1 Chronicles 17:1-6: a reflection

1When David was living in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I live in a cedar house, but the ark of the LORD’s covenant is in a tent.” 2Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart; for God is with you.” 3That same night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4“Go and tell David my servant, ‘The LORD says, “You shall not build me a house to dwell in; 5for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tent to another. 6In all places in which I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’

David, settled in his fine cedar palace, is troubled that the ark of God still dwells in a mere tent. So he resolves to build God a house, a grand temple worthy of him, and the prophet Nathan at first encourages him. But that night God speaks: tell David he shall not build me a house. I have never dwelt in a house, God says, nor ever asked any leader of Israel, why have you not built me a house of cedar? David's desire was good, but it was not what God asked, and God gently declines it.

Notice how God handles David's good intention. David's desire to honor God with a house was sincere and good; yet God did not need it, had never asked for it, and would not have it built by David. God does not simply accept whatever we would do for him, even our good and well-meant plans; he redirects David's good desire. And as the chapter goes on, God turns it around entirely: instead of David building God a house, God promises to build David a house, an enduring dynasty. God gives more than David offered.

That teaches us something about our good intentions toward God. We may have sincere desires to do great things for God, and these are good; but God does not need what we would give him, and he may redirect even our well-meant plans toward his own purposes, which are greater. Hold your good intentions humbly, ready to have God redirect them. Do not assume that because a desire to serve God is good, it is therefore what he asks; be willing, as David had to be, to let God decline or redirect even your good plans. And take heart that God, who needs nothing from us, delights to give more than we could offer him; the God who would not let David build him a house promised to build David one instead.

Lord, David sincerely desired to build you a grand house, but you gently declined it, for you had never needed one nor asked for it; and instead you turned it around and promised to build David a house. Teach me about my own good intentions toward you. I may have sincere desires to do great things for you, and these are good; but you do not need what I would give you, and you may redirect even my well-meant plans toward your own purposes, which are greater. Help me hold my good intentions humbly, ready to have you redirect them. Keep me from assuming that because a desire to serve you is good, it is therefore what you ask; help me be willing, as David had to be, to let you decline or redirect even my good plans. And thank you that you, who need nothing from me, delight to give more than I could offer you. You who would not let David build you a house built him one instead; let me trust your greater purposes over my own plans.