Submit Your Plans to God
In today’s Bible reading* David realizes that he will never complete his plans. He had planned to build a temple to house the Ark of the Covenant.
The Ark of the Covenant was the box that Moses built for transporting the Ten Commandment Tablets, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s budded rod. This was the box with the two angels on the top, facing each other covering their faces as they bowed before the presence of the Lord on the Mercy Seat. God lived on the Mercy Seat. This box had been carried for forty years as the people of Israel wandered in the desert. This box was carried into battle. This box was captured by the Philistines as one of the spoils of war. It was later returned to God’s people as they realized that their god was powerless before the God of Israel. (1 Samuel 6)
David planned to give the Ark of the Covenant — and all of the utensils used in the Tabernacle — a permanent home in Jerusalem, never again to be set up in a temporary tent. David had such plans! He had the desire. And he had the means to do it!
1 Chronicles 29 lists one hundred tons of gold and two hundred, fifty tons of silver from his personal collection. To compare with a modern-day equivalence, at the close of business on May 18, 2021, the value of David’s donation of gold would be just shy of $5.5 Billion. His donation of silver would be worth over $205 Million.
But God said, “No.” David had blood on his hands, even though God had forgiven his sin. David wouldn’t be able to build the Temple for the God Whose heart he sought, the One he loved more than life itself. God’s plans always prevail. (Proverbs 19:21)
Many plans are in a person’s heart,
but the Lord’s decree will prevail.
Proverbs 19:21 (CSB)
Application
Like David, you may spend a lifetime making plans. You may even have plans to do great things for God. But not all of your plans are God’s plans. God’s ways are higher than your ways and His thoughts are higher than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)
David had to submit his plans to God’s desires. He knew God didn’t want him to build the Temple; Solomon would have the honor of completing David’s plans.
If you feel that God has given you a grand plan, praise God for that. But continue to pray about it. Seek wise counsel from other Believers. Make your plans. But submit every detail to God.
* Chapters covered in today’s reading:
1 Chronicles 27
1 Chronicles 28
1 Chronicles 29
Psalms 68