Experiencing God's Presence #266

“Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the LORD.”

1 Chronicles 28:19

David dreamed of building a temple for God (2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17). Nathan the prophet assured him that it was a good idea, that God was with him. Then God told Nathan otherwise. In fact, God said it wasn’t His idea to build a temple at all and that He didn’t need one. But He would allow one of David’s sons to build it, and the result was integrated into God’s plan.

We aren’t sure how this works. Who initiated the Temple? Did it come strictly from David’s desires or from desires God had put into David? Why did the prophet assume it was God’s plan and then hear otherwise from God Himself? How did the word of the Lord come? And fast-forwarding to the verse quoted above, how did God give David the plans in writing from His own hand?

We wish the Bible were more specific about the mechanics of revelation—how God speaks, how much uncertainty is involved, and how we can tell if our desires are God-given or not. But these things aren’t spelled out. All we know, at least in this episode, is that David’s desire somehow became God’s plan, that hearing God was an uncertain process at first, and that David and Nathan were convinced they got it right over time, down to the details of the plans. The rest is for us to speculate about. Or experience—if we pursue such interactions with God ourselves.

Don’t assume that every word from God was crystal clear at first. Jeremiah heard a word from God but wasn’t certain until circumstances confirmed it (Jeremiah 32:6-8). But believe along with the prophets that God’s voice can be crystal clear with faith and confirmations over time. Details of His plans can be revealed to you from His own hand.

Lord, grant that I might hear You as clearly and confidently as David did when You gave Him plans for the Temple.

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