2 Samuel 7:1-3 - On gratitude and wise counsel

David had finally settled and had subdued his enemies from all sides. His family, house, and kingdom were all well established and stable. As far as we know, God had granted him a great life all around. Verse 1 says that the LORD had given him rest from his enemies from every side. Being more settled, he had time to ruminate all the blessings God had showered upon him. Remember, even his house was built for him by Hiram, king of Tyre, who not only provided the building materials but also the workers to build it. David was grateful for all that he had. But when he thought of the Ark of God, he felt incongruous that it should be housed in the temporary tent he had pitched while he was living in luxury. Feeling grateful to God, he wanted to reciprocate by building a more permanent place to house the Ark. David had a high gratitude quotient, a truly noble desire. How we respond to goodness showered upon us by others, especially by God, reveals our gratitude quotient. The feeling of gratitude is only one part of the equation, but actually reciprocating kindness is quite another. Gratitude not expressed is like wrapping up a gift for someone you deeply appreciate but fail to present the gift to that person. We must be sure to respond to God’s goodness with acts of gratitude appropriately expressed in deeds.  

Proverbs 11:14 reminds us that “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in the abundance of counselors there is victory.” It is important that we surround ourselves with godly people who can provide guidance and wise counsel. Thankfully, David had Nathan, a prophet whom God had placed alongside him to provide sound counsel. David consulted him about building a permanent house for God. Nathan could read David’s intention, so he told him that what he intended to do was a good thing. But we will understand from the verses that follow that it was not God’s intention for David to build Him a permanent place. While the counsel of Nathan to David was good and well-intentioned, it was not exactly what God had in mind for David to do. Logically speaking, Nathan's counsel was not wrong. Showing gratitude in response to God’s goodness is always a good thing. But building a permanent house for him was not what God wanted David to do.

There is a lesson here for us who are called to help people. We must be sure to know the mind of God in providing counsel. What we say to help people must always be in line with God’s purpose and plan for the counselee. To be a godly counselor, we need to know the mind of God. And the more we know His Word, the more we will know His mind. We want to provide sound counsel in line with His Word because a wrong counsel will not only cause inconveniences but also the loss of precious time. However, here is something to take heart. The way God redirected Nathan’s counsel to David, tells us that God will help us to correct any sincere, godly counsel that may not be in line with His will. Like Nathan, when we stay receptive to Him, He will redirect any inexact counsel we give. God came to Nathan in a dream and help him to realign his counsel to David. As people helpers, we must stay open to God and rely on Him as we seek to provide godly, sincere, and apt counsel.