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Why King David Could Not Build the Temple

Why King David Could Not Build the Temple

Have you ever wondered why King David, who had such a heart for the Lord, was forbidden from building God’s temple?

God told the Israelite king, “You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight” (1 Chronicles 22:8 NIV84).

Yet God was the one who helped David kill Goliath and win victory after victory over the enemies of Israel. So why, if God empowered and blessed David to be successful in war, did He stop David from building the temple?

The answer is found in understanding the problem of sin, God’s solution for it, the purpose of the symbolic sacrificial system (temple services), and the limits of physical force.

 

Might and Power vs. God’s Kingdom

The problem of sin is a state of being; it is a condition of heart and mind that is out of harmony with God and His kingdom of love. Sin is rooted in lies that, when believed, break love and trust and result in fear and selfishness. Because of Adam, all of humanity has been infected with this terminal sin-condition – and all of humanity needs healing from it.

God’s kingdom is the kingdom of truth, love, and freedom. His plan of salvation does not to use might and force to destroy sin or even eradicate His enemies.

He could have wiped out Satan and all his angels more easily than you allowing a pebble to fall from your hand to the ground. But using force to kill enemies wouldn’t achieve God’s goal – because it can’t save sinners. In order to save sinners, God must destroy lies, eradicate fear, and eliminate selfishness from hearts and minds. Threats, physical might, and other coercive means cannot instill love, win friendship, eliminate fear, restore trust, or create loyalty. In other words, God can never win the war for our hearts and minds by the use of physical might.

Physical might has no power to cleanse hearts and minds, and it is limited in what it can righteously do. Physical might can only be used righteously to restrain evil:

  • A parent can use physical might to restrain a child from running into the street, but a parent cannot use might to force a child to love them.
  • A psychiatrist can use physical might to restrain a psychotic patient from harming themselves, but a psychiatrist cannot use might to force a patient to trust them.
  • A municipality can use physical might to restrain muggers and thieves, but it cannot use might to force the criminals to be honest people.
  • A nation can use physical might to restrain an invading army, but it cannot use might to force enemies to become friends.

God’s solution to sin is to:

  • Heal our hearts and minds (Psalm 51:10)
  • Circumcise our hearts by the Spirit (Romans 2:29)
  • Write His law in our hearts and minds (Hebrews 8:10)
  • Give us a new life of love (John 3:3)
  • Instill in us the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)
  • Take out the heart of stone and put in a tender heart (Ezekiel 36:26)
  • Turn His enemies into friends (Romans 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:18 GNT)

Might and power cannot achieve God’s goal of healing our hearts and minds. Might and power cannot instill trust, win to love, inspire loyalty, and create friends. This is why the Bible teaches that God’s plan is “not by might nor by power, but by [His] Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6 NIV84). And His Spirit is the Spirit of truth and love – truth presented in love and leaving us free. Why? Because love, trust, friendship, and genuine heart and mind transformation require our agreement, our choice, our cooperation. If God were to use divine might to force a change in our minds and hearts without our cooperation, our individuality would be erased; we would be overwritten and no longer exist. The only way for God to heal us while we retain our unique identity is for each of us to be won to trust in God and choose to participate with Him for our healing.

This is why the Bible says that every person must be fully persuaded in their own mind (Romans 14:5).

 

The Sanctuary System

The Old Testament temple service was designed by God to reveal His plan to heal humankind from sin. In Old Testament times, Satan inspired various nations to assail Israel in his attempt to destroy the people through whom the Messiah would come, those to whom God’s truths were entrusted. David could be used by God to use physical might to restrain these destructive forces, but such methods could not be used to heal hearts and minds. Therefore, David could not build the temple, for in doing so, it would misrepresent reality, suggesting that might and power are legitimate ways to save from sin.

No – the temple had to be built by someone who used the principles of God’s kingdom and who would accurately reveal Jesus, the One who would build God’s true temple (Zechariah 6:12, 13).

Yes – Jesus is the builder of God’s true temple, of which the Old Testament temple was merely a symbol, an object lesson. To be faithful to God’s reality, the temple, which represents the hearts and minds of people being restored to righteousness, could not be built by force, might, violence, and the killing of enemies; it could only be built by truth and love lived out, leaving people free to choose – that is, the methods of peace.

Thus, after God told David that he could not build the temple because he was a man of violence, He also promised him this:

But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever (1 Chronicles 22:9, 10 NIV84).

Solomon, a man of peace, could build the temple because only in truth, love, and freedom can God heal hearts and minds; might, force, violence, threats, and other forms of coercion can never do this.

Well would the church remember this lesson today: Might and power may restrain the enemies of God, but they can never turn enemies into friends.


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Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

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I have been confused for years about what [christianity] calls [its] most disgusting teaching. It has never made much sense to me and for that reason has been evermore empty. I have listened to your class off and on and have struggled determining what is truth, because of the resistance design law encounters in the church. So, I thank God for your ministry. What you teach makes sense. It’s logical and backed up by the power of love. I have never seen that in Christ until now. I am astounded by the insight that is found when we look at God’s ministry through design law. All strength to this message, as I believe it to be the power of God.

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Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

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When I was 9 years old, I remember setting at our devotional table with a hunger and thirst for God that wanted more, deeper, BETTER. I can remember literally crying and pounding on the table, “I know these teachers didn’t mean to give us error. They taught what THEY had been TAUGHT, but didn’t ANYBODY READ THE BOOK?!?!?” It mattered to me then. It mattered to me as a teenager. It matters now as I teach bible classes. It didn’t have to be so hard as I watched so many give up and lay God’s great plan and gift of salvation aside as being “impossible.” Then, a friend sent me a link to Come And Reason’s website. I grew excited. YES! FINALLY! Then another friend told me to stay away, saying her son had just broken up with a girl because she was involved with Come And Reason and that “Tim Jennings preaches a false gospel.” But, AFTER many years of developing an authentic and, dare I say FUN relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit I see this message has been around a LONG time, since the apostle Paul, Ellen White, Graham Maxwell, Ray Foucher, and yourself (though I admit, you’ve made me back up, rewind and replay the clips, and get out my well-worn Bible on a few things.) I’m so thankful I have found LIGHT during these DARK days. I am not alone.

Vicki DiNitto

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Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

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Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 55

I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

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I was so blessed by a friend who gave me your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” while I was sitting in church asking God to please help me learn more about Him and help me not to be so confused and scared. That was about 2 years ago. Your books have helped me to love God even more. I’m not confused or scared anymore! I have listened to all of your bible study classes and feel like I know the wonderful people that attend every week. Thank you for all that you’re doing in spreading the true message about God and His law of love. God bless you and your whole class.

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