Monday, March 3, 2008
1 Chronicles 17:1-6
17:1 Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”
But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ (ESV)
by Linda Harris
David’s motivation was right. He wanted to build a temple for the ark, where God’s presence resided. But the timing was wrong. God hadn’t asked for another house and David wasn’t the right person to build it (1 Chronicles 28:3).
Although Nathan hadn’t received guidance from God, he encouraged David to follow his desires. It seemed to be the right thing. But there were factors that neither Nathan nor David could see.
Perhaps the longing you experience when you want to do something for God reveals his will. But be open to God’s leading—your desire may not be exactly what he wants. Perhaps, like David, your role will be to make preparations for someone else to do the job.
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2010, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.
