David’s response reveals his heart: “Ok God. I don’t fully understand, but I choose to submit. May You be glorified, whether through me or through someone else!”
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Scripture
1 Chronicles 17:1-4,23-24
“After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord in under a tent.” Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.” But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: “Go and tell my servant David, “This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.”
23 “…And now, Lord, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be stablished forever. Do as you have promised so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, “The Lord Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!” and the house of your servant David will be established before you.”
Observation
David didn’t seek the throne, or fame as a warrior, Nevertheless, here he was sitting on the throne and leading the nation. He had a dream and desire to build a house for God. This was a noble and God-honoring plan, and he even had a green light from the prophet Nathan to move forward…then suddenly the whole thing grinds to a halt and God says, “No.”
Not just “No for now,” but “No forever.”
David would absolutely NOT be the one to build a house for God. David could have become frustrated, angry, cynical, and bent out of shape. Instead, his response reveals his heart: “Ok God. I don’t fully understand, but I choose to submit. May You be glorified, whether through me or through someone else!”
Application
Motives are sneaky things. I can ‘do’ all the right things, and yet my heart can be far from right. There are times on the journey when God will test my heart, to see what is revealed. Am I serving Him for his glory, or for my own? Am I sharing the gospel so that people would know His name, or mine? Am I building His house so that His kingdom would be established, or mine?
I choose today, to point people to Him. Whether in publicity or obscurity, whether in fulfillmment or frustration. I choose to glorify God with my heart and not just with my hands–even when it means watching someone else get the credit for the thing that I poured my heart into. I choose to honor him when I hear “no”, not only when I hear “yes”.
Prayer
God, may you be glorified in my life. When my heart is tested, may the things revealed in me be pleasing to you. In each situation may you receive the glory, whether or not I get the credit. Thank you for loving me, and thank you for the privilege of serving you.
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