Who Is Building the House? - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

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Who Is Building the House?

1 Chronicles 22:5 and 2 Samuel 7:1-3

I. David’s Desire

·        1 Chronicles 22:7 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:

A. The Vexation of David’s Desire

·        2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

B. The Valuation of David’s Desire

·        1 Chronicles 22:5 …to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:

Contrast David’s desire to make a name for God to the intents of the builders of the tower of Babel.

·        Genesis 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

C. The Verification of David’s Desire

·        3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.

Imagine how excited David was!

He had a burning desire to build a house for the name of His God.

He talked about with the man of God, and Nathan the prophet gave him the green light.

II. David’s Denial

1 Chronicles 22

·        8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.

·        9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.

·        10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.

When I read these verses, I discover how much David did not tell Solomon about that night he got denied.

The night that his dreams were put on ice.

When I read 2 Samuel 7, I see elements in God’s denial that would crush most people today.

Notice a couple of God’s responses that were no doubt hard to swallow.

A. I didn’t ask you to build me a house. – vs. 4-7

B. You won’t be the one to build it. – vs. 12, 13

C. You won’t even be alive to see it built. – vs. 12

D. You can’t build my house because you have shed blood abundantly. (1 Chron. 22:8)

I wonder what David thought about this line of conversation?

God told David, “Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars…”

David’s first war was killing Goliath. He didn’t start that war.

David’s recommendation to Saul as a boy was:

·        1 Samuel 16:18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

David was described as a man after God’s own heart.

Notice the struggle that many of us would have had during this time of denial:

You mean- I can fight your battles, but I can’t build your house?

I’m good enough to take the throne away from Saul, but I’m not good enough to build your house?

Notice the perplexing logic that God used in this denial.

·        1 Chronicles 22:9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.

I wonder if David thought like you and I would think…

If you are going to give my son Solomon rest and quiet from all his enemies, why not give it to me?

Why give me this desire and this burden and then not let me have the opportunity to fulfil it?

Why did you allow me to lead in a time of war and battle, and then use it against me?

III. David’s Dedication

David didn’t get mad at God.

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.

David didn’t accuse God or indict God.

He submitted to God’s will.

A. David’s Adoring Praise – 2 Samuel 7:18-24

After being completely shut down and told no to his dreams, David went in, sat down, and praised God.

READ 2 Samuel 7:18-24

B. David’s Abundant Preparation

·        1 Chronicles 22:5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.

Notice how many times in 1 Chronicles 22 that God tells us that David prepared abundantly.

·        3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight;

·        4 Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.

C. David’s Amazing Promise – 2 Samuel 7:25-29

·        25 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.

·        26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

·        27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

·        28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

·        29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

David wanted to build God a house.

·        He longed for it.

·        He prayed for it.

·        He planned for it.

·        He dreamed about it.

But in the end… God said no.

·        Not because David was unworthy.

·        Not because David was unfaithful.

·        Not because David was unloved.

But because God had something bigger in mind.

David said, “Lord, I want to build You a house.”

And God said, “David, I’m going to build you a house.”

David came to God with a blueprint…and God handed David a covenant.

David offered God a building…and God offered David a throne that would last forever.

David wanted to build something temporary, but God wanted to build something eternal.

God didn’t let David build the house… because God wasn’t looking for a builder.

He was looking for a worshipper.

·        Anybody can swing a hammer.

·        Anybody can cut a board.

·        Anybody can chisel stone.

·        But only a few people can get denied, and still praise God.

·        Only a few people can hear “No” and still bow the knee.

·        Only a few people can watch God hand their dream to someone else and still prepare abundantly.

David couldn’t build the temple, but the temple didn’t need David’s hands; it needed David’s heart.

Once God got all of David, Solomon got all of the blueprints.

The greatest building David ever helped build, was one he never got to see.

·        He never heard the first chisel strike the first stone.

·        He never watched the cedars go up.

·        He never smelled the incense burning.

·        He never saw the glory of God fill the house.

But he prepared abundantly.

·        He praised abundantly.

·        He gave abundantly.

·        He worshiped abundantly.

WHY? Because David finally learned the answer to the question:

“Who’s doing the building?”

It wasn’t David building a house for God.

It was God building a man for Himself.

It was God building a legacy that would outlive him.

It was God building a throne that would reach all the way to Jesus Christ.

Sometimes God says no to your plan, because He’s saying yes to His promise.

Sometimes God closes the door to your dream, because He’s opening a door to your destiny.

Sometimes God hands your assignment to someone else, because He’s shaping something in you

that is far more important than anything you could build with your hands.

Sometimes God will let Solomon build it…because God is busy building you.

So, when God says “No”…

·        keep preparing.

·        keep praising.

·        keep giving.

·        keep serving.

·        keep worshiping.

So, who’s doing the building?

Not David. Not Solomon. Not you. Not me.

It is God. And whatever God builds will stand forever!

Conclusion: This temple was called “Solomon’s Temple.”

But it got destroyed in AD70 by Titus and the Romans.

However, it is known as “the throne of David” and will last for eternity.

David wanted to build God a house; but God wanted to build David a house.