When God Says No

This morning I read about an event from David’s life that was a huge encouragement to me. In 2 Samuel 7:1 we see that David was experiencing “rest on every side from all his enemies.” I love that word “rest.” And I think one thing we see in David’s life here is that our pilgrimage with the Lord includes times of rest. We are uncomfortable, though, at first when rest actually comes upon us. We’ve got to “do” something. It seems utterly extravagant to sit and enjoy the moment. But Jesus encouraged His disciples to “come away with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and rest a little while” (Mark 6:31 Williams Tr.). So let’s not be afraid to rest and use that precious time to “Reflect on Every Spiritual Truth”.

In David’s time of rest, he got a big idea. He told Nathan the prophet that he wanted to build a house for God where the ark of God could reside. Nathan thought it sounded like a good idea and encouraged him to “do all that is in your mind, for the LORD is with you” (2 Samuel 7:4). But what we learn next is very important for us to remember - not all good ideas are God’s ideas. The Lord came to Nathan and told him that David was not the one who would build a house for God, but that it would be his descendant. God said no to David. But when God says no to one thing, He says yes to something else. And in David’s case it was a huge yes to the promise of God’s presence with David wherever he goes (2 Samuel 7:9), the promise of rest and protection from enemies (7:11), the promise that the Lord would make a house for him (7:11), the promise of His lovingkindness forever (7:15), and an eternal reign (7:16). In this covenant, ultimately God was promising that through David would come One who would reign forever - Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Alan Redpath says, in his book The Making Of A Man Of God: “If God has said “No!” to you, with your back to the light in your failure to understand, the situation looks so dark. But if He has not already done so, perhaps as you meditate on these things the Lord will take you inside His heart and turn you around so that you may face the light and see the glory of His will. The most important thing is how you react when God says “No!”…the vision need never have been in vain, even though it remains unfulfilled, for God’s refusals in life are loaded with immeasurable possibilities of blessing. It all depends, however, on whether at the moment when God has said “No” you sulk or you seek - if you seek, you will find that God is right there with blessing such as you have never experienced before…Notice one further thing that David learned as he faced God’s denial of his great purpose. He was brought to a place where he really began to claim God’s promises for himself, personally…There is not a need of any one of our lives but is covered by a promise from the Word of God. He has put it into our hearts to ask because first of all it was in His heart to give. And when God has said “No” to the ambition of your life, to something that is very precious to you, He brings you close to His heart and shows you that every need of your soul is met by His promises. He wants to teach you, in the face of His negative answer, to learn to make your own every possible promise in the Book” (p. 170-174).

I am encouraged today to not be afraid when God says no and instead, to look for His yes in His magnificent promises. “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Two promises I take comfort in today as a huge YES, are Psalm 31:15 “my times are in Your hand” and Psalm 138:8 “the LORD will accomplish what concerns me”. And then, as always, Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” Thank You Lord, for all the times you have said no, only to say yes to something better. May I trust You today to accomplish what concerns me, and keep my eyes ever on You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.