1 Chronicles 17-19
Introduction
In today’s world, people would most likely say that King David chose to perform his last great act to build his legacy: the temple. It is the same thing that people say about President Trump—he is trying to capstone his legacy. In both cases, the cynics got it wrong. David’s motivation was two-fold. First, there was a sense that he had his priorities reversed (17:1). Second, and most important, was his gratitude for God’s incredible blessings upon his life, none of which he deserved. He was well-aware of his origins and of God’s election (17:16). So, with President Trump, who has a deep awareness that America, which he has known, in God’s providence, has allowed him to become who he is, and he desires to protect her for those coming after him.
David and Nathan’s (Mistake 17:1-2)
David decided he wanted to build the temple, but we have no evidence that he personally had prayed about the proposed enterprise. If we track David’s life, we find many times when he does just that. He has an idea, then prays about it personally. In this case, he goes directly to the prophet, Nathan.
How often do we follow this path? We have a good idea. Then, rather than pray first and then ask others to pray, we quickly turn to others for affirmation of our concept. Like Nathan, even godly-minded leaders are conditioned by our culture. After all, every nation had its God-house. Remember the Philistines and their God, Dagon. So, why would it not be a good idea to build God a house? Hence, Nathen agrees and gives David God’s ok, but he never prayed about it.
That night, God came to Nathan and countered that blessing (3-10). God then reminds Nathan and David that though he had not had a house, He has been dwelling with them, caring for them, and solidifying His promise to Abraham.
The Revised Plan of God (17:4-16)
Preface to God’s Plan (4-6)
Stop! You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in! (4). Let me tell you why. I have had an RV and traveled with you (5). Did I ever ask any of your leaders to build me a house? (6).
The revised plan comes in the form of an assurance to David (7-15)
I called you. I made you. I have been with you. I have cut off your enemies. I will honor you. I will take care of my people. I will build the house of David. I will establish your son and his kingdom.
And your son will build my house, and I will establish his throne forever (12-15). Like the promise to Abraham, this promise has many twists and turns, and its fulfillment is yet before us.
A sidebar: Yes, God did and would do all this in and through David. But it did not come without the challenges of Satan. We should remember that, as we come into the family (God is building His house, one human heart beside the next), the Lord teaches us and illustrates through the history of Israel that this kingdom building is not challenge-free. There were Absalom, Jeroboam, and many others (from kings to peons). There was Judas; after the resurrection, there was Demas; and over the centuries, many others (from leaders to peons) who were not faithful followers. But Jesus defeated Satan on the cross, assured the victory by His resurrection, and will return to end his guerrilla warfare and finally establish the Son of David’s eternal kingdom.
David’s Response to God’s Revised Plan (16-27)
A prayer of humility (16-22)
The first half of this is a quilt of humility, thanksgiving, submission, concurrence, and worship.
A prayer of recognition of responsibility (23-27)
The second half of this prayer is a recognition of David’s understanding of the responsibility flowing from the blessing promised in this revised plan. There are five components.
• Leadership to bring this plan to fruition is upon God. (22-23).
• Leadership for execution of the plan is upon God (24).
• Leadership for David begins with prayer (25).
• Leadership never loses sight of the origin of the responsibility to lead (26).
• Leadership recognizes that serving is a privilege (27).
David Engages in God’s Revised Plan (Chapter 18)
Basically, this chapter tells us that David listened to God. He diverted from his plan, to build a house for God, to God’s plan, to establish the kingdom of David, and we read in verse 6, “And the Lord helped David wherever he went.”
When every Christian becomes a believer, he becomes a soldier of the cross. Paul’s life demonstrates this for us in greater detail than any other Apostle (yes, “apostle, born out of due time”) (I Corinthians 15:8-9). He teaches us this most transparently in Ephesians 6:10-18, where he explains how to deal with the enemy.
In chapter 19, there is a narrative of a very foolish enemy. But in the account, we find three essential components (19:13) of a strategy for spiritual warfare that every believer needs.
• Commitment to preparation
• Courage, an abandonment to God to win
• Confidence in God’s goodness (justice)
Conclusion
Conceiving a plan to accomplish a goal for God is commendable. For example, in 1971, I was asked to consider taking the pastoral role of planting a church. It was at a time in my journey when the circumstances coalesced, indicating it was time for a change. I was teaching at a college at the time and realized that my Academic Dean’s philosophy of education was out of sync with what I believed was essential. His idea was to dictate an outline, have them regurgitate it, and they would be educated. For me, teaching my students critical thinking so that they would understand how to utilize he truth we taught was essential.
However, my early Christian life mentor, Jim L, had ingrained in me that not every opportunity is God’s plan. Hence, we earnestly sought the Lord’s plan. He was faithful, and we became church planters. I had not aspired to be a church planter, and my wife had not aspired to be a pastor’s wife. But this was, as it were, God’s revised plan for the next almost seven years.
Implementation
As you look at your world, it is certainly appropriate to look at your gifts and talents and devise plans to fulfill the Great Commission and challenge the Enemy. However, don’t just other leaders who already believe in you and who will be quick to give you a “go for it!” First, learn from David’s experience: submit your plan to God and humbly prepare to engage with His revised plan.
Here’s an idea. Read about John and Charles Wesley and the group they founded at Oxford called the “Holy Club,” where they practiced a disciplined, devout life that earned them the nickname “Methodists”.
More contemporary, read about Bill Bright and his idea for a campus ministry.