8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”
David’s request was good, but God said, ‘No’. God was not rejecting David. God turned down David’s request because he had other plans to prosper David that he could not even imagine. These plans were better than David could have known. David was trying to be in God’s will, and he was, but God took him on a different path within his will. God promised to continue the dynasty of David forever. David’s earthly dynasty ended four centuries later, but Jesus, a direct descendent of David, was God’s ultimate fulfillment of his promise. Christ reigns forever in his spiritual kingdom, in heaven, and later on earth in the New Jerusalem. Do you pray with good intentions? Has God told you ‘No’ or remained silent in answering prayer the way you would like? God has purpose for your life. He is directing your path. Accepting God’s ‘No’ requires a great faith in God. Always remember you are never alone, and God is for you.
