Wise David, Who Gave Up His Own Will

This passage covers how David failed when he tried to move the ark by his own will, and how he was forbidden to build the temple. Living in a splendid palace, David felt ashamed of himself and wanted to build a temple for God, but this created a situation in which human zeal collided with God's law. The prophet Nathan, too, trusted David's heart and agreed without reservation, but God had not commanded David to build the temple.

The sermon points out that although David's plan came from good intentions, it failed because it did not follow God's law and will. We often believe our own thinking is proper and imagine that we are working for God, but human thoughts and God's will are fundamentally different. In particular, through the issue of bloodshed, the reason he was forbidden to build the temple, and through David's attitude of obeying without excuses, it emphasises the need for the wisdom to understand what God's will is.

When God refuses our plans or sends us suffering, we must not complain and abandon our faith. Why do we need a mature faith like David's, one that hears God's voice, immediately gives up its own will and gives thanks?