When David was settled in his palace, he summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant is out there under a tent!”
Nathan replied to David, “Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.”
But that same night God said to Nathan… 1 Chron 17:1-3

Good intentions cannot replace God’s will.

David’s heart was right. He wanted to build a beautiful place of worship for God. He didn’t think it fair for him to live in a nice palace while the Ark was in a tent – the tabernacle.

The Prophet Nathan’s heart was in the right place. He told David to do it!

Even though your heart may be in the right place; even though what you have planned is something good, it may not be the perfect will of God.

That is why it is always good to seek God and wait on Him.

It is written don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Rom 12:2

Did David want to build God a temple just because other nations had built their [false] god’s a temple?

In the dialogue that followed (1 Chron 17:3-14) God explained His perfect will.

Don’t do something for God just because it seems like a good thing to do. Pray and seek God; let Him transform the way you think and then you will know the perfect will of God for your life!