We probably have all had an embarrassing moment when we have received a gift from an unexpected quarter and we have no gift to give in exchange. Even though a gift is, by definition, something freely given, we have grown up with an expectation that gifts should be reciprocated. I wonder if King David had that kind of mentality when he proposed to build a temple for God. Was he thinking, “See what I did for you, Big Guy. Now you owe me one?” If so, the prophet quickly disabused him of that notion. God is not to be bought or bribed. We don’t do for God, God does for us. God is the gift giver. So David found that God was building David a house, not vice versa. The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. It is at Christmas that the “house of David” reaches its fulness with the greatest gift of all, the coming of Jesus.
