2 Samuel 7:1-3 (ESV Strong's)
Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”
Subject: Counseling
David has just advanced to be the King of Israel. He has just brought the Ark of the Lord back to Jerusalem ... in great celebration and fanfare. As David settles into to his daily living pattern, he begins to compare his fine living (in a "house of cedar," with the fact that the Ark of the Lord is out in a tent. This spawns and idea to build a worship temple for the Lord; a place to put the Ark. Nathan, who is a prophet of the Lord, is so caught up in the positive through and energy of this plan that, without asking God, gives David a green light. However, Nathan was speaking out of his own heart not out of the "mind" of Christ. God will speak to Nathan in the next verses and acknowledge that David's plan is honoring, but David is not. God recognizes David's heart, but not his testimony and past actions. (Note: This is even before his sin with Bathsheba.). Nathan failed to seek the Spirit of God in this thought process. See Romans 8:5-14:
Romans 8:5-8 (ESV Strong's)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Before giving counsel, no matter how great the idea, logic is not our source of truth. Logic would not expect the Red Sea to part. Logic would not expect water from a rock. Logic would not expect a small boy to take down a big giant with a small stone. Nathan thought David's idea was logical. God thought David was the wrong one to accomplish it. Before giving counsel, seek God's will and ways. Don't think logical, think Biblical.
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