1 Chronicles 28:1-21
28:1 King David gathered all of the officers and leaders of the kingdom; the kingdom was about to undergo a transition, the anointing of (one of) David's son. In addition, the kingdom was about the undertake a massive project: the building of God's temple. David recognized that it would be beneficial to have everyone on the same page: aware of everything that was about to change and focused on everything that absolutely should not.
28:2-3 What could not change was Israel's obedience to God's will. David revealed that God had chosen Solomon to reign. To them, it might have seemed as though Solomon was an unlikely choice; he was not the firstborn and his birth was shrouded in drama. David's obedience enabled Solomon to become king without resistance. The elders of the kingdom were made aware of God's choice, establishing Solomon as the rightful king, should any disagreement occur after David's death.
28:4-6 David was obedient to both God's "No's" and "Yes'"; David accepted that though his heart longed to, he would not be the one to build the house of God. At the same time, God established the tribe of Judah, through David, as the king-line.
28:7 The peace and prosperity of Israel was provided by God, and would continue to be, if they would keep their covenant with God. We cannot expect provision if we cut ourselves off from the source. Our connection with God is our source of nourishment. God offers an eternal covenant with humanity and with each individual, if we are willing to be faithful to it, it is ours without end.
28:8 Faith is effort; David speaks of the way we can ensure that we remain committed to our covenant with God: in the hearing of our God, be careful to seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever. David acknowledges that faith is a moment-by-moment process: what we say, do and think on a moment-by-moment basis either builds the temple of God within us or destroys it.
28:9-10 David's commanding advice for Solomon is as relevant to us today as it was to him then:
- Serve God with a loyal heart: as David points out, God searches our hearts. He knows when we are sincere and when we are not. God is not ashamed of our weakness or meanness or foible; He wants us to acknowledge it, own it, and allow Him to work with you on all of those things intimately. David's mention of loyalty is a reminder that our minds and bodies sometimes are tempted away from God; we sometimes want to serve our desires before or instead of God. David tells Solomon (and us) to choose God and to be loyal to the relationship.
- Seek Him and be found by Him: This is the most beautiful equation to ever exist. God promises to be with you. Jeremiah 29:13 points out that our wholehearted search for God guarantees our discovery of Him. A lifelong search for God means that we try to find Him in everything and every place, every emotion. By asking ourselves how God would respond to a situation, we are forced to consider an alternate way. Whenever we look for Him, He will appear there in that space.
- Forsake Him and be cast off: Conversely, if we hide ourselves from God with opposition and wickedness, we can expect that He will be very far from us. We are never irretrievable by God; but only a repentant and honest heart signals ours SOS.
- Consider now: Decide and make the decision final. All in or all out. On the cusp of taking the throne, David tells his son to choose. Similarly, we must choose the destination and motivation of ourselves. Those two factors are going to determine the path and condition of the journey.
- Chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary: Solomon was chosen to build a physical temple and that is an impressive honor, for sure. But eventually, Solomon's temple was destroyed. In the New Testament, God has invited each of us to be living, breathing, moving temples. He has chosen us to be hosts for His spirit, and no greater honor exists. Recognize that God has chosen you for something mighty, eternal.
- Be strong: This strength that David speaks of is a strength of soul and spirit. Be stronger than desire. Be stronger than selfishness. Be stronger than vengeance. Stronger than forgiveness. Our bodies are weak, dependent on earthly needs: literally and metaphysically. David encourages Solomon (and us) to let our spirit prevail over those needs, to allow God to provide what we truly need rather than what we think we want. We must also be strong enough to trust God. Strong enough to hear His quiet voice when fear tells us He is absent.
- Do it: Finally, once committed, we must act. Do. God chose you; you've accepted; do it. Get to work. James 2:14-26 tells us that faith without works is dead. It's not enough to hear God's offer and to accept. True acceptance is the act of accepting the challenge day after day, moment after moment of living righteously, compassionately and obediently to God's will.
28:11-19 Along with the assignment and motivation for it, David provided Solomon the blueprint (the plans) and provisions. God provided you no less than that! Matthew 25:14-30 is a parable through which Jesus tells us that God has apportioned provision to each individual. What we have and how much we have varies (1 Corinthians 12:12-27), but each of us has been given what we need to complete the purpose God gave us on the earth. We must strive to reach the potential God saw in us at the time of our apportioning.
In being chosen to be a temple for God (1 Corinthians 6:19), we are proffered the blessed opportunity to be a sanctuary for others.
Solomon received gold and lumber and iron. God provides you with the gregarious spirit to befriend the lonely or the ability to teach or learn to heal. The ability to make someone laugh, the strength to help a weak one, the money perhaps to feed the poor, a parent's heart to love an orphan. An artists' mind to inspire the desolate. A fence to rescue a pet. The mettle to rescue or protect. A soldiers heart to defend an innocent. What He has given us is different for each of us, but the importance of our purpose and size of the impact is the same.
You may not be able to reach the world. Or even a large population. Perhaps you only reach one person. To God, that one person is everything, Luke 15:1-7. The joy of His whole kingdom is focused on each individual who wants to reach it, reaching it.
As so, Solomon was handed the materials and the direction, the reason and motivation and so are you. It takes time and work but God ensures a effort-full, faithful journey is filled with His spirit: joy and peace and breakthrough, hope and achievement and love accompanied every one of God's sojourners.
28:20 God is in it, in life, with you for the long haul. Until your purpose and potential is reached on earth, you will have Him with you. After that, He will have you with Him.
David repeated to Solomon: “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." Solomon was not just constructing a building. The construction of the temple of God was a statement to the world, eternally. It was a proclamation of God, hosted by a kingdom whose lifestyle represented His ways. What you are doing with your life is not just anything either. David reminds us to never be afraid or hopeless; he reminds us to allow the comfort of God's promised presence to keep us pushing on. To keep us brave. You may be a weak little thing but an army of angels surrounds you and God is their commander. Your enemies may not see God's defense around you, even you might forget that it is there, but doubt does not diminish the strength of your God. Doubt does not weaken His reinforcement. Your God-appointed defenders are strong and vigilant in every moment and circumstance of your life. In full spiritual armor, a host of heaven surrounds you, Psalm 34:7. With that in mind, be brave enough to obey God and nothing else, especially not fear.
28:21 Know that God will place all around you, all along your life's journey, the people you will need to help you continue on. Whatever you need in a specific season of life, God will provide. Though Solomon would spearhead the project, God provided for all of reasons or weaknesses or inadequacies he had. God has ensured that you are never alone.
