Preparations For The Temple
October 27, 2021
Commentary
David was excited to start planning and preparing for the great work of building the temple (v. 1). He was not allowed to build it himself, but he wanted to do everything he possibly could to set his son Solomon up for success. When the Lord closes a door, instead of becoming discouraged or idle, we should still do whatever we can for Him. David hired foreigners and stone masons (v. 2), and he gathered a great supply of other materials before his death (vv. 3-5). David then called for Solomon (v. 6). He told him of his plan to build the temple and how the Lord had changed that plan (vv. 7-8). David had shed too much blood in securing his kingdom. Solomon was to be “a man of rest”, and the Lord would give him peace and quiet so that he could build the temple (vv. 9-10). The Lord would establish the royal throne forever. Where God gives rest, he expects work.
David prayed for Solomon that the Lord would keep his promise to help him build a temple (v. 11). He asked the Lord to give Solomon wisdom and knowledge so he could rule Israel according to His law (v. 12). David knew that if Solomon kept the laws of Moses, he would be successful (v.13). David told Solomon of the vast preparations he had made for this building (vv. 14-16). David also told the leaders to help Solomon (v. 17). He told how the Lord had defeated their enemies and given them peace on all sides (v. 18). He concluded that now was the time to set their minds and hearts on the task of building the temple for the name of the Lord (v. 19).
Application
Have you ever had the desire to do something but never got around to doing it? And then someone else came along and was able to do the exact thing you had wanted to accomplish? Did you rejoice with them? Like David, I want to be able to rejoice in other’s successes and set them up for success.
1 Chronicles 22:1– 19 (NET)
1 David then said, “This is the place where the temple of the Lord God will be, along with the altar for burnt sacrifices for Israel.”
2 David ordered the resident foreigners in the land of Israel to be called together. He appointed some of them to be stonecutters to chisel stones for the building of God’s temple. 3 David supplied a large amount of iron for the nails of the doors of the gates and for braces, more bronze than could be weighed, 4 and more cedar logs than could be counted. (The Sidonians and Tyrians had brought a large amount of cedar logs to David.)
5 David said, “My son Solomon is just an inexperienced young man, and the temple to be built for the Lord must be especially magnificent so it will become famous and be considered splendid by all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for its construction.” So David made extensive preparations before he died.
6 He summoned his son Solomon and charged him to build a temple for the Lord God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon: “My son, I really wanted to build a temple to honor the Lord my God. 8 But this was the Lord’s message to me: ‘You have spilled a great deal of blood and fought many battles. You must not build a temple to honor me, for you have spilled a great deal of blood on the ground before me. 9 Look, you will have a son, who will be a peaceful man. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. Indeed, Solomon will be his name; I will give Israel peace and quiet during his reign. 10 He will build a temple to honor me; he will become my son, and I will become his father. I will grant to his dynasty permanent rule over Israel.’
11 “Now, my son, may the Lord be with you! May you succeed and build a temple for the Lord your God, just as he announced you would. 12 Only may the Lord give you insight and understanding when he places you in charge of Israel, so you may obey the law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will succeed, if you carefully obey the rules and regulations which the Lord ordered Moses to give to Israel. Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! 14 Now, look, I have made every effort to supply what is needed to build the Lord’s temple. I have stored up 100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and so much bronze and iron it cannot be weighed, as well as wood and stones. Feel free to add more! 15 You also have available many workers, including stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and an innumerable array of workers who are skilled 16 in using gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Get up and begin the work! May the Lord be with you!”
17 David ordered all the officials of Israel to support his son Solomon. 18 He told them, “The Lord your God is with you! He has made you secure on every side, for he handed over to me the inhabitants of the region and the region is subdued before the Lord and his people. 19 Now seek the Lord your God wholeheartedly and with your entire being! Get up and build the sanctuary of the Lord God! Then you can bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant and the holy items dedicated to God’s service into the temple that is built to honor the Lord.”