I Will Be His Father
Introduction
Introduction: According to Focus On The Family, "more than 20 million American children grow up without a dad," and "the United States leads the world in fatherless families."1 According to another source...
A few years ago, Louis Sullivan, the secretary of Health and Family Services, made this perceptive statement, "Male absence from family life is the greatest challenge of our generation." You have probably seen the statistics. Fatherless daughters are 53% more likely to marry as teenagers, 111% more likely to have children as teenagers, 164% more likely to have an out-of-wedlock birth, and they have a 92% higher divorce rate than girls that are raised with a dad at home. Because children raised in fatherless homes typically do not form successful marriages, the dismal pattern tends to reproduces itself. Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of high school and are 50% more likely to have learning disabilities. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, fatherless children are 200% more likely to have emotional problems, and twice as likely to need psychological help. Eighty percent of adolescents admitted for psychiatric reasons come from fatherless families.
A Heritage Foundation study found that growing up without a father is now the single most reliable predictor of crime. We come face to face with that reality as we walk the dreary cellblocks across our state. Seventy percent of all juveniles and long-term inmates, 60% of rapists, and 72% of adolescent murders come from fatherless homes. From relationships to crime, one factor looms as the most significant contributor - A Home Without A dad! 2
In the midst of a society where fatherlessness is such a terrible problem, thankfully according to Psalms 68:5, "God in his holy habitation" is still "a father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows." However, God also wants to be a heavenly Father to those who already have an earthly father in their lives. Our case in point is Solomon. The Lord made a prophetical statement concerning Solomon, and it is recorded five times in the scripture that God said, "I will be his father."
The following two references reveal the same message from God to David as given by Nathan the prophet, (2 Samuel 7:14) "I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men,"(1 Chronicles 17:13) "I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee.
The next two references is in the context of David reiterating God's message to Solomon,(1 Chronicles 22:10), "He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever," and (1 Chronicles 28:6), "And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father."
Then, in Hebrews 1:5, it is made clear that the statement had a Messianic implication and that it refers, not only to Solomon, but also to the greater than Solomon - the Lord Jesus. (Hebrews 1:5) "For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?"
Solomon had a father whose name was David, but God revealed His desire and His purpose for Solomon when He said, "I will be his father." God wants to be your Father as well this morning.
This statement is first presented when Nathan revealed to David in 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17 what we have come to call "The Davidic Covenant." The Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary says this "famous covenant was between God and David," and it is the covenant "in which David and his descendants were established as the royal heirs to the throne of the nation of Israel." The account began when "David sat in his house," and "said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains" (1 Chronicles 17:1). He wanted to build a house, a sanctuary, for the Lord and the Ark of the Covenant. However, God told Nathan, "Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in" (1 Chronicles 17:4). God said to David through Nathan, "Furthermore I tell thee that the Lord will build thee an house" (1 Chronicles 17:10). "You will not build me a house, but I will build you a house." And Psalms 127, which is "A Song of degrees for Solomon," says it well in verse 1, "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it."
This morning, I want to notice three things involved in this covenant and this pledge in which God said, "I will be his father." And in observing these things about Solomon's covenant relationship with the Heavenly Father, we can discover some things about our conversion relationship with the Heavenly Father.
I. What The Father Has Established (1 Chron. 17)
A. The Father Has Established Our Position
(1 Chronicles 17:8) And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.
1. Ours Is A Position Of Companionship
"I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked"
2. Ours Is A Position Of Conspicuousness
"and have made thee a name"
The word "name" is the Hebrew word shem, which means that which reveals one's essence, reputation, memory. It is a designation, as a mark or memorial of individuality, honor, authority, or character. It is a word that may be connected to the idea of definite and conspicuous position.
B. The Father Has Established Our Place
(1 Chronicles 17:9) Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,
1. This Place Is Associated With Planting
"will plant them"
2. This Place Is Associated With Permanence
"and shall be moved no more"
C. The Father Has Established Our Peace
(1 Chronicles 17:10) And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the Lord will build thee an house.
1. This Would Come Through The Subduing Of Enemies
"I will subdue all thine enemies"
2. This Would Come Through The Son Of Expectation
Verses 11-14
All of these things are to be established in the Prince of David's house.
(1 Chronicles 17:14) "But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore."
II. Further, Let's Notice What The Father Has Expected (1 Chron. 28)
A. There Is An Expectation Concerning The Seeking
(1 Chronicles 28:8-9) Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever. {9} And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
1. Seeking After The Lord Involves His Precepts
"seek for all the commandments of the Lord"
2. Seeking After The Lord Involves His Promise
"he will be found of thee"
B. There Is An Expectation Concerning The Serving
(1 Chronicles 28:9) And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
1. There Is To Be Development In Our Serving
"a perfect (complete, well-rounded) heart"
2. There Is To Be Desire In Our Serving
"a willing mind"
C. There Is An Expectation Concerning The Sanctuary
(1 Chronicles 28:10) Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
1. Consider The Operation Involved
"build an house"
2. Consider The Order Involved
"be strong and do it"
III. Finally, Let's Notice How The Father Is Exalted (1 Chron. 17)
A. We Exalt Him As We Consider His Power
(1 Chronicles 17:16-20) And David the king came and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? {17} And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Lord God. {18} What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant. {19} O Lord, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. {20} O Lord, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
1. His Power Is Impressive
"hast thou done all this greatness"
2. His Power Is Incomparable
"there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee"
B. We Exalt Him As We Consider His People
(1 Chronicles 17:21-22) And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt? {22} For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.
1. A Chosen People
"whom God went to redeem to be his own people"
(1 Peter 2:9) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
2. A Continual People
"forever"
C. We Exalt Him As We Consider His Purpose
(1 Chronicles 17:23-27) Therefore now, Lord, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said. {24} Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee. {25} For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee. {26} And now, Lord, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: {27} Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed for ever.
1. David Was Eagerly Anticipating God's Purpose
"do as thou hast said"
2. David Was Enthusiastically Agreeing With God's Purpose
"Let it even be established"
He was saying "Amen" (so be it, truth) to the purpose of God.
Conclusion
Several times in the scripture, God said, "I will be your God." He also said, "I will be honoured," and "I will be hallowed," and "I will be exalted," and "I will be glorified."
I rejoice in all these things, but I rejoice more in His statement, "I will be a Father." R.S. Beal wrote, "Fatherhood must be the greatest thing in the world since God reveals Himself in this highest and most sacred of all relationships. God has manifested Himself as supreme, as the Creator of all things, but the best of all is the revelation of Himself as Father."3
God is a Father, and what I've been dealing with this morning is not just some archaic, irrelevant Old Testament concept and truth. I want to mention two New Testament references that show God as Father to us as New Testament saints.
(2 Corinthians 6:17-18) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, {18} And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
(Romans 8:15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
God can be a Father to you today!
1.Http://search.family.org/custom/query.html? rq=0&col=aaafocus&col=resource&col=pi&qp=&qt=fatherless&qs=&qc=&style=Family&ws=0&la=&qm=0&st=1&nh=10&lk=1&rf=0&oq=&rq2=0&Search.x=31&Search.y=4
2.http://www.alliance4lifemin.org/categorized_articles/breakdown_of_society/heres_to_you_dad/heres_to_you_dad.htm 3.As quoted under "Father's Day" in The Treasury For Special Days & Occasions by E. Paul Hovey