One question, inevitably has stirred the minds of people throughout time; “Why do I exist?”
King David asked it. He went outside and stared up at the night time sky. Nothing to obstruct its brilliance, the sight invoked the inspiration to write:
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”(Psalm 8:3-4 NIV)
Later, we’ll see how God answered David.
…to be a family
God created all of creation to be a kind of automaton, a world that did exactly what it was created to do… before He created man.
Reflect on a project that you conceived in your mind, and then created with your hands. When it was finished, you took a step back and admired it. That’s it. Nothing left to do, and you think, “It will be very useful when I should need it.”
Of course there is a purpose. And God has a purpose in His creation as well.
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, in Our likeness…”(Genesis 1:26 NIV)
When we examine ourselves, we can get some idea of what it means to be created in the image of God.
For example, why do we create? God made us in His image. As He is the creator, we have a need to be creative. That “thing” that “may be useful” at some point in the future gave you a sense of satisfaction during the process and upon completion. But then it is forgotten, and we have new projects with the same end. The “thing” you made doesn’t meet any of your spiritual needs, does it? And this ofcourse would be what we need to focus on more than any'thing' we can make or obtain.
[1]C.S. Lewis said on a radio talk show, which was transcribed into a book entitled “Mere Christianity”, something to the idea of God wanting to “create something of real significance; something of real importance which would act outside the realm of automaton.”
Perhaps this would explain why God created man last. He surveyed all of His creation and found that nothing would interact with Him. Nothing would give beyond what it was created to do. He would have to create something that was free; something that had no internal system of laws that governed it; something that would not merely respond due to instinct. It would think and reason and make decisions completely uninfluenced by any regulations except one harmless command of “do not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil”. God creates and the thing he creates has purpose. Everything in creation does what it was purposed by God to do (including humanity), but it was without the will to do so. Volition is one of the key ways we are made in God’s image.
When you were a child, you may have been given a puppy. Its actions were spontaneous. You and the puppy were able to interact. You responded to one another. You trained it and played with it. You went on adventures together and the puppy never got lost. When you called to it, it recognized your voice and was obedient to you.
This is the type of relationship we have with God. We respond or we do not. We’re free to choose because our choice to respond is what edifies God. We respond because we want to.
In attempt to explain the animals choices; possibly, the animal is obedient to your call because it understands you are its provider. This explanation lends its’ self to the idea that the animal is really operating in a mode of instinct. He needs to eat, so he stays close to the source of his provisions. There is no instinctive behavior calling us to obedience as in the case of the dog. We have been given the freedom to choose a relationship, rather than be made to understand a dependence, which would (in this case) be an example of instinct.
For Adam and Eve, responding was preserved by one simple command of “do not eat…” Obedience to this command would have represented love and respect.
"but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”(Genesis 2:17)
I remember what one of my puppies learned during a time of long absence. I returned to discover that the puppy became defiant to my call. I did not preserve the relationship.
The choice to remove the preserving element was Adam’s and Eve’s. They ate from the tree, each exercising their will for self to the neglect of relationship. This is what happened with my dog, it was really only concerned with having its needs met. It developed a loyalty, a relationship with someone else, formed on the basis of instinct to have its needs met.
By obedience, Adam and Eve would choose to preserve their relationship with God in not removing the preserving element which was simply a tree.
The rest of this chapter will be committed to providing the evidence of the Bible stating that God created Mankind to be His family.
Underlying Messages
On page one; I had said we would see how God answered David. To do this, I’d like to take a look into some of the Biblical accounts of David’s life, some of the Old Testament prophecy, and the language.
The Hebrew language, (language of the Old Testament in original text) actually says God wanted a family.
“He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”(II Samuel 7:13 KJV)
In Hebrew, the passage clearly says that the Davidic kingdom points to Christ. In the phrase
“…house for My name…”
House is from the Hebrew word Bayith which in the broadest sense may be used as family. Bayith comes from a Hebrew root word, Banah which means “to build”, “begin to build” or “obtain children”. These two words are among five words that define “Eden”.[2] In having the understanding that “bayith” and “banah”, along with the other three words in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, we can see that “Eden” literally is the place, the home of God’s family. It is where God began the entire concept of family. Literally, I believe the phrase, “…house for My name…” says two things; “build my house” and “build my family”.
Logically, building a house of wood and stone would actually take place (Solomon’s Temple). Looking at the entire seventh chapter of II Samuel, David was clearly in awe in II Samuel 7 verses 18 and 19. (Verses 18 and 19 are written out on the next page).
Why? Because, by the command to build a “house” (family) for God’s name, David understood that God had told him that he was in the ancestry of the Messiah; The High Priest and High King. In the tradition of The Levite priest, (only a Levite can be a priest). The office of the Levites points to the family of God under the High Priesthood of The Messiah, (That would be us!). It is for this reason and the fulfillment of a prophecy that David would assume the role of a priest in chapter six. David understood the spiritual “family” significance of the Levites. And though David is not a Levite, David took on the role of the High Priest because that is what David became when God told David to build “a house for [God’s] name”; family of God. David became the head of the family of the redeemed. (Remember this when you arrive at the bottom of page 5).
Now you may be thinking, “Chapter six comes before chapter seven.” Stay with me here. Somehow the events are not recorded chronologically. In order that we may stay on the topic of God wanting a family and that we remain along the lines of communicating cohesively, we will not discuss the arrangement of II Samuel, chapters 6 and 7 here. Instead, let’s examine a key prophecy that confirms God’s royal family. (Again, stay with me. We are interested in understanding David’s actions because his activity would be out of line, except if prophecy had been confirmed in the life of David. And, by this confirmation, David understands who he is and what God is asking David to do.)
“But you will cross the Jordon and settle in the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and He will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety. Then to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for His Name – there, you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the Lord.”
(Deuteronomy 12:10-11 NIV)
II Samuel 7:1 indicates the fulfilling of part of the prophecy from Deuteronomy 12:10. Here, David is directly referenced in Deuteronomy 12:10 in being “given rest…”.
“After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him.”(II Samuel 7:1 NIV)
The Lord had given David “rest from all his enemies” as the fulfillment of the Deuteronomy prophecy. Now let’s see how God 'chooses' "a dwelling place" for His Name, which is another part of the Deuteronomy prophecy that must be fulfilled. Look at II Samuel 7:2.
“He said to Nathan the prophet, ‘Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while The Ark of God remains in a tent’.”
(II Samuel 7:2 NIV)
As David sits in his palace in II Samuel 7:2 we can imagine by the text that follows, that David is contemplating bringing The Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and he is not sure of where it should be housed. He doesn’t feel good about it remaining in a tent as a tabernacle while he lives in a cedar palace. II Samuel 7:12 and 13 have God saying that an offspring or descendant of David will build a house for Yahweh. We’ve already discussed the significance of “house” as being “family”. However, I would like to point out that most people think in the physical, here and now. Solomon, David’s son did build the Temple that is known as Solomon’s Temple. But, the son referred to by God is The Messiah. Jesus is a descendant of David, a literal son in the Hebrew tradition. Today, as Christians, we speak of The House of God as being made of the many members of the Church. We also call ourselves, corporately, The Body of Christ. The thought continues in verse 16:
“ Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; Your throne will be established forever.”(NIV)
David is floored with the news and asks:
“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord…? You have also spoken about the future of the house (family) of Your servant. Is this Your usual way of dealing with men, O Sovereign Lord?”(II Samuel 7:18b-19 NIV)
David understood that God was not speaking of the here and now. God was speaking of the family of God. (The family came to be realized the moment His only Son died.).
At this point, David realized his priestly kingship. David, now called by God to build “A House for God’s Name”, assumed the role of a High Priest of The Levite Order. David lead the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. David was told that Jerusalem would be the place where God would choose as a “dwelling for His Name” when David realized the Deuteronomy prophecy referred to David. David may have also received the words from Psalm 110:4
“The Lord has sworn and will not change(Psalm 110:4 NIV)
His mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the
order of Melchizedek’.”
When David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, he offered sacrifices as God commanded in Deuteronomy 12:11, thus fulfilling the rest of that prophecy.[3]
“When those who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. David wearing a linen ephod[4], danced before the Lord with all his might.”(II Samuel 6:13-14 NIV)[5]
II Samuel 6:13 -19 discusses the fulfillment of the prophecy from Deuteronomy 12:10-11, and how David performed the sacrifices. Get this! He actually offered a loaf of bread and cakes of raisins and dates in the way that Melchizedek did[6]. This is significant! Melchizedek was the king of Salem which is present day Jerusalem[7].
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High“.(Genesis 14:18 NIV)
David and Melchizedek were “types”[8] of High Priest. Their offices point to the promise of the coming Messiah and the heritage of those whom will be adopted as children of the High King.
In naming David a priest “in the order of Melchizedek”, (Psalm 110:4) God gave David the authority to act as a priest / king over Israel. Because David had brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, the place God chose as a dwelling for His name, the sacrifices and offerings of the nation would be offered there. Under David’s leadership God’s people would be again unified; a family, just as the twelve sons of Jacob.
Man was created to be God’s family. But through Adam
“…sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men because all sinned-”(Romans 5:12 NIV)
In the same way that death comes to all men through Adam’s sin, restoration will come to all men to be unified as members of God’s family through the righteousness of Jesus Christ:
“But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.”(Romans 5:15-16 NIV)
Jesus prayed for His disciples and then for the world to be unified.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one:”(John 17:20-22 NIV)
The apostle Paul, being pummeled by the Holy Spirit was told by God through Ananias[9] that he was God’s …
“…chosen instrument to carry (God’s) name before the Gentiles and before their kings and before the people of Israel.”(Acts 9:15)
signifying the unity of mankind through Christ to become God’s family.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians who at one time could only gaze across the boarder at the privileged Jews in their relationship to the one true God:
“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ’the circumcision’ (that done in the body by the hands of men) - Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.
(Ephesians 2:11-16 NIV)
One last thought…should it be?
Now, let us discuss the arrangement of chronological events on page four. Why does the author place the bringing of The Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem before David’s thoughts concerning The Ark being housed in a tent?
“He said to Nathan the prophet, ‘Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while The Ark of God remains in a tent’.”
(II Samuel 7:2 NIV)
“Remains in a tent” (NIV) is really not an accurate translation since the Ark of the Covenant was actually in the house of Obed-Edom[10]. The word “in” appears as “within” in the King James Version. In Hebrew it is “tavak” which has the idea of a curtain dividing a room. “Tent” is the word “curtain” in the King James Version. In Hebrew it is “Yeriy’ah”, a hanging curtain. So, at the home of Obed-Edom, the Ark was not in a tent. It was in the house, veiled from those who lived there; Veiled even from David. Could it be that the author is challenging the readers of this historical account? Is it possible that the author wants the chronology in II Samuel 6 and 7 to serve as a reminder of where they place God in their lives?
Foot Notes
correspond with numbers in the text above.
[1] Rather than attempt to mold my communication around Mr. Lewis’ quote, I chose to transmit the essence of the quote. The quote taken from “Mere Christianity”: “If God thinks this state of war in the universe a price worth paying for free will – that is, for making a live world in which creatures can do real good or harm and something of real importance can happen, instead of a toy world which only moves when He pulls the strings – then we may take it, it is worth paying.” (Mere Christianity. Copyright © 1952 C.S, Lewis Pte. Ltd. Copyright renewed © 1980, C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. See Trebian manual for correct citation format.)
[2] Five words that define Eden are found in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance in the Hebrew dictionary under these reference numbers: 5731, 5730, 5727, 1040, 1004, and 1129.
[3] Underlined on page four.
[4] Exodus 19:6: garment of a priest
[5] II Samuel 6:13-14 would follow II Samuel 7:18b-19 if we were to write it in chronological order.
[6] Genesis 14:18
[7] Note on Genesis 14:18 from NIV Study Bible (Notes) copyright 1985 from the NIV Study Bilble, 10th Anniversary Edition Copyright 1995 by Zondervan.
[8] “Type” is a term that is used in reference to events or persons that come as a foreshadowing of future events or persons. Example: Isaac was a type of Christ as he was to be sacrificed by his father. Jesus is the fulfillment of that type as he was sacrificed by his father.
[9] Acts 9:6,15
[10] II Samuel 6:10 (NIV)
