“Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.’”
2 Chronicles 6:7-9
In this passage above, we learn at least three things from King David:
- David’s heart desired to build a house for God.
- God did not grant David his heart’s desire.
- God instead chose David’s son to build His house.
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
- Your initial godly desires are seen and known by God.
- God does not always grant your initial desires.
- Therefore, the outcome–though different than initially expected–is far better and further reaching than originally desired.
General Application: In David’s case, disregarding God’s command, he could have built Him a house. However, David’s greater desire was God, not God’s house. Therefore, he obeyed God and procured the resources Solomon would use to build God’s house. God was David’s greater desire.
Moreover, David is a type pointing to Christ. How is David a type pointing to Christ?
Gospel Application: When Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will,” He revealed that His greater desire for His Father superseded any other desire. Therefore, seeking His Father’s will, Jesus, dishonored, abandoned, betrayed, and alone, traversed the Via Dolorosa to his grisly tortuous death on a cross, receiving the curse of mankind as the once-and-for-all Substitute for sins and satisfaction of God’s wrath, so that humanity would receive God’s greater desire solving humanity’s greatest need for redemption.
Glory! Our Lord yielded His desire to the Father’s greater desire so that we might receive our greatest need of reconciliation with God.
— December 6, 2023