David had conquered. He had accomplished much and Israel was stronger for it. I'm sure that David felt on top of his game. He had the Lord's approval, he had a strong army, mighty men, wives, children....he was the man! In 1 Kings 5:3, Solomon speaks of something his father was not made for; "then Solomon sent to Hiram, saying: 'You know my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until the Lord put his foes, under the soles of his feet.'"
Could you imagine being David and laying what you had accomplished before the Lord, thanking him for it in Psalm after Psalm and begging and pleading for him to stay close to your side, and then be told, "Hold on there David, you are not the one to build my temple!" I know that I am taking some liberties here, but I have a feeling knowing David like we do from the stories that are recorded of him, he was disappointed to say the least.
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been working toward something harder than I have in a long time. I felt, I had the desire, ambition, and talent to pursue and begin an endeavor that I had nurtured. I spent time and energy, money and stress. I lost sleep and when the final verdict came in, it was a shock to find out that I was not the one. I was wallowing in a murky, dark, and cold abyss of disappointment. I did not handle the first days well. In fact, looking back with a few days hindsight, I was downright childish, bitter and immature. I started to look at everything that could be wrong with them instead of using it as a learning experience to examine and evaluate weaknesses in myself or even just the possibility of this not being a good opportunity for my family.
David was not perfect, but I did have to acknowledge that he handled disappointment well. If David had been a drama king it would have been easy for him to make a scene about not being able to build the temple. He could have pouted (I may have done a bit of this), stamped his feet (I may have hit a pillow), and threw an outright temper tantrum (I was perched precariously on the verge of this), but he did not. He threw all his desire into preparation....prep for something else, for someone else and for the benefit of his son and his people. In 1 Chronicles 22, David calls Solomon his son to him and tells him how he has chosen to manage his disappointment in not being the one.
5 Now David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it.” So David made abundant preparations before his death.
6 Then he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. 7 And David said to Solomon: “My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the Lord my God; 8 but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon,[a] for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will behis Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ 11 Now, my son, may the Lord be with you; and may you prosper, and build the house of the Lord your God, as He has said to you. 12 Only may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the Lord charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed. 14 Indeed I have taken much trouble to prepare for the house of the Lord one hundred thousand talents of gold and one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond measure, for it is so abundant. I have prepared timber and stone also, and you may add to them. 15 Moreover there are workmen with you in abundance: woodsmen and stonecutters, and all types of skillful men for every kind of work. 16 Of gold and silver and bronze and iron there is no limit. Arise and begin working, and the Lord be with you.”
I had to realize that this was not God wanting me to fail. This was God teaching, molding and showing me to trust, learn and wait. I am sure more opportunities will avail themselves to me, I will triumph in some and I will fail in some but no matter my Lord is good. I will repeat after David,
"For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? God is my strength and power, and he makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me in high places." 2 Samuel 22:32-34
I am training myself to channel my disappointment into preparation. I am obviously not building a temple, which is a good thing, because I'm not sure I could ever come up with all that gold and silver, but I am preparing for the next thing in my way that the Lord makes perfect.
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