Of Kings, Temples, and Envy

I’ll admit, I had forgotten how boring Chronicles was. Usually I think of Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers as being hard to get through, but 1 Chronicles really had me slogging. I had already committed to writing a blog post and was thinking, “How in the world am I going to find something applicable in this somewhat repetitive narrative??” Of course, it was no fault of the text, I just wasn’t seeing it. Just as I was finishing up 1 Chronicles, the last couple chapters surprised me.

To give some context, David wanted to build the temple for Yahweh. It’s a great thing to want to do. I mean, God has been traveling around with them like a nomad in the tabernacle (essentially a giant, intricate, moveable tent). Now that Israel is settled in the promised land and they’ve acquired a bit of peace, David expresses his desire to build God a “house.” And the prophet, Nathan, pretty much tells him to go ahead. Obviously, it seems like a great gesture to him as well. However, that same night, the word of the Lord comes to Nathan and tells him, “Nah, I’m good.” Ok, it’s an extreme oversimplification. For the full convo, see 2 Samuel 7:1-17. It’s really beautiful, and God essentially expresses that David will not build a house for God, God is going to build David one. “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16) 

Now, let’s get back to the end of 1 Chronicles! In chapter 29, David is getting ready to “pass the torch” to his son, Solomon. God has already made it clear that Solomon will build the temple instead of David. Let’s just sit there for a second. I’m not sure about you, but that would probably make me a bit salty. This is KING DAVID we’re talking about! It’s not like he was trying to do something wrong. But God said no and Solomon will go down in history as the guy who built God’s temple. How do you respond when other people get “the win?” Do you outwardly cheer from the sidelines, but internally grumble and ask yourself, “why not me?” It’s tough. Especially when we have such a limited view of God’s plan. Especially when we feel like we’ve been obedient and sacrificial. Especially when we look at the other person and think, “why them?” It’s dirty and carnal to admit, but it’s true. Now, back to the text:

“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you” (1 Chronicles 29:14). David is addressing Israel. He was denied the honor of building the temple, but the writer of Chronicles goes into painstaking detail about all the provisions, plans, and offerings that David has put into place to set Solomon up for success. I had never noticed it before. David is not just sitting on the sideline clapping for Solomon, he’s actively sacrificing to make sure he does well. It was a smack in the face to my own selfishness, my own tendency to envy others’ success. But how? How can David be ok with it? It’s found in verse 14. David is not looking at himself and his own legacy and he’s not looking at Solomon and his. He’s looking at Yahweh. God sees the big picture. Everything we have is by Him and for Him. My humility and ability to put my brother or sister before myself doesn’t come by trying to conjure up feelings of piety. It comes by looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. It comes by recognizing that anything I have to offer is His to begin with! David didn’t fully understand why God chose Solomon over him and maybe I don’t either, but he understood that His ways are not our ways. However, we do have a bit of an advantage here in terms of hindsight. Once again, back to the text!

“And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels” (2 Chronicles 36:19). We fast forward to the end of Chronicles. The kingdom of Israel split into two, both Israel and Judah have a succession of wicked, idolatrous kings, with few bright spots along the way. The northern kingdom, Israel, is taken into captivity by the Assyrians. Eventually, the southern kingdom, Judah, is also exiled by the Babylonians. Jerusalem is in ruins, the temple is plundered and burned. It’s looking pretty bleak. But the story isn’t finished. God’s promise to David still stands. That covenant is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who was born into the line of David and whose reign will never end. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE TEMPLE? Well, we have to fast forward again.

“But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’” (Acts 7:47-50). The thing that struck me was that when I read about God allowing Solomon to build the temple instead of David, I was only looking at it from it’s immediate perspective. But when you take the whole narrative of redemption into account, how silly to think it was a slight for David. But isn’t that what I do in my own life? I can only see things from my small perspective. How freeing to trust in Yahweh, who orchestrated salvation for His people. How freeing to trust Him who preserved the line of David in the midst of exile and kept His covenant. But all of this is futile if we don’t end up at Calvary, where this whole narrative is pointing us.

In its immediate context, the cross is simply a tragedy. It’s unfortunate, cruel, and disappointing. The disciples didn’t understand that this was God’s plan all along. God would no longer dwell in a temple “made by hands.” Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, God now dwells within us. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Jesus paid the penalty for our own sin in His own body which renders the temple unnecessary. It is so humbling to confront the cross. I bring nothing to the table, in fact, I only contribute the sin which made the cross necessary¹. Jesus gets the “win.” Can I be content in that? Can you? David trusted God. He certainly didn’t have access to the big picture, but he trusted that God did. Be encouraged, dear Christian. Your service may never be acknowledged in this life. We can faithfully serve him because He already accomplished our salvation and is continuing His sanctifying work through the Holy Spirit.

¹ This is a paraphrasing of a quote that is largely attributed to Jonathan Edwards, but I could not find the specific work it’s found in. 

Blessings,
Rachel Orfe