Luther in IA December 11, 2005	It turns out the need for David to build a place to house God's presence would be temporary anyway, and unltimately unnecessary, for eventually His presence would be housed in the womb of Mary, then in the born Babe. A presence with us still today in water, word, body and blood.
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KF in KY December 11, 2005	My earliest thoughts on this Scripture are about what we will give to Jesus on his birthday. A tradition in our house is to hang stockings, including one for Jesus. On Christmas Day we each take a few minutes to write a gift (much like a New Year's Resolution) on a piece of paper and put it into the stocking. The kids have put in things like "read the Bible some" while we have put in many promises over the years to be obedient to God in different areas of our lives. By encouraging the congregation to give a gift which God would definitely like (based on Scripture). I'm thinking of hanging the Jesus Stocking in the church for a visual, and probably referring to Christmas songs such as "Little Drummer Boy" and Tennessee Ernie Ford's song about "What can we buy for a little boy?"
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KF in KY December 13, 2005	One more thought. David wanted to give God what HE would want - a house made of cedar. Reminds me of my little brother. When we were growing up he would always buy people "bubbles". For their birthday, Father's Day, Christmas - you name it. Mom and Dad usually gave the bubbles back to him. Kind of like what God is doing in this Scripture?
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RPH @ KPL December 14, 2005	I found myself wondering, I think for the first time, about how God, through Samuel, is resisting being put "in a house" and insists on being "free to roam" as had happened in the wilderness journey from Egypt. That comes in light of the argument going on regarding whether or not there should have been ANY king in Israel (see 1 Samuel 8, following. Apparently there was some concern about the rist of having God "housed" next door to the king, suggesting that God could be "used" by the king for kingly kinds of purposes. Is this an early hint that having church and state too close to one another, in whatever way one wants to consider that, is risky business? I also found myself wondering about the Wandering Messiah, who had, as he indicates, no place to lay his head. Christians are always trying to tie God down, to confine God to our own perceptions, visions, prejudices. The great temptation is to attempt to put a leasn on God and teach Him to heel at our command. But as the Bible makes clear - that won't happen. And for that, we can be glad! RPH at KPL
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revpatmo December 14, 2005	Doesn't anyone want to get into the prophecy? It seems to me that the importance of who was expected is sometimes overlooked. the people wanted another David. But Jesus was not a military leader. On the other hand David loved God and that is who Jesus was. What kind of leader do we expect now? are we satisfied with earthly models or do we try to find the godly leaders. questions I am thinking about.
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pjm in nb December 15, 2005	Often Like David, we want to do something great for God (build a temple), but what we discover is that God is committed to doing something great in and through us ("He who began a good work in you... Phil. 1:6). The first is safer because we are in the 'driver's seat' the second requires saying, "let it be according to your word."
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KF in KY December 15, 2005	revpatmo - I've been looking at the entire passage as well as related commentaries. One question several commentators raise is regarding verse 14 "I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men." The suggestion is that this cannot be referring to Jesus since it speaks of him "doing wrong." Of course, they wouldn't have put it in an Advent lectionary if someone didn't think it was Jesus. (Although, they have suspiciously left out that particular verse in the lectionary...) Am I missing something? (First year of seminary - haven't had Hebrew yet :-)
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Luther in IA December 16, 2005	KF - Yahweh punished the disobedient nation of Israel as well as its kings. They are types of the greatest punishment ever inflicted on a king, when Jesus was punished and considered the worst sinner (wrong-doer) of all time, through the vicarious atonement on the cross.
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Luther in IA December 16, 2005	KF - Yahweh punished the disobedient nation of Israel as well as its kings. They are types of the greatest punishment ever inflicted on a king, when Jesus was punished and considered the worst sinner (wrong-doer) of all time, through the vicarious atonement on the cross.