Observation: David makes "abundant preparations" for building the temple, which includes gathering labor, supplies, and plans. However, he is not to build the temple, as the Lord himself has declared that Solomon - a king who will be blessed by peace - is the one who will build it. And these two sentences ... are in contradiction with each other.
The Lord himself has declared that Solomon is the king who will be worthy and wise enough to build the house of the Lord. Yet David then describes Solomon as "young and inexperienced" and thus takes on all the responsibilities of either procuring or creating ... gold, silver, bronze, stone, iron, wood, slave labor, Levitical structure, and plans. He does this because Solomon is inexperienced.
This would be a good time to note that ... David has never built a temple ... he in fact never (I believe) established a new a city. David is old, but he has no more experience than Solomon in the area of gathering raw goods or overseeing construction. It is wonderful that David wishes to honor God and wants to do what he can, but his actions weren't really necessary. Solomon would also have God on his side, and he therefore could figure this project out as well.
Application: I would be well-served, every time I think that I am the most qualified, most knowledgeable, most experienced person who can therefore best to task, to ask myself ... really? Have I really even done this before?
The person best qualified for a task is likely the one the Lord himself has decided should do a task, and thus will provide wisdom, knowledge, and guidance as necessary. That may be me. It may not be me.
Solomon was best qualified to build the temple because the Lord decided so. Maybe David was best qualified for gathering resources, but not because of a deficiency in Solomon. Likewise, maybe I'm the most qualified to do a task, not because of a deficiency in others, but only because the Lord has decided so.
Prayer: Lord, I ask you this morning for the humility I should have when deciding what to do this day and every day. May I do the tasks you have set forth for me, and make room for others to do the tasks you have set forth for them. I am not most qualified to do everything or to think everything, especially those things like addressing the social issues of our day. Only you are truly qualified to solve our problems, and you will give perfect your guidance as you wish. May I honor that. Amen.
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