June 28
Do as David did
“But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name….’” 1 Chronicles 28:3 (NKJV)
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in the Bible who showed more love and devotion to God than David. He even has the privileged distinction of being called a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).
It was out of this great heart of devotion to God that David desired to do something special for Him. He wanted to do something that nobody else had done or could afford to do. He wanted to build the Lord a Temple where He could be worshipped by His people.
Now if you’re David, it’s probably a foregone conclusion that all of this is going to happen. You’ve got the clout, you’ve got the resources, and you’ve got the motivation. So why wouldn’t this unfold as planned in David’s heart?
“But God”…that’s what. The one thing that stood between David’s desire and it becoming a reality was the fact that God intervened. He stepped in and told David that He wouldn’t allow him to build the Temple. The reason? David had shed too much blood in his lifetime, and the Lord wanted His House to be built with a different set of hands. And because of this “But God,” the honor of building the Temple would instead go to David’s son, Solomon.
This certainly caught David by surprise, and it undoubtedly came as a disappointment. God took things in a different direction than expected. And now David had to deal with what the Lord was doing.
The same thing happens in our own lives. We’ve got an idea of what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it. But then there’s a “But God” that presents us with a challenge: Dwell in disappointment—or rise above it in faith.
When the unexpected “But God” happens to you, do as David did. Accept the fact that the Lord is taking things in a different direction, and trust that He’s bigger than your initial sense of disappointment.
Think About It…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
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