1 Chronicles 17
What does God want?
(2) Temple plans
theme: There are a number of great themes that come out of this; you can't cover all of these, but depending on your group's needs, try to put a couple together in a way that progresses naturally from one to another, leading up to what you feel is most important for your group.
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worldy ideas of success versus what is important to God (our relationship with Him, obedience, and such)
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making plans within the context of God's will
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having a vision for how you want to serve God and minister
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how our lives should conform to God's vision and desires
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more important than doing things for God, is simply our relationship with God our hearts, worship, love, obedience
worship: good worship songs would be those focusing on our devotion and obedience to God over worldly things, as well as songs about serving and vision
1. What's success?
(You can just read v. 1-15 if this is to be your main focus)
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Could David be described as successful, as we commonly understand 'success' today? How so?
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In what way was he successful spiritually, as well as in the world's eyes?
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Did this matter to God? Did it affect God's decision about who would build the temple?
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What is 'success' in God's eyes? Is 'success' important to God? Does God want us to be 'successful'? Why?
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Is 'success' necessarily a bad or worldly thing? How about 'spiritual success'?
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What is more important than success, either in the world, or in Christian life, or church life?
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How do worldy views of success creep into our lives, or into church / fellowship life? Why is this a problem?
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2. God's will and your plans.
[a huge topic in itself could take a whole year to really discuss this well!]
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Was David wrong to have this desire to build the temple? Naive? Hasty?
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What were his motives? In what way might they be commendable?
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If they were commendable (and Nathan consented), why did God have different plans?
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Have you ever made plans "for God" what weren't God's plans?
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What were the results? What happened when they failed?
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What has happened when you followed God's will rather than your own? Can you give an example?
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How do these experiences affect how you plan for the future?
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Is planning for the future "unspiritual"? How do you plan if you're not sure about God's will?
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Are you afraid of God's will for your future contradicting your plans or desires? Or turning out different from what you expect?
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Should you be anxious, annoyed, or afraid? Why?
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Do you think God is out to make your life miserable? (Do you have to be miserable and frustrated in life in order to be spiritual?)
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How was David's response (16-27)? What can we learn from his response?
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General considerations regarding God's will: -
God's promises of guidance and His plans for us: Ps. 32.8, Jn 10.3-4, Jer. 29.11
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Jesus' example Lk. 4.1, Jn. 5.19
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humility Ps. 25.9,14, Lk 1.38, Ps. 37.5-6
how to seek & discern God's will: -
Prov. 3.5-6, Rom. 12.1-2
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consider: what does Rom. 12.1 & Prov. 3.5 have to do with discerning God's will? What does it mean to acknowledge Him, to make ourselves living sacrifices, to be transformed & renewed? How does this help us discern His will?
practical ways in which God shows His will to us: -
scripture - 2 Tim. 3.16, Ps. 119.105, 130-133
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Holy Spirit - Acts 13.1-3, Acts 16.7, Jn. 10.3-4, 1 Jn. 4.1
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desires (if spiritually motivated) - Phil. 2.13
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unusual means (rare) - Acts 11.27, Mt. 2.10, Acts 16.10, Mt. 2.19, 1 Sam.
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3:4-14
common sense (a God-given gift) - Ps. 32.8-9
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counsel of others - Prov. 12.15, 15.22, 20.18
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circumstances Prov. 16.9, Acts 16.7, 1 Cor. 16.9
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Look at Eph. 5.15 & following. What two types of people are contrasted, and how are they described? What does this show about followers vs. non-followers of God's will?
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How does following God's will pertain to our relationship with Him?
3. Vision and ministry and even more important is...
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How would you explain the term 'vision'?
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What kind of vision does David have?
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If he had such a noble spiritual vision, why did God turn him down?
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Do you have any kind of spiritual vision for your life how you want to serve God in your life?
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In what way are you serving God (or at least desire to serve God) right now? What is your motivation for this?
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How do you envision yourself serving God in the near future? In the distant future? What's your motivation?
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Do you think this is your own vision, or from God? (or both?)
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What is ministry? Is it just for other people to do? Are you called to minister or serve?
Why is important for you to actively minister & serve God? [see Rom. 12:4-8, 1 Peter 2:5-10] -
When you serve (or when you develop your vision for your life), do you hope to gain God's favor?
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Again, what's your motivation for what you do (or your plans or vision)? (your "heart motive")
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What will you do if later God's plan for you turns out different from your vision?
Or if your ministry doesn't seem successful? Or if God moves you from one type of ministry/service to another (which maybe you didn't expect or want)? -
What can you learn from David's response?
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Is doing things for God the most important thing in your spiritual life? Is that the basis of your spirituality?
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What is more important than service and ministry more important than what we do for Him?
important hints: - Deut. 6:5
- Psalm 50:12-15, Psalm 40:6-8, Isaiah 1:11
- Micah 6:8
So what are your temple plans in your life?
Are they right desires & behaviors?
What then is more important to God? Why? -
Do you think your life is pleasing to God? Why? What needs to change?
Further references:
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Spring '99 study on Christian service from Rom. 12
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Spring '99 talk by Mike McQueen on Christ and/or career
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Summer '99 study on the Holy Spirit in our lives
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Summer '99 study on making our lives count for God, which pertains to the topic of vision
Notes.
When theologians speculate about why God denied David's desire to build the temple, a common and likely reason given is his participation in warfare. Though he was a godly man (generally), he did participate in a lot of wars with neighboring pagan nations, apparently to a degree beyond what God intended, and perhaps in a worldly way sometimes rather than from God's command. Warfare between competing states and tribes was a common part of the political culture in the Ancient Near East, and maybe the nature and degree of David's conducting warfare was too much like the worldly, violent warfare culture of the times. Aside from that reason (a very valid one, i think), in God's plans, it just wasn't the time yet for the temple, and God had different purposes in mind.
God's promise to David here is called the Davidic covenant sort of another installment of the general Old Testament covenant also developed in "installments" to Abraham, Noah, and Moses. The promise of an eternal heir on the throne is of course fulfilled by Jesus, the eternal king of the covenant. (Thus, this promise has a real messianic tone.) Thus, God has a longer range plan and vision in mind than what David had, which is another reason God denied his "temple plans".
For mature Christians especially, the last section (#3) should lead to a lot of serious thinking or conviction.
EBS.
For an evangelistic Bible study or young believers, section 1 and parts of #2 may be appropriate getting them to seriously consider worldly ideas of success that guide many people's lives, their vanity and uselessness, and what God wants instead. For an EBS, a related passage from the gospels might be even better:
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Luke 12:13-21 The parable of the rich fool
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Luke 16:19-31 The rich man and Lazarus
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Matthew 10:28, Matthew 16:24-27, Mark 8:34-38 Jesus' warnings about losing one's soul
A few issues to raise are: the meaning (meaninglessness) of worldly success, the meaning of one's life, what is the soul, what is eternity, what is eternal life, why God rejects those who displease Him, why pursuing worldly things is wrong (and spiritually unhealthy in fact, spiritually suicidal).