Level 2, Lesson 7

Your Plan or God's?

Originally published by Ernest Manning's Radio Sunday School Mission

This lesson is based on the Scripture found in

1 Chronicles 17:1-12; 22:2-17; 28

King David sat in his house thinking. It was a beautiful house, as a king’s house ought to be. It was built of cedar wood. No one had so fine a house as David.

Even God’s house, which we would call the church, but which David’s people called the tabernacle, was a tent-house. Of course it was beautiful, but it was not like a strong fine house of cedar wood.

“It’s not right,” said King David to himself.  “I live in a fine house of cedar, but God’s house is a tent-house. God’s house shall be the most beautiful of all.”

As he sat thinking King David made a plan. He would build a house of God. It would be called the “Temple.” It would be built of the finest cedar wood that could be found. It would be furnished with the most beautiful furniture that could be made. It would be so large that people in all countries would hear of it and say, “What a fine temple King David has built!”

King David called Nathan, who was God’s messenger, and told him of his plan.

But Nathan shook his head. “Your plan is not God’s plan,” he said. “God does not want you to build his house. His plan is for your son to build the temple.”

Now King David might have said, “I am king. I can do just as I please.” Or he might have said, “Very well, if I cannot have my own way I shall have nothing more to do with the temple.”

But King David did neither of those things. Instead he went himself to talk to God in prayer. He thanked God for all his love and care. He said he would be glad to give up his own way and help carry out God’s plan. He promised to help his son all he could.

And then King David began to get ready for the time when his son should be old enough to build the temple.

“He will need stones,” said David. And he had masons make ready fine stones for the building.

“He will need many fine cedar trees, and strong nails,” said King David.  And he had his men prepare these things too.

“He will need beautiful vases and plates and bowls of gold and silver and brass to use inside the temple.”

When the time came for his son to begin building the temple, the king called the people together.

“My son is young,” he said, “and God’s house must be very beautiful. I am doing all I can to help make ready for the building. And now you must help him too.”

Not long after that David’s son became king. The people worked to help the new king carry out the plan King David had started, and the temple was built. And in all the country there was no building so fine or so beautiful as the temple, which was the house of God.

King David did what God wanted him to do, in the way God wanted him to do it. Waiting for God’s timing is very important. Sometimes we want things when it isn’t the right time. What a lesson to learn! "Not my plans but your’s, God."

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