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The Beginning of the End
I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my
own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken,
by them I will be held in honor.” In addition to David’s reprimand,
the Lord also added rebuke. Because of her pride and arrogance,
Michal “had no child to the day of her death.”
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Nation Freed From Idolatry
The moving of the ark had made a lasting impression on the
people of Israel, again lighting their love for Jehovah. David tried to
deepen these impressions. He made songs a regular part of religious
worship, and he composed psalms for the people to sing as they
traveled to the annual feasts. The influence of these things resulted
in freeing the nation from idolatry. Many of the surrounding peoples
came to think favorably of Israel’s God who had done such great
things for His people.
David had built a palace for himself, and he felt that it was not
fitting for the ark of God to be housed in a tent. He determined
to build a temple for it beautiful enough to show how much Israel
appreciated the abiding presence of Jehovah their King. When he
told the prophet Nathan about his plans, he received the response,
“Do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”
But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, giving
him a message for the king. David was not to have the privilege of
building a house for God, but he was given an assurance of God’s
favor: “The Lord tells you that He will make you a house. ... I will
set up your seed after you. ... He shall build a house for My name,
and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
God explained the reason David was not to build the temple:
“You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall
not build a house for My name. ... Behold, a son shall be born to
you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his
enemies. ... His name shall be Solomon [peaceful], for I will give
peace and quietness to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for
My name.” (
1 Chronicles 22:8-10
).
Though the cherished purpose of his heart had been denied,
David was grateful for the message. He knew that it would be an
honor to his name to perform the work he had planned to do, but he