For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
1 Kings 8
David desired to build a house for God. And we know from Solomon’s speech here that God commended David for having this desire. Yet God told David that it wasn’t his to do; Solomon would build His house. Thus, even though David’s desire was good, He would have been outside God’s desire had he followed through with it. That would not have been good.
I had to stop and think about all of that. How many times do we do things because they seem good, but we don’t consult God about doing them? I think we often just add unnecessary burden on ourselves when we do so. However, David’s situation makes me think that relying on our own judgment of what is good for us to do can lead to bigger issues. God had very specific reasons for having Solomon, rather than David, build the temple. Had David followed his own desire, even though it was a good one, he would have been in opposition to God’s plan. That’s never a good place to be.
Of course, God’s plan will never be ‘messed up’ by our actions. But our actions do have an impact on our present and eternal lives. So it’s much better for us if we strive to work with God and follow His desires instead of our own. It’s kind of a sobering thought, though, that even the pursuit of good desires can lead us away from God. I don’t say that to imply that we should be afraid that every little step we take could be the wrong one. It’s more of a reminder of the importance of living intentionally; of actively abiding in Christ and “stretching our ear”, as it says in the Proverbs, to hear His voice. Then, when we do make those occasional wrong turns, the break in our peace will quickly draw us back on track.
2 Chron. 5
Again, basically a repeat of the first part of 1 Kings 8. However, the Chronicler adds a segment about the priests and Levitical singers. I think maybe he wanted to stress what he notes in verse 13. “They raised their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: For He is good; His faithful love endures forever.” (2 Chron. 5:13b).