Actions, Intentions

II Chronicles 6:3-9

"While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. Then he said: "Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who with His hands has fulfilled what He promised with His mouth to my father David. For He said, 'Since the day I brought My people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built for My Name to be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be the leader over My people Israel. But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule My people Israel.' 7. "My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a temple for My Name, you did well to have this in your heart. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, who is your own flesh and blood--he is the one who will build the temple for My Name.'"

Is it always, actions over intentions? Not exactly when it comes to the omniscient sovereign LORD. God looks at the heart, He does not see as humans do (I Sam 16:7) and so He commends David even by that alone; we ought to practice what we preach or at least what we believe, but we know there are many times we may stumble and struggle to measure up to the standards we set for ourselves, let alone God’s, this is why we need Christ for salvation and His Holy Spirit for sanctification (Rom 3:23). God loves us, and He delights in our intentions (v. 8) but He will be most glorified by our actions. Here, we also see that sometimes our plans are not what God has in mind, “in their hearts humans plan their course [even in the service of God like David thought], but the LORD establishes their steps (Prov 16:9)”. Ananias and the Apostle Paul learned this, that the LORD Jesus has His plans, He tells Ananias, “Go!” said the LORD. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name (Acts 9:15-16).” The stage had been set. King Solomon rightly acknowledges that the establishment of Israel and peace in his time “has been accomplished because of God’s faithfulness to His covenant, not because of anything that he or his father, David, has done. Since God brought His people out of Egypt, He has been faithfully working to fulfill His covenant to establish His people as a nation”, notes Living Life. It is God’s will and tender mercies that sustains us no matter what we plan or intend to do, what is in our hearts is counted towards our faithfulness in the eyes of God, our obedience and living in alignment to His sovereign will, which is understood through prayer, righteousness—close communication with God, glorified Him.