The Mind of Christ

1 Chronicles 28:3 But God said to me, ‘You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.’

God is talking to king David, through the prophet Nathan. In this chapter, David is coming to the end of his life. So, he gathers all the people, both the elites and common people, and makes a decree that his son Solomon will not only build the temple to house the Ark of the Covenant (the presence of God) but only he (Solomon) will be the next King. Solomon was not the first born, so this does come as a shock to the people. Listen to what God tells us about Solomon in verses 6-7. It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father. Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day. This is echoed in Psalm 2:7, which says “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” The cool thing here is that in Psalms 2 it is talking about CHRIST! So you may be asking why does this make a difference?????

David who was a man “after God’s own heart” but was not able to build the Temple. This was because his hands were stained with blood and he was active in war. Solomon, who now becomes a prefigurment of Christ, is called to build the temple. So, the Holy Spirit inspires the authors to make this connection between 1 Samuel and Psalms 2 in order to show us that God will build the house of the Lord and He alone will establish his kingdom forever.

With man being born in sin and living in a fallen world, God must do the work necessary to build a kingdom that is without sin, death, and evil. God’s will is to be with His people and dwell forever with them (1 John 2:17) In order to accomplish this purpose the “better” King Solomon (Jesus) must descend and make a way for us. Jesus perfectly fulfills all that is necessary for us to live with Him for eternity. This prefigurment of the earthy temple being built was foreshadowing what the “new Heaven” would look like for His chosen people. Isaiah 65:17 says, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

God’s perfect plans are awesome, how He works through sinners to accomplish His goals and uses the things of creation to build a future that has a dwelling place suitable for His children. This is how gracious and how deeply God loves you and me. Luke 12:32 states, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” God loves you and makes a way for us to spend eternity with Him..live each day knowing your future is secure on account of Christ Jesus.