Daily Devotional Details

Date

Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan. 2 Samuel 7:3-4

David sought wise counsel from Nathan the prophet, a man who, like David, walked with God. He tells Nathan his concern, and Nathan says, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

But then the same night, no doubt to Nathan’s complete astonishment, God speaks, and he says ‘no’! And the door closes on something good that David wanted to do for God.

God had a different plan for David. Building is something that you do in time of peace. Grand projects have to be put on hold in times of war. As soon as David had respite from the demands of battling his enemies, he said, “Well, now I can build a house for God!” But David was not given that blessing.

There were more battles to be fought, and this was God’s calling on David’s life. God said to David, “You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood” (1 Chr. 28:3). The point here is not that David sinned by leading God’s people into battle, but that David was called to the hard work of subduing Israel’s enemies.

Solomon would be the one who got to be king in times of peace. When all the enemies were subdued, peace would reign, and Solomon would build the temple. David did all the hard work. Solomon reaped the blessing of what David had sown!

How will you respond when what is in your heart is not in God’s plan for you?