It all made perfect sense. Yes, while the people of Israel were wandering through the desert it made sense for all the things necessary to carry out the worship of God to be housed in a moveable tent, just like the rest of the people. And before they had a king, it still made sense for the place of God’s worship to be able to move from place to place within the Promised Land, as different judges from different parts of the country rose up from generation to generation to rule the people.

But at this point in his life, David had finally put down all rebellion against his authority, and he ruled without question or opposition (v. 1). With his kingdom firmly established, it was obviously time to put down roots. He had already selected Jerusalem as his capital city, and he already had a house to live in, with walls lined in good-smelling cedar (v. 2). The next logical step would be to replace the Tabernacle with something more permanent. Yes, it all made perfect sense.

And we often make decisions about the worship of God in the same, logical, common-sense way, don’t we? What kind of music and art do the people like? What kind of room would be most comfortable and attractive for the worshippers? Which translation of the Bible is most understandable to those who come to hear the Word of God? These are all good and necessary questions, but as today’s passage indicates, they are all of secondary importance.

For instead of charging ahead with what seemed to him like a good idea at the time, God responded to David’s proposal with a simple question – “Did I speak a word” about this? In other words, the first question we should ask is not what we want in worship, but what God wants.

Now, it did turn out that God wanted David to build Him a Temple. And God probably wants us to do a lot of things we are doing in worship as well. But since worship is, after all, for God – to please Him and to bring Him glory – doesn’t it make sense for us first to ask Him what He thinks about it? Instead of just being concerned with what music or architecture or liturgical elements will attract and please the people, shouldn’t we search God’s Word instead to learn how God wants us to worship Him?

And who knows? Maybe if we start with God’s ideas, maybe if we’ll put a priority on how finding out how God wants to be worshipped, we’ll find a way through the “worship wars” that have divided so many congregations, primarily over what kinds of music people prefer. Maybe putting God first in worship is the most practical thing after all.

II Samuel 7:1-11 (NAS)

Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,
2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains.”
3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the LORD is with you.”
4 But it came about in the same night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,
5 “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in?
6 “For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.
7 “Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'”‘
8 “Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be ruler over My people Israel.
9 “And I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.
10 “I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly,
11 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you.