1 Ch. 22: Build Here, Build Now

1 Chronicles 22:8 "But this word of the LORD came to me: '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."

Because of David's fear of the angel of the LORD at Gibeon, he decides to place the temple right there on the threshing floor of Araunah.

But God told David it wouldn't be his job to build the temple. Of course. And my impression from previous readings (2 Sa 7, entry) was that David had accomplished what God had him to do, according to God's will. David was not going to get the entirety of the glory. It was essentially a "because I said so" type of thing. While that may not be incorrect, it's not the whole story. 1 Chronicles 22 reveals that God does give a more concrete reason, at least one understandable by man. The reason is that David has shed much blood on the earth in God's sight, at least that is what he tells Solomon. 

Why would that be the reason? God charged David to shed that blood (blood that was not innocent), gave him the go-ahead. Wouldn't it sort of be a self-fulfilling prophecy? Did God (in addition to using David as an extension of His hand of judgment) intend for that to be a reason? From what I have read about God, there are no accidents. Why would God, a God of redemption by blood, not want David building the temple? What was the purpose of the temple going to be? A place where God would come and meet Israel, personally. The temple would reflect God's holiness and perfection. Bloodshed is violent, dirty and a different mindset. Perhaps it was this difference in purpose and mindset that exempted the Levites from military service so they could focus on the priesthood. David was a military leader, and a Judahite, and therefore was unfit for priestly things. I don't recall Solomon having a military record, and in fact, his reign was rather peaceful. It was cosmically not David's role. How could it be?

In spite of David's not being allowed to build the actual temple, he still goes ahead with making the preparations for materials and labor, citing Solomon's inexperience in these matters. David basically set up everything, short of laying the cornerstone. All Solomon had to do was set it in motion. Was Solomon offended? I don't know. He seems like a humble guy at first. He realized he didn't know anything, which was his reason for asking God for wisdom at the start of his regin in 1 Kings 3. But you could see how he would be. "My dad doesn't think I can handle it, so he set it all up for me." But David wasn't like that. David's blessings on his son at the end of the chapter reveal that David believes in Solomon, and has everything he could possibly give his son.