Reading: I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. 2 Samuel 7:2

It seems that almost from the day he enlisted in Saul’s service to this moment David was in one kind of a battle or another. But here in 2 Samuel 7 a different picture is set before us. In verse one we read, “The king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies.

What was David’s mind employed with during the hour of relaxation? Sometimes when the work is over and the tools laid down, we are very apt to relax and become careless about spiritual concerns in the activities that we engage in. Not so with David at this time. How we spend our leisure time says much about our spiritual health.

Notice David’s company. In David’s season of rest, he is in the company of Nathan the prophet. Recall how that Saul looked for the “man of God” only when things were going poorly. A godly companion is an invaluable aid to the preserving of spirituality when we are enjoying a little rest. David said, “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts” (Psalm 119:63).

Notice also David’s contemplation. Observe what was occupying his heart: “I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.” Instead of being occupied with his achievements and self-satisfied with his position, David was concerned about the lowly abode of the ark of God. How rare is this consciousness in our lives?

Thousands of professing Christians think more about the welfare of their pet dogs than they do in seeing that the need of God’s servants and impoverished believers is met, and spend more time on the upkeep of their cars than they do in the support of missionaries. Little wonder that the Holy Spirit is quenched in so many places. —A. W. Pink