But God said unto me,
You shall not build a house for my name, because you have been a man of war, and have shed blood.
All Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 28:3 Go To 1 Chronicles 28
John of Damascus
AD 749
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God; consider the outcome of their life and imitate their faith.” Emperors have not preached the word to you, but apostles and prophets, shepherds and teachers. When God gave commands to David concerning the house David intended to build for him, he said to him, “You may not build a house for my name, for you are a warrior and have shed blood.” “Pay all of them their dues,” the apostle Paul says, “taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.” Political prosperity is the business of emperors; the condition of the church is the concern of shepherds and teachers. Any other method is piracy, brothers. Saul tore Samuel’s cloak, and what was the consequence? God tore the kingdom away from him and gave it to David the meek.
