“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.” (2 Samuel 7:12,13)
When David desired to build a temple for God, Nathan prophesied to him that his son would be the one to build this house. We know this was partially fulfilled when Solomon built the temple which is commonly called “Solomon’s Temple.” But the temple that another and greater son of David would build would not bear His Name, but the name of His Father.
Jesus did not come in His own name. He did not seek His own glory, but the glory of Him who sent Him. Jesus walked in a spirit which was the complete opposite of the religious leaders of His day. They sought glory of men, in particular the honor of their peers. He sought the praise of His Father alone. He refused to join their club, and curry favor with them. To the contrary, He was willing to call them out for their sins and hypocrisy. And so, His name and His person was cast out as evil. But because of His obedience, even unto death, the Father has given Him a Name above all Names.
One day, Jesus will be known to all for who He is. He is the Lord of lords, and the King of kings. He is God’s Rightful Ruler, seated on God’s throne, who is tasked with establishing God’s eternal kingdom and building the Eternal Temple which bears His Name. When every tongue will confess that He is Lord, it will be to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:11)
Jesus taught us to pray. He taught us to hallow the Name of the Father, not our own names. He taught us to pray for God’s kingdom to come, not our own. Let us follow Christ’s teaching and His example. Even in this day, that requires that we go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Beware of engineering your own success. Beware of ladder-climbing. Seek the glory of Him who sent you. Let Him honor you.
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” (John 12:25,26)