus was born in a stable. Not really the arrival of a King that Israel was anticipating. His linage was from David, one God chose to be King and had given authority of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark, as this passage points out, was God, and was sheltered by a tent and had been moving around with Israel since the 12 descendants of Jacob (Israel) had escaped Egypt, now residing in Jerusalem. As David was living in fine surroundings, in a house made of cedar, it was time for God to have the same.
A little about how luxurious and rare cedar was in Jerusalem. Cedar came from Lebanon, where it was harvested, moved in floats to a port, conveyed by land to the area, prepared, and assembled. The preparation of the timbers had to be done with skill and the primary tool was a wooden maul. David felt the Ark needed to be in such luxury.
God appeared to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?’” (2 Samuel 7:5) The Ark WAS an emblem of God. A place for God to live. David was entrusted to build it.
A place for God to live. Joseph was a descendant of David. Fast forward to Mary, betrothed to Joseph, and expecting. Jesus, born in a stable, grew up learning the skills of a carpenter, and now our King and Savior. The greatest gift ever. David had been entrusted with the Ark and was cemented into the linage of Christ.
Now, for 2020, as we anticipate celebrating that humble birth. The anticipation of Advent is surrounded by uncertainty of our present circumstances. The lights will still shine, smiles may be a bit labored because we just can’t control everything. You can make all the demands you want, all the lists and plans you desire, hold your breath, berate, and God sets the time as we know from Ecclesiastes.
We are not in control. (Which, to my surprise, some folks just don’t understand.) But, just as God, through Nathan, told David, “build me a house to dwell in.” God has a plan. It was set in motion long before David, long before Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And it will be going long after we are footnotes in the book of life.
Jesus is still our Savior, our Messiah, our Teacher. We are still traveling on the road covered with challenges. But be certain, birth and resurrection, our relief from all the obstacles, will come in God’s time, not ours.
Prayer Heavenly father, thank you for your steadfast love that comforts and sustains us, cuts through the turmoil, and holds us steady. You are always with us and will never leave us. AMEN.
Devotional by Charles Grissom
This text doesn’t fit the usual Advent or Christmas narrative. How in the world does David, living in a house of cedar, and the Ark moving from place to place and sheltered in a tent, have anything to do with the anticipated birth of our Savior? But that’s where God’s infinite mind and our extremely limited understanding are exposed.
Jesus was born in a stable. Not really the arrival of a King that Israel was anticipating. His linage was from David, one God chose to be King and had given authority of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark, as this passage points out, was God, and was sheltered by a tent and had been moving around with Israel since the 12 descendants of Jacob (Israel) had escaped Egypt, now residing in Jerusalem. As David was living in fine surroundings, in a house made of cedar, it was time for God to have the same.
A little about how luxurious and rare cedar was in Jerusalem. Cedar came from Lebanon, where it was harvested, moved in floats to a port, conveyed by land to the area, prepared, and assembled. The preparation of the timbers had to be done with skill and the primary tool was a wooden maul. David felt the Ark needed to be in such luxury.
God appeared to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?’” (2 Samuel 7:5) The Ark WAS an emblem of God. A place for God to live. David was entrusted to build it.
A place for God to live. Joseph was a descendant of David. Fast forward to Mary, betrothed to Joseph, and expecting. Jesus, born in a stable, grew up learning the skills of a carpenter, and now our King and Savior. The greatest gift ever. David had been entrusted with the Ark and was cemented into the linage of Christ.
Now, for 2020, as we anticipate celebrating that humble birth. The anticipation of Advent is surrounded by uncertainty of our present circumstances. The lights will still shine, smiles may be a bit labored because we just can’t control everything. You can make all the demands you want, all the lists and plans you desire, hold your breath, berate, and God sets the time as we know from Ecclesiastes.
We are not in control. (Which, to my surprise, some folks just don’t understand.) But, just as God, through Nathan, told David, “build me a house to dwell in.” God has a plan. It was set in motion long before David, long before Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And it will be going long after we are footnotes in the book of life.
Jesus is still our Savior, our Messiah, our Teacher. We are still traveling on the road covered with challenges. But be certain, birth and resurrection, our relief from all the obstacles, will come in God’s time, not ours.
Prayer Heavenly father, thank you for your steadfast love that comforts and sustains us, cuts through the turmoil, and holds us steady. You are always with us and will never leave us. AMEN.
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