Human Government (11) - David and the Temple

When David had defeated all the enemies around Israel he decided to build a house for God. That night the word of the Lord came to Nathan and he “reported to David all the words of this entire revelation” (2 Sam 7:17). God said that he did not want any king to build him a house.

Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" (2 Sam 7:7).

God did not want any king to build him a dwelling place, because unlike the God’s of the nations, he was not confined to once place.

David was told that could not build a temple because he had blood on his hands. Solomon had blood on his hands too.

Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down and killed him. The kingdom was now firmly established in Solomon's hands (1 Kings 2:46).

His actions made him unfit to build a temple for God. The truth is that every king has blood on his hands, because that is how all kings maintain their power. Therefore no human king can ever build a dwelling place fit for God to dwell in.

God never asked Solomon to build him a house. Solomon did this on his own initiative. God referred to it as “this temple, which you have built” (1 Kings 9:3). God responded graciously, because he loved Solomon, but a temple of cedar and stone was not his will. Solomon was wrong to build a temple of stone, because this promise was not for him to fulfil. That is why the stone temple eventually had to be destroyed. God would never have allowed the temple to be destroyed if it really was him home.

Jesus would fulfill the promise made through Nathan.

He is the one who will build a house for my Name (2 Sam 7:13).

Jesus built a house for God to dwell in. By dying and ascending, he opened up the way for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Every believer would be a temple of the Holy Spirit. The entire body of Christ would be a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. The body of Christ is the only temple fit for the living God.

Human rulers must not control the body of Christ.