Great plans

David had decided that he needed to build a house for God. He envisioned a great temple, very ornate, a tribute to the One who had been with David since his youth. It was indeed a great plan. And, if you know the story, it was built, but not by David. Rather, God told David through Nathan the prophet that David's son would be the one to build the temple.

Many of us would have crumbled at that point. We want to do what we want for our Lord when we want to do it. We pray for it. And we know that God answers prayers. But it has been said that God answers our prayers in three ways: yes, no, or wait. We love it when He answers, "Yes!" We understand (and are secretly disappointed) when He says, "No." But I think we really chafe at the bit when He says wait. Patience is a virtue that is missing in many of our lives. We need to look at David's response when Nathan told him that Solomon would be the temple builder. We find it 2 Samuel 7:18-29.

Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD, and he said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD , and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. And this is the custom of man, O Lord GOD. Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD! For the sake of Your word, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness to let Your servant know. For this reason You are great, O Lord GOD; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods? For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God. Now therefore, O LORD God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do as You have spoken, that Your name may be magnified forever, by saying, `The LORD of hosts is God over Israel'; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. For You, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made a revelation to Your servant, saying, `I will build you a house'; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You. Now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant. Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken; and with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever."
(2 Samuel 7:18-29, NASB)

David's response was simply to acknowledge that God is faithful and to trust that His will is best. I think we should be more like this "man after God's own heart."