Why would obeying God in war disqualify David from building the temple? (1 Ch22:8)
1 Chronicles 22:8 says, "But this word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight." (God talking to King David).
1 Chronicles 22:2 - 5
ESV - 2 David commanded to gather together the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. 3 David also provided great quantities of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing.
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Tim Maas
Supporter
If God would set aside David, who was described as a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), it graphically illustrates how precious all human lives are to God -- even those that are viewed as justifiably taken in His service. It further teaches us that the church (of which the temple was a forerunner) should be built by Christ, the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6), and that it should be gathered and built up, not by might or power, but by God’s Spirit (Zechariah 4:6), and by the preaching of the gospel of peace. Also, in multiple passages in the prophecy of Amos, God condemned other nations for behavior similar to that exhibited (for example) by David toward the conquered Ammonites. And, in addition to any other considerations, Solomon implies (in speaking to Hiram, king of Tyre in 1 Kings 5:3) that David's wars -- which included those not only against external enemies, but also against those of his own house (i.e., Absalom) -- left him no leisure for other work.
Shirley H
Supporter
2 Samuel 7:56: "Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus says the Lord, would you build a house for me to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and a tabernacle.'" 2 Samuel 7:12,13: "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." This is the covenant that God made with David. David was a man after God's own heart. David knew that the Lord was with him. He had a personal relationship with the Lord. David wrote in Psalm 61:4, "I will abide in your tabernacle forever: I will trust in the shelter of your wings." Wow, his faith! David's reign is detailed in 2 Samuel 9 thru 1 Kings 2. The victories of David's warfare detailed in 1 Chroniicles 18:7,8,10. In 1 Chronicles 29:2 - 5, there is a list of the spoil that David had gathered for the construction of the temple. So, actually, in a way, David did build the temple. In ancient days, temples or palaces were not constructed in times of war. Building was done when a country or land was at rest. 2 Chronicles 2:12: "...Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, for he has given King David a wise son, endowed with prudence and understanding who will build a temple for the Lord and a royal house for himself." In 1 Chronicles chapter 28, David gave instructions to Solomon on how to build the temple. 1 Kings 6:14: "So Solomon built the temple and furnished it." Psalm 81:13: "Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways." Do you hear God calling His people today?
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