Devoted to God
1 Chronicles 28:2-3, 6-7, 11-12
King David rose to his feet and said: "Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, 'You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.'
God built the house. David wished to build the house himself; he wrote the plans to give God a place to rest with his enemies as his footstool as in Psalm 110:1. The ark was a symbol of victory and a resting place of God's glory. This was not David's place to give the Lord. Had David tried to build the house, David would have been gotten the glory. However, the Lord possessed the victory, the plans, and the glory. God knew that it could be dangerous to give one person all the responsibility. With great responsibility came temptation. David's responsibility was training his family, leading it, and shepherding the nation. God's charge to not build his house was because of one thing. God called David to be a warrior in 1 Samuel 17:34 which involves shedding blood. But the bloodshed spoken of here was innocent that the Lord did not require nor command. In the case of Uriah described in 2 Samuel 12:9-10, David had him killed then married his wife. Solomon was the child of that union with Bathsheba. God chose to use him instead to build the house to bring God the glory and honor. See, God can choose anyone like this child of a power union and murder.
He said to me: 'Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.'
Out of all of David's family and many sons, God honored this one. God knew that Solomon would not repeat the same sins of the father that caused David to be disqualified. Yes, Solomon had some sins similar to his father's; he also gave God glory, rested judgement with him, and ruled in fairness and truth to the people. God said this of Solomon before it ever happened. Not even David could reverse it. Not even David's favorite child could take the blessing away for from the Lord it had been given. God's commendation is proof that it is better to let him do the speaking over a situation. God promised to be Solomon's father. He did this because David failed in fathering his son. Solomon built a life following God's leadership and fathering prior to assuming his new responsibility. Some people think that when God gives increased responsibility or a new role then that is a time of exaltation. That, my friends, is not an exaltation. That is work. That is a calling. That is a ministry. That is a responsibility. Above all, such is built on the fathering relationship of God. In the position of building God's house, you cannot rely on other people.
Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things.
Then David gave the plans of God's building to Solomon. This was God's building for the plans were from the Lord. Solomon was also inheriting God's nation and his family because he gave them. Had David remembered this, he would have seen more success and less fighting. Remember, David's legacy was that of a family divided which later became a nation divided. God's rebuke is mild enough to be a public compliment. Had David built the house for God, these may have been known as his victories, his building, his family, and his nation. But God could use Solomon's terrible story and brokenness to build his house and lead a nation. There are ways in which God can minister or father you that your earthly father, mother, or spiritual leader cannot.