I Chronicles 22:6,7 - “Then he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. And David said to Solomon: “My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the Lord my God”
Today’s Old Testament reading highlights David’s preparation for the temple to be built by his son Solomon. God would not allow David to build it because he was a man of war. Solomon was commissioned to build the temple. However, David was the architect of the house and the visionary for it. So passionate was David about it that before his death he “made extensive preparations” (v.5) and took “great pains to provide for the temple” (v.14). That’s what you’ll do when you love something enough.
What would you like to see happen in your lifetime? Do you have a goal, a vision, a dream that you want to become a reality? There are several things mentioned in today’s reading that are very helpful for us if we want to see a vision we have come to pass.
1. You have to build it inside first (v.7). David had it inside of him before it appeared on the outside. Your vision has to be articulated within. It needs to be cultivated in your thoughts, your prayers, and your inner conversations (you do have them, don’t you?).
2. You need to be concerned with it coming to pass and not with the thought that you need to be the one to make it happen. The vision has to be bigger than you. If it’s about you building it, then it’s only as big as you. If God told you that you wouldn’t be the one to bring it to pass,
would you put the same resources behind it? David put incredible energy behind the building of the temple even though he wasn’t the man to build it or see it come to pass.
3. You have to guard against fear and discouragement. David told Solomon in verse 13, “Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the Lord charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Everything will not always go well when it comes time to carry out the vision. Any number of obstacles that you didn’t plan for may present themselves to you. You cannot allow them to sabotage the vision. You have to stay strong and encouraged. You must stay focused on the completion of what was started. Stay encouraged—a battle here and there is not meant to derail you. It’s simply part of the process. Don’t fear —David assured Solomon that he wouldn’t be building alone. God would be with him and give him great success. He will do the same for you.