Would You Still Build It?

While reading today in 1 Chronicles today I came across the story of David giving instructions to Solomon to build the temple. As I was reading, I could only think of how this charge must have appeared to Solomon. Several times it is recorded David tells Solomon to be strong. David knew the enormity of the task before his son. I wonder how David felt knowing not only the responsibility he was passing to Solomon, but also knowing God had forbidden him to complete the task personally. David knew he was loved by God. He was chosen out of all his fathers sons to be the king. He was also aware that because of his sin, he was not to build the temple. Of all David's sons, God told him it was to be Solomon who would build the temple. I wonder how long David kept this information to himself before he shared the plans with Solomon. Did he also pray Solomon would have wisdom in how to complete the construction of something so sacred.

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.10 Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.”

11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat;12 and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things;13 also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the articles of service in the house of the Lord.14 He gave gold by weight for things of gold, for all articles used in every kind of service; also silver for all articles of silver by weight, for all articles used in every kind of service;15 the weight for the lampstands of gold, and their lamps of gold, by weight for each lampstand and its lamps; for the lampstands of silver by weight, for the lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand.16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of the showbread, for each table, and silver for the tables of silver;17 also pure gold for the forks, the basins, the pitchers of pure gold, and the golden bowls— he gave gold by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls, silver by weight for every bowl;18 and refined gold by weight for the altar of incense, and for the construction of the chariot, that is, the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

19 “All this, ” said David, “the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans.”20 And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God— will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.21 Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and every willing craftsman will be with you for all manner of workmanship, for every kind of service; also the leaders and all the people will be completely at your command.” 1 Chronicles 28:9-21

How big is the task God has given to you? Personally I feel that I live day by day in trying to go where He directs me to go and do what He directs me to do. Most days I fail terribly. As I read the above scripture I thought of how I would feel if I had written out before me the specific instructions of each step God wanted me to take. Would the enormity of it overwhelm me? Would I have the courage, like Solomon, to accept the task and follow step by step (or ounce by ounce/inch by inch) just as obediently as Solomon? In other scriptures are even more detailed instructions for the construction of the temple than are listed here. Every part of the temple was to be made with an exact design and decoration. There was nothing overlooked. The same is true of the plans God has for each one of us. Nothing surprises Him. He has not overlooked any area of our lives. Do we trust Him with courage and strength or do we doubt and try to change the plans to fit our own designs?