1 Chronicles 28:3-6 “But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ Yet, the Lord . . . chose me . . . to be a king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. Of all my sons . . . He has chosen . . . Solomon to sit on the throne . . . [and] build My house.”
Observation: In Chapter 28 David was near the end of his life and giving last instructions to the people and to Solomon. After having first been anointed king while still a boy, David had now lived most of his life not just as king, which was itself an awesome privilege, but as a king who knew God had promised to establish his throne forever.
Application: If ever a man had reason for pride in his accomplishments, it was this man, yet what do we see of David’s heart? Total humility. Before the leaders of all the people he first recounted why God would not let him be the one to build the temple: because he had been a man of war. I find no hint of disappointment in David’s words, no suggestion of regret. Then he went on to say that God had chosen him, his father’s house, the tribe of Judah, and David’s son Solomon. Again, there is no indication of pride, but a simple recognition that it is God who does the choosing.
David seems to have long ago figured out this sovereignty-of-God thing, with a beautiful result. To witness an attitude of humility in David, as well as to see it in the lives of humble people around me today, stirs my own heart by their example.
The wonderful thing about a life completely yielded to God is that I can relax and rest completely in Him. I recognize that there is no good in me apart from Him. All those times in the past when I’ve felt like a hot shot for some accomplishment, at the end of the day only what He has done will stand. So at best, I can say, with David, that it is a deep joy to see the hand of God move; to get in on what He is doing is the most awesome privilege in all of life.
Prayer: Lord, I acknowledge Your Lordship over my life. Have Your way with me, and with those I love.