The Detailed Architect

God is a happy perfectionist (Matthew 5:48). His weights, dimensions, and timing are perfectly planned, plotted, and performed.

He sets the precise pressure laid on our souls in every season: never too heavy, never too light.

He sets the precise measure of the valleys and peaks along the way: never too low, never too high.

He sets the precise timing of our drought and our deliverance: never early, never late.

Our God is a God of the details.

David knew this well. He gave Solomon his blueprint for the temple, including plans for the inner chambers (1 Chronicles 28:11), the outer courts (1 Chronicles 28:12), the service schedule (1 Chronicles 28:13), and the precise weight of every object (1 Chronicles 28:14-16)—all the way down to the bowls, forks, and cups (1 Chronicles 28:17).

At first, it seems like David himself obsesses over the details. But at the end of his charge, David makes clear that the weight of the utensils came from divine counsel:

“All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the LORD, all the work to be done according to the plan.” (1 Chronicles 28:19)

This is the Father who numbers the hairs on our head (Matthew 10:30). This is the King who tells eagles where to fly (Isaiah 46:11). This is the Author who has in his book every one of the days formed for us (Psalm 139:16). It’s no surprise that this God had a plan for the forks and the spoons of his house.

God cares about the details.

And he is as precise with the measures of his new temples as he was with the first (2 Corinthians 6:16).

He can’t give us an exaltation too early. He can’t give us a peak too high. He can’t give us a calling too light.

The hard thing is that humans rarely agree in the moment with God’s measures. We can’t see what he sees. The burden he gave seems too heavy. The valley he allowed appears too low. The rescue he promised feels too late. In almost every case, we would have chosen different dimensions.

We forget that if we could see what the Architect sees, we wouldn’t touch the blueprint.

“He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.” (1 Chronicles 28:20)

The Perfect Planner walks with people who are imperfectly living in it. From the start to the end, he sticks with us. When we feel daunted by his dimensions, he stands by us. He carries us through with love beyond measure (Ephesians 3:18-19).

If divine love drew the dimensions of our lot, then we can say with David, even through seasons of dreadful confusion, "I trust in you ... My times are in your hand" (Psalm 31:14-15). Soon we will find, from a higher view, that what felt painful in the moment was the pleasant plan of a Father who couldn’t help but work for our good (Hebrews 12:11; Romans 8:28).