Sun.’s Devo - A Place for the Temple

Read: 2 Sam. 24; 1 Chron. 21:18-end of chapter 22
Satan tempted David to number the people so he would have an account of how large his kingdom was. Did not God tell Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the sands of the sea and stars of the sky…that they would be uncountable? So God was not happy with David’s pride. Joab was sent to do the undesirable deed. He had to obey orders but he didn’t finish the job because he knew it was wrong and was disgusted with David. He found that David had 1,570,000 men who could fight.
Afterwards, David felt convicted and God was there to dole out his punishment. He gave him three choices in which David chose the one where God would be the adversary since he knew the great mercy of the Lord. So God sent a three-day plague. It swept the nation and when it got to Jerusalem, they could actually see it coming. God stopped it right at Araunah’s field where he was threshing wheat. David must have been following the plague because he saw the plague stop and heard the Lord say that this mountain was the ground he had chosen to place his temple. David bought it from Araunah for 600 pieces of gold. David offered a sacrifice and God answered in fire. An angel with a sword watched over the land which scared David so much he didn’t return to worship God there.
Instead, David went about preparing for Solomon to build his temple. He started storing up stone, nails, wood, gold silver, iron and bronze. He lined up the stonecutters, carpenters ad craftsmen. He gave Solomon instructions and wisdom in how to build and lead the nation.
David prepared for the next generation; he did not just live for himself. We can do the same thing, not only in our finances but most importantly in our prayers. We can pray for our grandchildren and their spouses. We can help train them in righteousness.
Lately, I have seen 4:44 on the clock so many times it is comical. I found a scripture for it. Isaiah 44:3-4 “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.”
Lord, may you dwell in our temple today.