“The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you. “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.””
2 Samuel 7:11b-13 (NAS)
Israel’s King David considered the goodness of God and rejoiced in heart-felt gratitude. Then he thought, “There is something wrong with this picture. The Ark of the Covenant sits down there in that shabby tent while I sit here in this luxurious home I have built. I must do something to correct the situation.” It troubled the King that the people of God had settled in the land and built themselves houses, while the Presence of God still rested in the tent of a wandering traveler. So, King David sent for the Prophet of God and expressed his concerns and desires. Nathan, The Prophet, thought it was a great idea and gave the official church nod to the project. God, however, had other ideas. There was nothing wrong with the King’s dream. He just was not the man to achieve it. But, when God says no to our dreams and plans, it is because he has bigger and better ones.
The King must have been surprised and disappointed until he heard God’s dream. Instead of letting David build a house for him, God was going to build a house for David. It was to be a house ruled by an eternal heir, who would build a truly great house for God. David did not grumble or complain that his plan had been refused. Instead, he went to the House of God and sat for a long time in the presence of the Lord. Don’t you think that he must have reflected on how good and great the Lord is?
Do you ever ponder the blessings of God upon your life? Do such ponderings ever give you big ideas to do for God? Sometimes our plans are simply not the best thing for us. How does one react to disrupted plans? Has God ever told you no? Disappointment is a natural side-effect of fallen humanity, yet God normally has bigger and better plans for his children. Before we turn away from his plan and let bitterness destroy our spirit, let us go before him and stay a while in his presence. His promises are certain! His plans are best!
Dear Father, thank you for your plan of salvation through Christ. Enable us with humility and trust, that we may accept your plan. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Be encouraged today in the plan of God,