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17 Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains.
2 Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.
3 And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
4 Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in: (1 Chronicles 17:1-4)
David truly was a man after God's own heart.
David desired to build God a grand temple far better than his own kingly palace.
A good desire- a humble response for the blessings God had given him.
God told him no.
But God had promised his people including David that he would not withhold any good thing from them
Yet he said no to this good thing.
God’s definition of good and ours are often not the same.
We know what we want. He knows what we need
Children sometimes pitch fits trying to get what they think is something really good. But a good parent must often stand firm against the onslaught because they know the child doesn’t need it right now- if at all
David could’ve bucked up and copped an attitude. Argued. Had a pity party. Rebelliously built the temple anyway because he felt he’d earned the right to do so.
The biggest problem in our world isn’t drugs and alcohol. It’s not finances or politics. It’s not the bless me attitude of People.
The biggest problem is we don’t like that two letter word- no.
Sinners march to make society accept their ways as normal
Saints pound heaven with prayer requests trying to get their blessings.
Political folks argue endlessly to get what they want and consolidate their power.
Every conflict (big or small, argument or war) is at its core a refusal of one side to accept no.
Every cheating spouse, every drug addict, every gay got where they are because they decided to not accept no
It’s all about making our world bend to our will.
Most folks won’t follow God biblically because God doesn’t bend to our will.
God doesn’t show us love by giving in to us.
He shows his love by telling us no.
But he blesses us when we accept it.
Look at what he gave David for his humble acceptance
Look at how Ella was blessed for hers!
Then there’s Jesus in the garden: “let this cup pass from me.” Matthew 26 30-
The spirit of God told the perfect man Jesus- no!
Because saying yes to that humble request would’ve doomed all of humanity to hell!
But it’s deeper than that:
The human Jesus had to learn and grow just as we do. He was tempted just as we are- but never sinned.
He had to accept as a child the will of his human parents when they said no to his request.
He had to accept the will of his Heavenly Father when his simple heart felt prayers were answered with a no.
All of it prepared him for his ministry and his ultimate purpose. To buy back humanity with his own blood.
All along the way his flesh was told and had to accept- no.
But his no’s paved the way for the greatest thing anyone has ever or will ever do- salvation for mankind
Our no’s if we accept them, paved the way for us to humbly walk into and fulfill the purpose of God for our lives.
