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Tuesday, October 11, 2005
The Affliction of a Dead Dream
Dreams.
We all have had them. We all still have them.
But have you ever had a dream that you wanted more than anything and it didn't happen?
Maybe it was the big dream to play a sport professionally or make an Olympic team. Maybe it was getting the lead in a play. Maybe it was to marry that "perfect" person. Maybe it was be the lead singer & guitarist in a rock band. Maybe it was to write the Great American Novel. Maybe it was to be in a different career. Maybe it was to be editor of the yearbook. Maybe it was to get into the college of your choice. Maybe you got into the college of your choice and that college didn't turn out to be what you thought it would. Maybe it was your parents getting back together...
...I could go on and on, but you get the point. Maybe I should've said to pick your biggest disappointment in life thus far and then let you fill in your own blank.
Anyway, King David had been through a lot in his life:
He'd been anointed king as a teenager.
He'd killed Goliath and seen his popularity in Israel soar over the current king's.
He'd been on the run from the king who wanted him dead for almost a decade.
He'd almost killed a man in cold blood, only to be stopped when the man's wife reminded him that he'd be king one day and it would look bad on his record.
He'd almost had to fight for the enemy against Israel.
He'd lived while the current king was killed in battle.
He'd faught in some important military battles.
He'd become king of Israel in his early 30's.
He'd unified the nation and led it to prosperity.
He'd had his ups and downs, spiritually and personally.
And through it all he had one dream: To build a permanent home for God.
See, throughout Israel's history, the Ark of the Covenant was the seat of God. It was placed in the tabernacle, which was a tent, in a special place called the Holy of Holies. There were all sort of special rules for moving it and how often priests could enter the room it was placed in. Considering the nomadic nature of the Israelites in their history, there was never a permanent place for it to stay. In fact, during military takeovers, the enemy often took it as a spoil of war.
And David now had the time to build a permanent home for God. With the very best effort man could put forth to show his love for Him. David had the time now. The nation had the money. Everything was in place. They just needed the "go-ahead" from God.
And God told David "no."
Well, with a condition: His son Solomon would build it. Something to do with David being a warrior and a general, not a builder...but David's role would be to ensure that the resources would be put in place so when the time came, Solomon could get the job done with the very best effort man could put forth to show his love for Him.
David's heart must've been broken. It was his dream. His desire to show God how much he loved Him. And God said, "no...with one condition."
Look at how Psalm 132 describes it:
"Remember, O Lord, on David's behalf,
All his affliction;
How he swore to the Lord,
And vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
Surely I will not enter my house,
Nor lie on my bed;
I will not give sleep to my eyes,
Or slumber to my eyelids;
Until I find a place for the Lord,
A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."
It was so important to David that he vowed not to sleep until it got done.
Psalm 132 calls it his affliction.
Tomorrow we'll talk about how "remembering" will help us deal with those moments of deep affliction. The kind of pain that can only come from a dream coming to an end.
But for today, have you ever been told "no" by God for something you wanted? How did you feel? How did you deal with it? What advice would you give to others if it happened to them?
Brent 4:33 AM
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