[332 words]
King David, not long after establishing Jerusalem as Israel’s military, political and religious center, desired to build the Lord a house. His home of cedar was now complete, but the Ark of the Covenant still remained within a tent (2 Sam. 7:1-2). But the word of the Lord came to Nathan, and that word which was to be spoken to David was a divine denial to the king’s desire (2 Sam. 7:4ft). Although David’s desire to build the Lord a house was good, it was not His will for him to do so. That work would be accomplished later by David’s son Solomon. The Lord’s will for David, as I see it, was to rid the land of the enemy and broaden the borders of the Israelite kingdom. Was David disappointed? I’m certain he was, but he trusted God and quickly resumed the mission that God had called him to do (2 Sam. 8:1ff).
There are many good things we desire to do today relative to our kingdom labors. Programs, church-related activities, building projects, etc., are all good things, but they are not necessarily the most important things (for example, Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38ff). We must remember our mission as God’s people, and that mission is strikingly similar to David’s in that we are to go out and fight the enemy (Satan and sin) by evangelizing the lost and in so doing, broaden the borders of God’s kingdom, the church (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 14:23). Our Lord’s purpose for coming to earth was to “seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). And so should be our purpose! Maybe it’s not the Lord’s will that we build a fancy new facility in which to assemble or to implement the latest new program that is permeating our brotherhood. Maybe the Lord’s will for us, for me, is to simply do that which is most important—save souls!
Terry R. Townsend
Curry Church of Christ
Jasper, AL