David’s Wisdom in Laying Down His Own Will

David hurried to bring the ark of God up to the City of David, and Uzzah died along the way. Only after repenting with his whole heart did he move it again, this time safely, by the hands of the Levites. Later, comparing his own splendid palace with the humble tent, he resolved to build a temple, but through Nathan God plainly stopped him: “You are not to build it.”

The desire to build a temple looked good, yet it was human zeal that had not sought God’s will in prayer. God is not one to be confined within a house made by human hands, and because David had shed much blood, the work was left for his son Solomon. Faced with this refusal, David neither made excuses nor nursed a grievance; instead he gave thanks and praised God.

However good a person’s own will may seem, wisdom lies in setting it aside when God says no. When an answer comes as a refusal and the believer still trusts that a greater plan of God lies within it and gives thanks, it becomes possible to walk with God, like David, who rejoiced even when he was not allowed to build the temple.