From 1 Chronicles 22-24

David is about to be gathered up to his fathers. He is getting old and he will die. In today’s passage we look at the parting command he gives Solomon his son to build the house of the LORD.

This post is part of my bible in a year series.

Passage and Comments

There are differences between the account of David’s life in Kings to that in Chronicles. David’s incident with Bathsheba and Uriah is omitted in the Chronicles account. So is the war he had with Absalom his son. The narrative jumps forward to the census he ordered in 2 Sam 24 and his early preparation for the house of the LORD. David himself will not build it, he has shed to much blood. His son Solomon will build it. But David can design it and amass materials for its construction.

6 Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. 8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. (1 Chr 22.6-9)

Perhaps part of the reason for this may be his prolonged exposure to blood and death. Both are unclean. In the eyes of the LORD and the people, the LORD wants to communicate the sanctity of his house. David was carrying out the will of the LORD in defeating Israels enemies. The last statement suggests while David was carrying out the will of the LORD, the LORD still has a distaste for so much destruction and violent death.

9 Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’ (1 Chr 22.9-10)

Solomon will not have to fight like David. He is the man for the job. The LORD reiterates his promise to establish the throne of David’s son forever.

11 “Now, my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you. 12 Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God. 13 Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. (1 Chr 22.11-13)

David acknowledges Solomon will need to have the LORD with him if he is to be successful building the house. David expresses the hope the LORD will give Solomon discretion. The ability to avoid causing offense. David has Solomons relationship with the LORD in mind. Because he goes on to hope Solomon will observe the commands of Moses. The LORD will instruct Solomon with the same, providing David as an example of how he should walk.

14 With great pains I have provided for the house of the LORD 100,000 talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone, too, I have provided. To these you must add. 15 You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working 16 gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work! The LORD be with you!” (1 Chr 22.14-16)

David has amassed a lot of materials for Solomon. Still Solomon will need more. He ends his charge with a bold instruction and a expression of hope that the LORD will be with him.

17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 “Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and his people. 19 Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the LORD.” (1 Chr 22.17-19)

David also encourages his leaders. As in Solomons case David refers to the LORD being with them. Both Solomon and the leaders should acknowledge the LORD is with them and be encouraged it is true. Likewise David instructs them to seek the LORD and build the house.

Story of Israel

Click to enlarge.

The LORD was with his prophets and key leaders who sought him. Its very noticeable the effect their faith had on their relationship with the LORD, their reign and the people around them. The LORD is faithful to his people.

The LORD is not always with Israel. They took him for granted, ignored him and turned to other gods. When they did this they tended to introduce foreign worship into the temple, defiling it. When the Babylonians came the destruction of the temple was symbolic of him leaving their presence (2 Chr 36.19). Their exile was symbolic of him casting them out of his (2 Ki 13.23; 24.20).

It wasn’t left at that.

Story of Jesus

We know the story of Jesus, Peter says it well;

36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:36–43)

I think today’s believers still need to encourage one another as David did his son and his leaders. Consider and be encouraged by the sayings of Paul in his letters. He knows believers need encouragement.

• May the God of peace be with you all. Amen. (Rom 15.33)
• The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Rom 16:20)
• The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. (1 Co 16:23–24)
• The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Co 13:14)
• What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Phil 4:9)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (1 Thes 5:28)

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