1 Chronicles 17:1–14 ‘And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them…’ (v9)
Today many people move not only from city to city, but often from country to country. Some people set down their roots easily, making friends and finding community, but others may struggle to make connections.
They might form strong bonds to those from their country-of-origin in order to stave off feelings of dislocation.
God’s people, the Israelites, must have experienced a sense of displacement when they finally entered the promised land.
They then had many battles and skirmishes to conquer the land. But after 400 years, they were more settled, and their earthly king, King David, sought to honour the heavenly King.
As David planned to build a house for God, he faced a roadblock in the form of the prophet Nathan. Through him God said that He would build a home for the Israelites.
He wanted to be the One to plant them and root them, that they might flourish. God refused David’s request because He didn’t want the temple to be built by a warrior king.
But He didn’t crush David. Instead He showered His blessings on him, promising to make His name great through His descendants.
Whether we live in the village in which we were born, or we live in an entirely different continent, we can trust that God guides us and accepts our offerings of praise and worship.
He longs to plant us deeply in His soil, that we might honour and serve Him.
A Prayer To Make:
‘Lord God, You uproot us and You plant us. Show us where You want us to live, that we might bring Your sweet scent to a world in need of beauty. Amen.’
An Action To Take:
Ask God to help you to serve or reach out to someone who is feeling displaced. You could provide resources for a foodbank or pray for people in war-torn countries.
Scripture To Consider:
Ps. 31:14–24; Isa. 57:14–21; John 14:1–4; Heb. 3:1–6
