Why You Have to Love my Readers … Reason #371

They offer ways to improve points I made in a book. Take this reader for example:

Hi. I’m reading JMBM of Brian’s and finding much to grapple with, and thoroughly enjoying the experience. Thank you.
In chapter 21, Brian is quoting from Tom Boomershine about using stories in isolation, but recommends ‘pairing’ stories.
As an example he uses David killing Goliath 1 Sam 17, and pairs it with David not being allowed to build the Temple because he is a violent man. He quotes 1 Kings 5.
It may seem a small point, but the same reason for David not being allowed to build the Temple is given in 1 Chron 22;8, and 1Chron 28;3. The passage Brian chose didn’t illustrate his point quite as well as the other ones.
The 1 Kings 5;3 almost paints David as passive, unfortunate, and just happened to be at war, so couldn’t fit in building the Temple during wartime. ‘You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the name of the Lord his God until the Lord put his enemies under his feet.’
However the two other passages quoted above seem to link his violent lifestyle, with his unsuitability to be the Temple builder 1 Chron 22;7-8

‘David said to Solomon:”My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the Lord my God. But this word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood, and 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.’

In my opinion this, and the other 1 Chron passage link the violence with his unsuitability to be the builder better than the 1 Kings 5 passage. Perhaps worth considering for future reprints/versions of the book, which I’m sure there will be a need for.
Please pass my thanks on to Brian for writing such a courageous book. Keep up the ‘fight’……the creative benevolent fight, that is.

Thanks. I’m blessed indeed to have such thoughtful and helpful readers.