Plans and Provisions
(1 Chronicles 26:12-32; 27:1-34; 28:1-21; 29:1-22)
David and Solomon
Artist Unknown
Having delegated priestly responsibilities among the Levites, King David supervised the appointment of officials, judges, military commanders and tribal leaders. Once this task was accomplished, David convened a meeting and presented a keynote address.
The king testified to the honor of the Lord and His covenant with Israel. He recounted his own desire to erect a suitable Temple in Jerusalem to house the Ark of the Covenant and pointed out how God had revealed to him that he would not possess that honor.
The Lord had chosen David’s son Solomon to build His Temple and to succeed David as king of Israel.
David concluded his speech by exhorting the children of Israel to faithfulness:
“So now, with God as our witness,
and in the sight of all Israel –
the Lord’s assembly –
I give you this charge.
Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God,
so that you may continue to possess this good land
and leave it to your children
as a permanent inheritance.”
Solomon Anointed as King
Next, David turned to Solomon with a patriarchal admonition:
“Solomon, my son,
worship God and obey Him
with all your heart and mind,
just as I have done.
He knows all your thoughts
and your reasons for doing things,
and so if you turn to Him,
He will hear your prayers.
But if you ignore Him,
He will reject you forever.
The Lord has chosen you
to build a temple for worshiping Him.
Be confident,
and do the work you have been assigned.”
(1 Chronicles 28:9-10, CEV, emphasis added)
What an instruction, containing a wondrous promise! Surely the Lord knows our thoughts, motives and intentions as well. Does He not reward faithfulness and obedience in our day too? Does David’s admonition to Solomon not ring true for us and prod us to seeking the Lord and following His lead?
Temple Plans Revealed
Perhaps astonishingly, the Lord revealed His plans for His temple to David, but He instructed Solomon to complete the work. How often does God give a prophetic word to one generation, unveiling a reality that will come to pass during a subsequent one?
Temple Materials Gathered
A careful king and thoughtful father, David deliberately oversaw the gathering of resources for the construction of God’s Temple. In fact, he contributed the lion’s share of the goods himself. The people responded to the king’s lead and followed his example, by willingly offering precious metals and monies for the Lord’s dwelling place. David’s model of faithful generosity demonstrates how a leader’s actions may inspire others as well.
Giving Glory to the Lord
With the resources amassed for the Temple project, David led the people in praising the Lord. His prayer also encouraged the people to cling to the Lord and to honor Him always. And he offered a special prayer and exhortation for Solomon.
“O our God, we thank You
and praise Your glorious name!
But who am I, and who are my people,
that we could give anything to You?
Everything we have has come from You,
and we give You only what You first gave us!
We are here for only a moment,
visitors and strangers in the land
as our ancestors were before us.
Our days on earth are like a passing shadow,
gone so soon without a trace.
O Lord our God,
even this material we have gathered
to build a Temple to honor Your holy Name
comes from You!
It all belongs to You!
I know, my God,
that You examine our hearts
and rejoice when You find integrity there.
You know I have done all this with good motives,
and I have watched Your people
offer their gifts willingly and joyously.
O Lord, the God of our ancestors
Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
make Your people always want to obey You.
See to it that their love for You never changes.
Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire
to obey all Your commands, laws, and decrees,
and to do everything necessary
to build this Temple,
for which I have made these preparations.”
(1 Chronicles 29:13-19, NLT, emphasis added)
What changes might we see in the church today, if we truly offered ourselves and all we have to the Lord? What might happen, if we sought His will in our every endeavor and fully devoted ourselves to serving and honoring God in every arena we enter?
May God grant us the desire, the strength and the ability to honor Him in all we do.
Will you pray with me?
O, Lord.
We do desire
To serve You
And to bring glory to You.
Plant a deeper desire
Within us
For Your holiness.
Hold us close to Your heart,
That we might hear Your voice more clearly
And learn Your truth.
Tell us Your secrets of love,
So that we will become
More fully devoted to You.
Teach us to love You,
Even as You have already loved us.
Amen.
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