Would You Build a House for Me?

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-5)

After the deaths of King Saul and his son Ishbosheth, David was asked to rule over a united Israel. David then built himself a house of cedar in Jerusalem, the city he had conquered from the Jebusites. In 1 Chronicles 15:1 we read, “David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.”

Once David had successfully brought the ark of God to Jerusalem, it bothered him that he lived in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwelt in a tent. David’s thinking was commendable. It can happen in Christian circles that the things of the Lord and the church get neglected, while Christians live in affluence. David knew that God deserved a palace far more than he did, and so he wanted to do something about it. He immediately asked Nathan’s advice. Nathan the prophet responded by saying, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you” (2 Samuel 7:3). Nathan initially saw nothing wrong with David’s good intentions. However, God had a different plan in mind, and revealed that plan to David through Nathan.

In 2 Samuel 7:5-7, the Lord comments on David’s desire to build a house of worship. The Lord asks, “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?” God mentions that He had never dwelt in a house in all the years that He led His people, ever since He brought them out of Egypt. We are aware that God knows everything, yet here He almost seems surprised by David’s desire to go beyond what God had called him to do. God saw the pure motives David had in wanting to build a house of worship. It pleased God to have such a loyal servant who cared about the things of God. David was truly a man after God’s own heart, which was why God could turn a shepherd boy into a great king (v. 9).

Though David’s intentions were right and godly, God told him that he would not be the one to build Him a house. David had shed too much blood in his life; his son Solomon would be given the responsibility of building the temple. God wanted a man of peace to build His house; the name Solomon means “peaceful” (1 Chronicles 22:6-13). David accepted God’s answer even though it went against his plans. We can certainly learn from his example. At times we may desire to do something for the Lord, but the Lord may want to use someone else to carry it out. Are we willing to support that individual from behind the scenes, even though they are doing what we ourselves would like to do? Though God often directs our lives differently than we may anticipate, the important thing is that we remain obedient to His leading and content with His will.

After denying David’s request of building God a temple, God reminds David of how He helped him throughout his life, and how He helped the Israelites throughout their history. He does this to remind David of His love for His faithful servant, even though David’s plans had been put on hold. In 2 Samuel 7:8-9, God tells Nathan to relay the following message to David: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.” Then, in verses 10-11, God promises to bless His people in the land that God had brought them to.

God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt to Canaan. Through God’s leadership and provision, the Israelites were able to conquer vast areas of land and destroy the wicked inhabitants that walked contrary to God. Yet the people of Israel weren’t fully obedient; they failed to conquer all of the Promised Land, nor did they completely remove the inhabiting nations. These poor decisions would bring terrible consequences and episodes of enslavement by enemy nations. Over a period of 400 years, God intermittently raised up judges that led the people out of bondage and brought peace to the land. King Saul, and later David, brought further victories for the people of Israel. But it wasn’t until Solomon’s reign that the land truly had rest from all its enemies. This is the rest and peace that is described in 2 Samuel 7:11.

David wanted to build a house for the ark of God, but God had other plans. David did not get discouraged when God told him that he would not be the one to build His house. He knew that it was better to obey the Lord than to insist on building the temple. God saw David’s pure motives, and reminded him of His love, even though David’s plans were delayed. Then God used the rest in the Promised Land enjoyed by David and Solomon as a witness that He would do something great for David and his descendants: He would establish from their family a lasting house of peace.

Our Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, fulfilled this promise when He ushered in His kingdom of peace through His death and resurrection. Through faith in Christ’s sacrifice, we are added to Christ’ temple of peace as “living stones,” that “are being built up a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). How amazing to think that David’s desire to build God a temple is being fulfilled by Christ today!

David Knelsen
Hamilton, ON