1 Chronicles 17 Nathans Oracle
David has a desire in his heart to do something great. He wants to build the temple for God and the Ark of the Covenant. After receiving the go ahead from Nathan, I am sure he had to be pumped. He has all of the political backing and his recent treaty with Hiram made it possible for him to get the supplies needed. But during the night God comes to Nathan and tells him that David is not going to be the one to build the temple. Instead one of David’s sons is going to do this. There is no blame in Chronicles for David’s warrior-ness or blood on his hands. Instead, we see how God magnifies David through his son just as the God of Abraham will be magnified by His son.
Let me explain:
You want to be a major league baseball player. That is a great goal and one I support as your dad. So, we can say that it is our goal to have a Glotfelty in the MLB. It would be a great thing if I could be a MLB player. It would be sweet and we would have an amazing life. But, if you become a MLB player, now I get to be the father of a son who saw a dream and helped him to achieve it. A Glotfelty is in the MLB! Now I am proud to see you play and we both achieved our goal. I am not less because you did it. I am more.
Therefore David is not less because he does not build the temple, he is more. He is honored to have his name do something great which he wanted to do. In the same way God sends His son Jesus. God is showing His people a new level of his greatness. He was already esteemed by the nation of Israel, but God the Father does not save his people. He leaves that to His Son. This does not lessen God the Father; it is makes Him even greater than they had previously understood. When they are both working for the same goal; a son always increases the father’s honor.
Dad Devotional 