Patriarchs and Prophets

from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel;
and I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out
of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men
that are in the earth. Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will
plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither
shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime.”
As David had desired to build a house for God, the promise was given. “The Lord
telleth thee that he will make thee a house.... I will set up thy seed after thee.... He
shall build a house for My name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
The reason why David was not to build the temple was declared: “Thou hast shed
blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build a house unto My
name.... 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: ...his name shall be Solomon [peaceable], and I
will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. He shall build a house for My
name.” 1 Chronicles 22:8-10.
Though the cherished purpose of his heart had been denied, David received the
message with gratitude. “Who am I, O Lord God?” he exclaimed, “and what is my
house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in Thy
sight, O Lord God; but Thou hast spoken also of Thy servant’s house for a great while
to come;” and he then renewed his covenant with God.
David knew that it would be an honor to his name and would bring glory to his
government to perform the work that he had purposed in his heart to do, but he was
ready to submit his will to the will of God. The grateful resignation thus manifested is
rarely seen, even among Christians. How often do those who have passed the strength
of manhood cling to the hope of accomplishing some great work upon which their
hearts are set, but which they are unfitted to perform! God’s providence may speak to
them, as did his prophet to David, declaring that the work which they so much desire
is not committed to them. It is theirs to prepare the way for another to accomplish it.
But instead of gratefully submitting to the divine direction, many fall back as
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