May 29

2 Samuel 7

David prepares for building a temple, but God tells him that David’s son will build it.

INSIGHT

With all his heart, David wants to build the temple of God. Yet because David is a man of war, God reserves that privilege for David’s son Solomon, whose very name means “peace.” While David cannot actually build the temple, he does draw the plans and begins amassing the materials. And Solomon’s job is much easier because of David’s work. In fact, the Lord commends David’s deep desire to build the temple even though he is not permitted to do so (see 2 Chronicles 6:8.). There may be things in your heart that you would like to do for God that you cannot do. Even so, it is good that it is in your heart to want to do them.

PRAYER

Praise the Lord that He rewards us because of our motives:
“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!
Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested” (Revelation 15:3-4).
One cried to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
My little children, these things I write to you,
that you may not sin. And if anyone sins,
we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins,
and not for ours only but also for the whole world (1 John 2:1-2).
o Pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• Faithfulness in sharing Christ
• The Lord’s work in world affairs
• Whatever else is on your heart

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 7:12).