February 3

But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build for Me a house to dwell in? — 2 Sam 7:4-5 BSB

The Lord didn’t criticize David for his desire to build a temple for Him.

In fact, elsewhere God told David, "You did well that it was in your heart." If we have a desire to serve God in some way that is not His will for us, He is still pleased with our intention, even if He declines our offer.

There’s also a lesson here: each person has their own unique role in God’s work. David wasn’t meant to build the temple—that was Solomon’s task. But David had other important responsibilities. Part of David’s mission was to write hymns for the ancient Church. Who would argue that building a temple out of stone, gold, and cedar would have been more significant than writing psalms?

That grand temple is long gone, but David’s psalms are still living and sung around the world. We please God best when we accept and do joyfully the work He gives us.