“…the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” – 2 Samuel 7:2 (NKJV)
David was content, having found rest from his enemies, and could now focus on the goodness of God in his life. As he reminisced about God’s blessings, he reflected on how fortunate he was. Observing his possessions, David noted that his house was made of cedar wood, a material highly valued and signifying his residence was expensive and beautiful. However, when he remembered that the ark of God resided inside tent curtains, the contrast troubled him. David felt uneasy about living in a nicer house than the Ark of the Covenant. Without explicitly stating it, David communicated to Nathan his desire to build a temple to replace the Tabernacle.
Over four hundred years earlier, when Israel was in the wilderness, God commanded Moses to build a ‘tent of meeting’ according to a specific pattern (Exodus 25:8-9). God never asked for a permanent building to replace the tent, but now David wanted to do this for Him. The tent of meeting, or tabernacle, was ideal for Israel’s nomadic lifestyle because they were constantly moving. Now that Israel was securely in the land and the Ark of the Covenant was in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:17), David thought it would be more fitting to build a temple.
Nathan’s initial response to David was presumptuous, based on human judgement and common sense, without first seeking the Word of the Lord. Despite David’s good intentions, this was not what the Lord desired. As followers of Christ, our good intentions may not always align with God’s desires and will. Nathan was then redirected to tell David that, though honourable, this was not the Lord’s plan.
It is commendable to desire to do more in your relationship with the Lord. However, instead of rushing ahead or immediately planning and executing, it is essential to always seek the mind of Christ. David’s desire to build a house for the Lord was noble, and God honoured his intentions by blessing David’s lineage and choosing David’s son to build His house. Even after his offer was declined, David’s heart remained pure; he began gathering materials to give his son a head start in building the house of God. Today, reflect on what you are building and why you are doing it and ask yourself, do my plans align with God’s?
Read: 2 Samuel 7:12; 1 Chronicles 17:23
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 14:15-24; Acts 5:12-42; 2 Samuel 14; 2 Samuel 15:1-12
