And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:
The verse is David's own telling to his son Solomon that it had been in his mind to build a house for the name of the Lord his God, a long-held and settled intention to build a temple in Jerusalem. The desire rose while he dwelt in his palace of cedar among the costly houses of Jerusalem, while the ark made in the wilderness and carried from Horeb to Jerusalem through the forty-year pilgrimage still rested in the curtained tabernacle where the Shekinah dwelt between the cherubim. He felt remorse that he lived magnificently while the ark was so poorly provided for, and he was impressed that a more honorable place should be prepared for the worship of the Maker of heaven and earth.
He made his conviction known to Nathan the prophet, who encouraged him to carry out his purpose. God refused even David's very best intention and would not let David build because he had shed blood abundantly and had made great wars on the earth. Men's plans are not God's plans, for the Lord chooses who shall build His house and what spirit shall characterize them, wanting workers who have wisdom and are disciplined by His grace.
By divine appointment God selected David's son Solomon to accomplish the great work of building the temple in Jerusalem. That son would be a man of rest named Solomon, with rest from enemies and peace and quietness to Israel in his days, who would build a house for God's name as God's son with the throne of his kingdom established over Israel forever. Solomon thus inherited the building as a special duty alongside his responsibilities as king.
David's part was changed to preparation and counsel, for he gathered materials and prepared abundantly before his death for a house that must be exceeding magnificent for fame and glory. Since Solomon was young and tender, David was to use his experience to advise, counsel, and encourage his son while the younger man carried out the work. God met the refusal with tokens of His love and other service, reminding David of the lowly position he was in when called and entrusted with great responsibilities and that his prosperity and success came through God's blessing and not any inherited goodness, and granting him the next highest honor of entrusting the work to his son.
The charge carried God's conditional promise to be with Solomon and prosper him in building as spoken, giving him wisdom and understanding in his charge over Israel to keep the law of the Lord. He would prosper if he took heed to fulfill the statutes and judgments charged through Moses by being strong and of good courage without dread or dismay. God made no mistake in placing Solomon in great responsibility, because wisdom was promised on condition of walking in righteousness and truth.
The verse is David's own telling to his son Solomon that it had been in his mind to build a house for the name of the Lord his God, a long-held and settled intention to build a temple in Jerusalem. The desire rose while he dwelt in his palace of cedar among the costly houses of Jerusalem, while the ark made in the wilderness and carried from Horeb to Jerusalem through the forty-year pilgrimage still rested in the curtained tabernacle where the Shekinah dwelt between the cherubim. He felt remorse that he lived magnificently while the ark was so poorly provided for, and he was impressed that a more honorable place should be prepared for the worship of the Maker of heaven and earth.
He made his conviction known to Nathan the prophet, who encouraged him to carry out his purpose. God refused even David's very best intention and would not let David build because he had shed blood abundantly and had made great wars on the earth. Men's plans are not God's plans, for the Lord chooses who shall build His house and what spirit shall characterize them, wanting workers who have wisdom and are disciplined by His grace.
By divine appointment God selected David's son Solomon to accomplish the great work of building the temple in Jerusalem. That son would be a man of rest named Solomon, with rest from enemies and peace and quietness to Israel in his days, who would build a house for God's name as God's son with the throne of his kingdom established over Israel forever. Solomon thus inherited the building as a special duty alongside his responsibilities as king.
David's part was changed to preparation and counsel, for he gathered materials and prepared abundantly before his death for a house that must be exceeding magnificent for fame and glory. Since Solomon was young and tender, David was to use his experience to advise, counsel, and encourage his son while the younger man carried out the work. God met the refusal with tokens of His love and other service, reminding David of the lowly position he was in when called and entrusted with great responsibilities and that his prosperity and success came through God's blessing and not any inherited goodness, and granting him the next highest honor of entrusting the work to his son.
The charge carried God's conditional promise to be with Solomon and prosper him in building as spoken, giving him wisdom and understanding in his charge over Israel to keep the law of the Lord. He would prosper if he took heed to fulfill the statutes and judgments charged through Moses by being strong and of good courage without dread or dismay. God made no mistake in placing Solomon in great responsibility, because wisdom was promised on condition of walking in righteousness and truth.