I Chronicles 28: David's Charge to Israel and Solomon
And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:
And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:
Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the Lord.
He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:
Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.
And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:
Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:
And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.
And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.
I Chronicles 28 marks the culmination of David's reign, showcasing a powerful display of spiritual leadership and fervent worship as he prepares to hand over the reins to his son, Solomon. With the vision for the temple nearing realization, David convenes all the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem for a final, crucial address. This chapter serves not only as a historical record but also as a timeless lesson in succession, obedience, and the importance of seeking God's will in all endeavors. This passage underscores the divine plan for Israel's leadership and the crucial role of obedience in securing God's blessings.
David's Address to the Leaders of Israel (I Chronicles 28:1-8)
David begins by reiterating a theme previously explored in I Chronicles 17: his desire to build a temple for the Lord and God's subsequent decision that his son, Solomon, would be the one to fulfill this sacred task. However, David doesn't simply recount history; he emphasizes the divine selection that underpins his own leadership and the future reign of Solomon. He declares, "The LORD God of Israel chose me out of all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever" (I Chronicles 28:4). David highlights the repeated divine "choosing" – of himself, his tribe, and now his son – to underscore that their leadership is divinely ordained. This serves as a powerful reminder to the people: "This family's leadership over you is God's doing. Get on board.”
David then relays God's promise regarding Solomon, stating, "I will establish his kingdom forever if he perseveres in keeping my commands and my ordinances as he is doing today" (I Chronicles 28:7). This is a conditional promise, hinging on Solomon's continued obedience to God's laws. David extends this principle to all the leaders, urging them to "observe and follow all the commands of the LORD your God so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants forever" (I Chronicles 28:8). Here, David emphasizes the vital link between obedience and the enduring prosperity of God's kingdom. Success in God's kingdom is predicated on obedience to God and His Word. This is a timeless principle applicable to all believers in every age.
David's Exhortation to Solomon (I Chronicles 28:9-10)
Solomon, the young king-to-be, is also present at this momentous assembly. David directs a personal and heartfelt exhortation towards him, urging him to acknowledge and serve God with a whole heart and willing mind. "Know the God of your father," David implores, "and serve him with whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought" (I Chronicles 28:9).
David then gives Solomon a direct command: "Be strong, and do it" (I Chronicles 28:10). This isn't a call to self-reliance but rather an encouragement to act in dependence on the Lord. The task ahead – building the temple – is immense, requiring not only skill and resources but also unwavering faith and reliance on God's power.
The Blueprint and the Promise (I Chronicles 28:11-21)
David meticulously hands over to Solomon all the detailed plans for the temple, including its architecture, furnishings, and the organization of the priests and Levites (I Chronicles 28:11-18). These plans weren't merely the product of human ingenuity; David explicitly states that he received them "in writing from the hand of the LORD, all the details of the plan" (I Chronicles 28:19). This underscores the divine origin of the temple design and the importance of adhering to God's specific instructions.
David reassures Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He won’t leave you or abandon you until all the work for the service of the LORD’s house is finished" (I Chronicles 28:20). This promise of God's unwavering presence and support is a powerful encouragement to Solomon as he embarks on this daunting task. The temple would be the greatest achievement of Solomon’s reign and would require every ounce of his ability and dependence on God.
This chapter serves as a powerful reminder that true leadership is rooted in obedience to God and a recognition of His sovereignty. It highlights the importance of passing on a legacy of faith and obedience to future generations. It emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision for the future and the need to diligently prepare for the work God has called us to do. Just as David prepared for the temple, we too should strive to be faithful stewards of the resources and opportunities God has entrusted to us. Finally, it reminds us that God is with us, empowering us to accomplish His purposes, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges.
And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:
And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:
Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the Lord.
He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:
Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.
And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:
Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:
And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.
And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.
I Chronicles 28 marks the culmination of David's reign, showcasing a powerful display of spiritual leadership and fervent worship as he prepares to hand over the reins to his son, Solomon. With the vision for the temple nearing realization, David convenes all the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem for a final, crucial address. This chapter serves not only as a historical record but also as a timeless lesson in succession, obedience, and the importance of seeking God's will in all endeavors. This passage underscores the divine plan for Israel's leadership and the crucial role of obedience in securing God's blessings.
David's Address to the Leaders of Israel (I Chronicles 28:1-8)
David begins by reiterating a theme previously explored in I Chronicles 17: his desire to build a temple for the Lord and God's subsequent decision that his son, Solomon, would be the one to fulfill this sacred task. However, David doesn't simply recount history; he emphasizes the divine selection that underpins his own leadership and the future reign of Solomon. He declares, "The LORD God of Israel chose me out of all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever" (I Chronicles 28:4). David highlights the repeated divine "choosing" – of himself, his tribe, and now his son – to underscore that their leadership is divinely ordained. This serves as a powerful reminder to the people: "This family's leadership over you is God's doing. Get on board.”
David then relays God's promise regarding Solomon, stating, "I will establish his kingdom forever if he perseveres in keeping my commands and my ordinances as he is doing today" (I Chronicles 28:7). This is a conditional promise, hinging on Solomon's continued obedience to God's laws. David extends this principle to all the leaders, urging them to "observe and follow all the commands of the LORD your God so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants forever" (I Chronicles 28:8). Here, David emphasizes the vital link between obedience and the enduring prosperity of God's kingdom. Success in God's kingdom is predicated on obedience to God and His Word. This is a timeless principle applicable to all believers in every age.
David's Exhortation to Solomon (I Chronicles 28:9-10)
Solomon, the young king-to-be, is also present at this momentous assembly. David directs a personal and heartfelt exhortation towards him, urging him to acknowledge and serve God with a whole heart and willing mind. "Know the God of your father," David implores, "and serve him with whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought" (I Chronicles 28:9).
David then gives Solomon a direct command: "Be strong, and do it" (I Chronicles 28:10). This isn't a call to self-reliance but rather an encouragement to act in dependence on the Lord. The task ahead – building the temple – is immense, requiring not only skill and resources but also unwavering faith and reliance on God's power.
The Blueprint and the Promise (I Chronicles 28:11-21)
David meticulously hands over to Solomon all the detailed plans for the temple, including its architecture, furnishings, and the organization of the priests and Levites (I Chronicles 28:11-18). These plans weren't merely the product of human ingenuity; David explicitly states that he received them "in writing from the hand of the LORD, all the details of the plan" (I Chronicles 28:19). This underscores the divine origin of the temple design and the importance of adhering to God's specific instructions.
David reassures Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He won’t leave you or abandon you until all the work for the service of the LORD’s house is finished" (I Chronicles 28:20). This promise of God's unwavering presence and support is a powerful encouragement to Solomon as he embarks on this daunting task. The temple would be the greatest achievement of Solomon’s reign and would require every ounce of his ability and dependence on God.
This chapter serves as a powerful reminder that true leadership is rooted in obedience to God and a recognition of His sovereignty. It highlights the importance of passing on a legacy of faith and obedience to future generations. It emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision for the future and the need to diligently prepare for the work God has called us to do. Just as David prepared for the temple, we too should strive to be faithful stewards of the resources and opportunities God has entrusted to us. Finally, it reminds us that God is with us, empowering us to accomplish His purposes, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges.