Read 1
Chronicles 28-29 & John
11:47-57
To discover:
As you read consider what
qualities David displays.
To ponder:
David summonds and then addresses
those of 27v1 together with his mighty men and warriors. He repeats his
heartfelt concern to build “a house” as “a place of rest” for “the ark” –
signifying God’s presence. He is however clear that God cannot truly dwell in a
building. The temple is just a resting place for his feet, no doubt with God
himself in heaven (Is 66v1).
David then notes
God’s rejection of him as builder (see notes ch. 22), but marvels that he has chosen
him to be king and his son to sit on the throne, build the temple, and have an
everlasting kingdom “if” he continues to be unswerving in obeying God’s law. As
David knew the kingdom would ultimately endure because of God’s promise to him,
this must refer to it ceasing to exist for a time if its kings proved
unfaithful. With echos of Moses’ speeches in Deuteronomy, David then charges
his hearers to obey the law in order that they may possess and pass on the land
to their descendents “for ever” – ie. to generation after generation. All this
explained the lack of king and established kingdom to the post-exilic reader.
Turning to
Solomon, David’s charge then challenges us as to obedience. It is to
acknowledge God with “wholehearted devotion” and “a willing mind” because God
understands the heart and “every motive” (1 Cor 4v5). Now foreshadowning
Christ’s words, David promises if Solomon “seeks” to know God by these means,
God will be found by him (Matt 7v7). But if Solomon rejects him, he will be
rejected forever (Mk 8v28). If we would more intimately know the LORD, there is
no other way than with such devotion and obedience.
David
then passed Solomon detailed plans for the temple (28v11-18), bracketed by the
note “the Spirit” put them on David’s mind, and his comment that he had them
“in writing from the hand of the LORD upon” him. We are therefore to see them
as God given and so pleasing to him. Moreover, we see that inspiration can come
by Spirit-governed reflection, not just by vision or voice. David then urged
Solomon to “be strong and courageous” (Jos 1v6-9) and not be frightened or
discouraged from the work as the LORD would be with him throughout and the
various groups of people ready to play their part (28v21). Jesus’ promise to be
with his followers to the end of the age gives us the same reassurance as we
build his church (Matt 28v20).
Acknowledging
that the task of building a palace for God is a great one, and Solomon is young
and inexperienced, David notes the treasures he has given, commits to giving
more, and then asks who else will “consecrate” (ie. dedicate) himself to the
LORD, presumably by giving too. We then read his hearers “gave willingly,” and
“any” who had precious stones gave them. This giving was “free,” “wholehearted”
and “to the LORD,” and the people rejoiced to see it. And it moves those of us
who have more as these men did, to be so taken up with the building of the
church that we give to God with the same attitudes (2 Cor 8-9).
In response
David’s prayer affirms God should be praised: All greatness, power, glory,
majesty and splendour are his. Indeed, everything is his, and so wealth and
honour come from him. So David marvels that he and the people could give in
this way. He sees himself and the nation as “aliens and strangers” to God (Ps
39), perhaps implying they have no right to provision as family members might.
Moreover, their lives are fleeting and without hope. Yet “the abundance” from
which they’ve given has come from God (Jam 1v17). Do we marvel at his
generosity in the same way?
David then prays
God would “keep” the people’s desire to give so willingly “in their hearts
forever,” and grant Solomon the “wholehearted devotion” to obey him and build
the temple. If we understand our hearts rightly, we recognise only God can do
such things.
At David’s
command, all the people then praised God and fell prostrate before him and
David. The following day they then made numerous sacrifices and ate and drank
in fellowship with the LORD. In this context it seems Solomon was acknowledged
king for a second time (see 23v1) at which he was anointed “before the LORD,”
(presumably before the ark) and so set-apart for this role. His reign is
portrayed as one in which he prospered, Israel
obeyed him, and all united in their submission to him (29v24). Most
importantly, God exalted him. As only Saul and David had so far ruled Israel,
the affirmation that his splendour surpassed that of all Israel’s
previous kings should be understood as a turn of phrase intended to stress his
greatness. So the book concludes with David’s death and the baton passed with
great hope to Solomon.
Praying it home:
Praise God for so generously
providing for you materially. Pray that he would work in your hearts the
devotion and willingness to give generously to him and his work.
Thinking further:
None today.
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