2 Chronicles 6:1-9: a reflection

1Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 2But I have built you a house and home, a place for you to dwell in forever.” 3The king turned his face, and blessed all the assembly of Israel; and all the assembly of Israel stood. 4He said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David my father, and has with his hands fulfilled it, saying, 5‘Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there, and I chose no man to be prince over my people Israel; 6but now I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’ 7Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 8But the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart; 9nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will come out of your body, he shall build the house for my name.’

As Solomon dedicates the temple, he recalls that it was his father David who had first longed to build it. But God had told David he would not be the one to build it; his son would. And yet God said something gracious to David about that unfulfilled desire: Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. David would not accomplish the building himself; another would do it. But God honored the good desire of David's heart, telling him he did well to have desired it, even though the doing fell to another.

Notice how God honored David's desire, even though David did not accomplish it. David had wanted to build the temple; it was a good desire, born of love for God. God did not let David build it, but he did not dismiss the desire; he told David, you did well that it was in your heart. The good desire was accepted and honored by God, though the doing was given to Solomon. God valued the desire of David's heart, the longing to honor him, even though the accomplishment fell to another. The desire itself, God said, was good, and David did well to have had it.

That is worth taking to heart, for God honors the good desires of our hearts, even when the doing falls to another or is never accomplished by us. We can have good desires, longings to do something for God, that we are not able to accomplish ourselves, that fall to others, or that circumstances prevent; and we can feel these count for nothing if we do not accomplish them. But God told David he did well to have the desire, even though another built the temple. God values the good desires of our hearts, not only our accomplishments. Do not think your good desires count for nothing if you cannot accomplish them yourself; God honored David's desire though Solomon built the temple. Trust that God honors the good desires of your heart, even when the doing falls to another or is never accomplished by you, as he told David he did well to have it in his heart to build the temple; for God values the desire to honor him, not only its accomplishment, and a good desire is not wasted even when we cannot carry it out ourselves.

Lord, as Solomon dedicates the temple, he recalls that it was his father David who had first longed to build it. But you had told David he would not be the one to build it; his son would. And yet you said something gracious to David about that unfulfilled desire: whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. David would not accomplish the building himself; another would do it. But you honored the good desire of David's heart. Show me how you honored David's desire, even though David did not accomplish it. David had wanted to build the temple; it was a good desire, born of love for you. You did not let David build it, but you did not dismiss the desire; you told David, you did well that it was in your heart. The good desire was accepted and honored by you, though the doing was given to Solomon. You valued the desire of David's heart, even though the accomplishment fell to another. Take that to my heart, for you honor the good desires of my heart, even when the doing falls to another or is never accomplished by me. I can have good desires, longings to do something for you, that I am not able to accomplish myself, that fall to others, or that circumstances prevent; and I can feel these count for nothing if I do not accomplish them. But you told David he did well to have the desire. Keep me from thinking my good desires count for nothing if I cannot accomplish them myself; you honored David's desire though Solomon built the temple. Help me trust that you honor the good desires of my heart, Lord, even when the doing falls to another.