DAVID #21----(2 Samuel 7:1-29)--"WHEN GOD SAYS “NO”
Intro: This passage describes what were possibly the best days in the life of King David. He was the King of Israel. His nation was united and at peace. Because of all that the Lord had done for him, he wished to build God a permanent dwelling place. 
Since the time the Tabernacle had been built during the days of Moses, God had met with his people in a temporary temporary tent!   David wanted to give the Lord a proper, permanent place to manifest His presence. The only problem with this endeavor is that God said “No!” David’s reaction to God’s “No” is something we should all take to heart.   What do you do when God says “No”? I think David shows us what we are supposed to do when God looks at our dream and says “No, that is not My plan for your life.”
I. v. 1-3 THE DESIRE DAVID EXPRESSED
A. It Was A Good Desire – As David sat in his palace, he felt guilty that he lived in the lap of such luxury when the presence of God lived inside of a tent.   We serve a God Who is worthy of the best we can give Him!
B. It Was A Gracious Desire – David is not asking for anything at this point, his desire is not to receive, but to give. He wants to give something back to God!  (“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver,” 2 Cor. 9:7.)

C. It Was A Godly Desire – David had no ulterior motives in wanting to build the Lord a house. His desire was to see the Lord glorified and honored.   David’s dream had all the earmarks of a desire impressed upon him by the Lord. But, his dream turned out to be his own creation and not the will of the Lord. When our dreams are from the Lord, they will come to pass in every detail!  (Like  Joseph, Gen. 37:5-11).
II. v. 4-17 THE DENIAL DAVID EXPERIENCED
When Nathan returned home, during the night, God spoke to him and told him to return to David and tell him that his was not of the Lord. God seems to be saying in verses 5-7 that David’s dream to build a temple had originated within the heart of David....so, the motives were right; but the dream was man’s and not God’s!
A. v. 8-11a It Was Supplied By God’s Provisions – Instead of allowing David to give to Him; God turned everything around and gave to David.  
B. v. 11b-15 It Was Secured By God’s Promises – David had a desire to build a house for the Lord; but God tells David that He (God) is going to build David a house, v. 11. In verses 12-15 the terms of the Davidic Covenant are given. 
C. v. 16-17 It Was Scribed By God’s Plans – God is saying, “David, you want to build me a house, but I am telling you that I am going to build your house. I will establish your throne forever!” What a promise!     You may not have gotten all you wanted out of life; but hasn’t God given you so much more than you imagined?   When God says “No” to your dreams and plans, it is because He has something far better in mind for you. This was David’s discovery. This was the experience of the disciples. They thought their dreams were shattered when Jesus died on the cross. They soon found out that God had something far better in store. 

III. v. 18-29 THE DEVOTION DAVID EXHIBITED
A. It Was A Humble Devotion – Notice what David did. In verse 18, he went in and “sat down before the Lord.” In verse 20, like a little child, he referred to himself in the third person. In verse 18, he acknowledged the fact that he was unworthy of such a blessing. In verse 19-22, David praised the Lord for His blessings!
B. It Was A Holy Devotion – Even though David did not get his way in the matter, he was willing to accept God’s plan for his life.
C. It Was An Honorable Devotion – David accepts God’s promises and acknowledges God’s ability to bring them all to pass. In his prayer, David reveals a heart that is willing to accept God’s plan, even though it is not what he originally wanted to do. The thrust of David’s prayer in verses 27-29 is “thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” No wonder David is called “a man after God’s Own heart.”
Conc: David was not allowed to build the Lord’s Temple. But, he was allowed to make preparations for the fulfillment of the dream. In 1 Chron. 22:1-19; David prepared all the materials necessary for the construction of the building. In 1 Chron. 28:1-17, David gave Solomon the plans and the instructions necessary to fulfill the dream. So, in the end, David was still a part of seeing the dream accomplished. It did not happen as he planned it, but he still got to be part of God’s plan; and that is a dream come true!