What Has God ‘Written’ Upon You?

A Grandiose Scene

What a scene it was!

Now David assembled all the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem: the leaders of the tribes, the officers of the divisions of those ministering to the king, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, the stewards over all the property and livestock of the king and his sons with the eunuchs and the fighting men and all the brave warriors (1 Chronicles 28:1).

And what was the reason for this assemblage? Verses 2-3 tell us:

So King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, a footstool for the feet of our God, so I prepared to build it. But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have spilled much blood.’”

No, David would not build the Temple; his son Solomon would. David then explained the Temple’s building plans to his distinguished guests (vv. 11-18). Next, knowing that some among them would question the source of these plans, David declared: “All this, the Lord made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the works of this pattern.”

God’s “Writing”

We know that David actually handed to Solomon the plans for the Temple (v. 11), so there was a written form of them. Verse 19, both in the above NASB version and several others, could make it appear as if God had given David written instructions, but I doubt it.

Rather, and far more wonderfully, I am certain that God “placed” the Temple plans deep into David’s consciousness and also gave him the aptitude to comprehend what he had just received. David, with such a clear vision and discernment regarding the Temple plans, then diagrammed them (either by himself or a scribe) on papyrus or animal skins, and handed them to his son.

But clearly, though Solomon received all the credit for overseeing the construction of the Temple, it was his father David who actually received the vision of it from God. In describing God’s “transmitting” of the Temple vision to him, David writes, “All this, the Lord made me understand in writing by His hand upon me …” (v. 19).

Written on Your Heart

I absolutely love this imagery! I believe God does give His people today a “vision” of how He wants us to serve Him, but I would change the word “vision” to “direction.” According to Ephesians 2:10, all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ “are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

I believe these “good works” which God has “prepared” for us, are what He has “written” upon our hearts, souls, and minds. Think of it as writing with a pen on a lone piece of paper, even if it is but a grocery list. It is just you and that piece of paper, you of single mind jotting down the very specific items you intend to purchase, no unneeded or excessive entries allowed.

In the same way, you are that lone piece of paper upon which God relays His instructions and plans for you. Upon you He has “written” that area of ministry He would have you pursue.

Do you have a heart for children, for teaching and nurturing them? God has tenderly and precisely “written” that upon you. Do you have a heart to share the Gospel in the Far East? God has “written” that into the deepest resources of your heart. Do you have a heart to visit the sick and needy and to pray long hours for them? God has “written” that into your inner being.

And just as the Lord gave David understanding of what He had “written” upon him, so God will give you the ability to accomplish that which He has “written” upon you to do.

So, what is the spiritual desire of your heart? If you are a child of the Lord God, be assured that He has “written” this desire upon you, and He has done so with great care, preciseness, and love!