A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART
1 Chronicles 17:16-27
It came from good motives, this desire of David to build a Temple for God. “How can I live well while the God who has done so much for me dwells in a tent?” But the thought came from values that are not God’s values. God’s glory is not expressed by physical buildings and other things that are precious to man. As David quickly learned and expressed in his prayer, God’s glory is in who he is. He is the God who is true to his promises, faithful to his people, awesome in his power, yet loving and generous towards those who are called by his name.
God nevertheless is pleased with David’s intentions. It came from a good place, wanting to express his love and gratitude. And God responded by promising to establish the house of David. Though he did not know it then, David’s name is forever honoured because Jesus was a descendent of David and this Son of David is the one who established the eternal house of God in all of us who believe.
Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men. “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, Lord. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises. “There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.”
When you examine David’s relationship with God you will see not the greatness of David but the greatness of God. David’s key quality is his genuineness before God. Paul, in Acts 13:22, told us that God said of David, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ And God responds to David’s genuineness and is pleased to bless him, even bestowing on him an honour that is unparalleled.
This genuineness before God is something that we can learn in our relationship with our God. Then perhaps you may wonder in your heart, “How can I live well, while the God who has so blessed me dwells in a small corner in my life.”