1 Chronicles 28: 1 – 21
You were not listening
28 Now David assembled at Jerusalem all the leaders of Israel: the officers of the tribes and the captains of the divisions who served the king, the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officials, the valiant men, and all the mighty men of valor. 2 Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren and my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it. 3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.’ 4 However the LORD God of Israel chose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for He has 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 was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel. 5 And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 6 Now He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father. 7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day.’ 8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and 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. 9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. 10 Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.” 11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; 12 and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things; 13 also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the articles of service in the house of the LORD. 14 He gave gold by weight for things of gold, for all articles used in every kind of service; also silver for all articles of silver by weight, for all articles used in every kind of service; 15 the weight for the lampstands of gold, and their lamps of gold, by weight for each lampstand and its lamps; for the lampstands of silver by weight, for the lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand. 16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of the showbread, for each table, and silver for the tables of silver; 17 also pure gold for the forks, the basins, the pitchers of pure gold, and the golden bowls—he gave gold by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls, silver by weight for every bowl; 18 and refined gold by weight for the altar of incense, and for the construction of the chariot, that is, the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the LORD. 19 “All this,” said David, “the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans.” 20 And David said to his son 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, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. 21 Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and every willing craftsman will be with you for all manner of workmanship, for every kind of service; also the leaders and all the people will be completely at your command.”
One of the reasons people are not good at listening is because they do not listen. Listening skills start with paying attention. If you know why your mind is tending not to listen, then you have taken the first step in addressing this.
Talking can seem far more useful and attractive than listening, and so people will seek to talk rather than listen.
Talking seems to better address more needs than listening. When I talk, I am in control, and can steer the conversation any way that I choose. When I talk I am also the center of attention, which boosts my sense of identity.
When I am talking, then I have a better opportunity to achieve my goals, for example by telling other people to do things that I need them to do. I can keep the conversation on my own agenda and prevent others from talking about things that are of no interest to me.
We talk at 200-250 wpm (words per minute) but can listen at 300-500 wpm. Thus, when the other person is talking, we get side-tracked by our own thoughts (which may well be triggered by one thing that the speaker says). When we come back into the room, we find that we have lost track of the conversation. Rather than lose face and become embarrassed by this, we nod, smile and hope nobody will notice.
When we have decided that we want to respond to the speaker, we then stop listening for two reasons. To avoid forgetting what we are going to say, we need to keep rehearsing our thoughts and words and so get lost inside our own heads. We also stay inside as we think about better ways to put our case. When we are paying attention to the speaker, we are not listening to what they say but listening for a space in which we can interject with our reply.
People who are talking usually have attention on themselves and what they are saying. With this self-focus, they do not notice that other people are waiting to speak or want to comment about what the speaker has said. Even if they do notice, many people will continue to talk, either to retain control or to fulfill their need for completion (even if nobody is listening!).
Today we are going to talk about Solomon’s Temple. So, why did I say that the topic is ‘you were not listening David.?’ You see if David was listening and keeping his mind on what our Holy Creator God was telling him then he would not be involved in building a temple at all.
Let’s go back and let’s take all this one step at a time.
First, we know that David brought the Ark and placed it in Jerusalem. One day he thought about the Ark being in a tent. He thought that God deserved better. David had a gorgeous house and that a wonderful building should be built to house the Ark. Let us follow directly now from our Holy Word as indicated in the book of 2 Samuel chapter 7, “Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” 3 Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD Is with you.” 4 But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? 6 For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’ 8 Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 10 Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, 11 since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house.12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David. 18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? 20 Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD, know Your servant. 21 For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. 22 Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods? 24 For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God. 25 “Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. 26 So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore, Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. 28 “And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. 29 Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
Now if David was listening the first thing brought out in verse 7 was that our Lord revealed to David that He was content in being with the Israelites as He had previously directed. He was the One Who instructed the construction of the Tabernacle. He did not ask for nor want a permanent earthly house built in a curse world. In fact in the book of 1 Chronicles chapter 17 verse 4 the words of our Holy God are right to the point and clear, “4 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “You shall not build Me a house to dwell in.
Next you will note in verses 11 through 13 that our Lord tells David that He will build David a house. David understands that our Lord is not talking about a physical structure, but He Is referring to a Dynasty. Our Lord goes on to say that a future descendent shall be born to David (Solomon was already alive, so this eliminates him from the construction of any building) Who will have a kingdom that will be for all eternity.
So, all this effort was wrong. Let’s see what today’s scripture says about it.
It appears from what follows that the building of a physical Temple had become David’s consuming passion. Like so many he had misunderstood God’s word and had thus failed to recognize that his concentration should have been on building up a human house which would be fully satisfactory to God, not on building a house of cedar which God had not required (17.4-14). He allowed his mind to be diverted by the thought of a glorious and magnificent physical Temple. Once again, he believed Satan’s lie. And it no doubt contributed towards Solomon’s failure, and to Israel’s failure in the future. For instead of glorying in God’s wisdom Solomon also began to glory in his building works, and in his own splendor. And as a consequence, he failed to be the righteous king. He gloried in what he had done, and what was his, and not in the spiritual building up of God’s people. Indeed, he physically exhausted God’s people and filled them with resentment (1 Kings 5.13-14; 12.4). His God-given wisdom was drowned beneath his ambition.
David’s susceptibility to Satan’s lies had already been prepared for in the episode of the numbering of Israel. It now manifested itself in his attitude towards God’s promises concerning the building up of His house. It will be noted that at no time did David ‘enquire of YHWH’ concerning it, a lesson he should have learned by past failures. But he had failed to do so.
The building of a physical Temple was, of course a huge project, and it would in the end take seven years in the building and would turn Solomon’s mind to greater projects (his own palace later took thirteen years in building, to the ruination of many in Israel). But although once he had decided on the project David was forbidden to build it and was frustrated because he could not start on it, he was nevertheless determined to take as large a part in its building as possible. He thus made all the preparations that were necessary, building up huge stocks of materials, and preparing a work force for the purpose.
However, it is important to note that the building of a Temple was not God’s requirement. It was David’s. God had declared His desire to build a house which was made of human kings who would be faithful to His covenant, and He had clearly stated that He did not want a house of cedar to dwell in (17.4). For He knew the dangers that would arise from it, both in it minimizing their conception of God, and in it suggesting that He was permanently tied to one place. Had the Temple been God’s idea we would have had more than one command about its building and it would not have been ambiguous. So, God did not want a Temple at all. In his speech David makes quite clear that it was he who had determined that a Temple should be built. It was ‘in his heart’, not God’s (verse 2). It was only because of David’s fixed determination that God finally alllowed the idea (as He had Saul’s kingship) and allowed the Temple to be built. And it was built at great human cost.
However, because He loved David, and saw the righteous desire in his heart, God went along with him in his plans, as He had with the plans of the people about the appointment of Saul as king. And as He had with Saul He incorporated it into His purpose. For we should notice that once appointed YHWH had made Saul successful, and that his subsequent failure was due to his own disobedience. Furthermore, Saul’s final failure had nothing to do with his being appointed king contrary to God’s purpose. Had he been faithful he would have continued to be successful. His failure resulted from his being unfaithful to the covenant. And the same was true of the Temple. Having yielded to David’s enthusiasm for the project God was prepared for it to be a blessing in the long term. Its failure resulted from man’s unfaithfulness to the covenant.
Nevertheless, if it was to be built God determined that it would, at least to some extent, reveal the truth about Him. It would announce the coming of the Prince of peace (and for quite some time, some of the people probably thought that Solomon might be the coming prince of peace). He wanted the thought of the coming of the prince of peace to relate to the Temple. That also explains why, in the final chapter of Chronicles as a whole, emphasis is laid on the coming building of the new Temple. That also was to be preparing the way for the coming of the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9.5). It thrilled Israel to the heart because of what it appeared to indicate. That once their worship was established, the everlasting king and the everlasting kingdom, were on their way.
So, through the building of this Temple that He did not really want God desired to teach Israel important lessons. First that He was not the God of war, but the God of peace, and that His ideal king would not be a war leader, but a prince of peace. And second that a new Temple being built went along with the idea of the coming of the righteous King Who would rule the world (Psalm 2.7-11). God clearly could not blame David for being ‘a man of blood’. He knew that it had been necessary, had provided him with the resources for carrying it out, and indeed had prospered David in his wars, and had been with him when he made war. But He did not want His people to think that He was a God Who delighted in war (in the way that the gods of other nations were seen, patterned on their kings). While David’s wars had been necessary He wanted them to recognize that His aim was to establish peace on earth, and goodwill towards men. And that was what He intended should be the focal point of the Davidic Temple.
David now gathered together the most important men in Israel, in order to explain his aims for the building of the Temple more clearly and urged Solomon his son to be a godly king. We have a somewhat similar speech in 22.6-19, but that was in private with Solomon, while this was before the assembly of the leaders. It was normal procedure for major determinations to be brought before the assembly of Israel.
28 Now David assembled at Jerusalem all the leaders of Israel: the officers of the tribes and the captains of the divisions who served the king, the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officials, the valiant men, and all the mighty men of valor.
Towards the end of his reign David called together all the important men of the realm at Jerusalem. ‘The princes of Israel’ would either be David’s sons, or an overall name covering all the important men who follow. The ‘princes of the tribes’ are as described in 27.16-24. The ‘commanders of the companies who served the king by course’ are as described in 27.2-15. The captains of larger and smaller units consisted of all the officers in his army. ‘The rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and his sons’ are as described in 27.23-31. ‘The officers’ would be all his non-military ‘civil servants’ (his military captains having already been mentioned). The ‘mighty men’ would be his personal army and bodyguard. Thus, they were all those on whom the security and efficiency of the state depended, and on whose loyalty in his view Solomon would later have to rely.
His aim was to prepare them for the massive task of the coming building of the Temple, something of which they must have been aware, (they would all know what preparation he had already made), and for the taking over of the kingdom’s reins by his son. He clearly felt that his authoritative voice would ensure their cooperation with Solomon.
2 Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren and my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it.
The fact that David stood up underlines the importance of what he had to say. Kings regularly spoke out sitting on a throne. His description of his hearers as ‘his brothers and his people’ underlined the way in which he had guarded against getting above his people. Despite his supreme authority he still saw them as those who worked with him, and not as his minions (unlike Solomon). And he reminded them of what they knew about his intentions which were to build a house in which the Ark of the covenant of YHWH could rest. The Scriptural idea of ‘rest’ was of being in a state of happiness and wellbeing. In Deuteronomy 12.9 it depicted the state of happiness and wellbeing that Israel were looking forward to in the promised inheritance.
But this statement of intent is in the exact opposite vein to YHWH’s own in chapter 17.4-6 where YHWH’s point was that He did not need ‘rest’. He was wholly contented. He was far more than just the God of Israel. The idea of the Ark resting is found in Numbers 10.35-36, but there it indicated rest after activity. The Ark would go out ahead of the people to prepare the way before them, and then it would rest among them, until the next time. The idea was that God both went before His people and dwelt among them. God was with them in their daily activity and shared with them their rest. It was a very different concept from the one in mind here.
It is noteworthy that David at no point suggests that YHWH had called on him to build the Temple, nor does he mention ‘enquiring of YHWH’ concerning it. (As we have seen David’s reign was a continual fluctuation on these points, sometimes seeking to discover God’s way, and sometimes choosing his own way. And the latter always led to disaster). It is the king speaking, not the man of God. The idea came from David’s heart, not YHWH’s.
3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.’
Remember playing the word game when you were young? It involves saying something to another and that person will say the same thing quietly to someone else until it reaches the last person, then that person tells everyone what was said. It never comes out exactly as first stated. So, here David in not listening reformulates our Holy Father’s words.
The point in YHWH’s words here could not have been that David was too sinful a man to build the Temple. He had after all carried on his warfare under God’s guidance, and often under His direct command. What mattered to YHWH was the idea that was being conveyed to the nations. If such a material building was to be built, contrary to His own wishes, it must at least portray His reign on earth correctly. For YHWH’s dwelling on earth, and His ‘resting’, was to be the consequence of the establishment of His worldwide Kingly Rule (of which Solomon’s reign was, in the end, but a shadow, even when it had been expurgated. And as we know, Solomon’s life and reign left the idea of kingly rule in tatters, as Saul’s had before him).
David, of course, at this stage probably believed that the Kingly Rule on earth was about to be established, initially under his son’s rule. He was a visionary. But he had no real conception of what lay ahead in the future. Thus, it seemed right to him that God’s presence should be fixed among them as a prelude to it.
4 However the LORD God of Israel chose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for He has 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 was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel.
The choosing out of David to be king is described in 1 Samuel 16.1-13. The choosing out of Judah to be prince is described in Genesis 49.8-12, which, in concept at least, was clearly known to David. Nothing would prevent the coming rule of a prince from Judah, whom the peoples would obey, and who would be established in peace, wellbeing and prosperity. And he saw himself and Solomon as fulfilling those promises. He probably believed that, in his son, Shiloh was come, and that the everlasting kingdom was in process of foundation. Surely it was for that purpose that YHWH had so carefully chosen him out of the house of his father to be king over Israel (1 Samuel 16.1-13) and had made him such wonderful promises (17.7-14). The rapid growth of, and expansion of, his sovereignty, had convinced him that this was happening. Great Pharaoh was his friend, and consideration was being given to the marriage of the daughter of Pharaoh to his son Solomon. Mighty Tyre and Sidon were in a favorable treaty relationship with him. The nations around had been subdued. He had no apparent enemies. Nothing seemed impossible. That was the thought behind Psalm 2.7-9. He did not realize that in Spirit God was speaking through him of the coming of a Prince of Peace a long way ahead.
5 And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
Once again we have an emphasis on God choosing a king in line with Deuteronomy 17.15. From among David’s many sons (as David himself had been chosen from among many sons), God had chosen Solomon. The idea of Solomon being ‘chosen’ is emphasized in context three times (verses 5, 6, 10). God was personally involved in his choice. It was only after Solomon that the kings of Judah would be taking their throne by divine right as the firstborn, losing the personal connection. And YHWH had promised that he would sit on his throne, a young man full of wisdom and promise, with the whole world before him, and YHWH at his side. What could possibly go wrong? The answer to that question was, of course, that the building of the magnificent Temple itself would so possess Solomon’s thoughts, that he would then think beyond it to greater things and become taken up with his own magnificence. The thing that should have turned his thoughts on God, became the snare that drew him to his doom. It is always dangerous to concentrate too much on the physical in spiritual matters.
6 Now He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father.
The ‘house’ in question there was the Davidic house, which would be God’s house, His instrument through which He ruled Israel and established His kingdom. But it was David who had added ‘My courts’, for he himself was visualizing the Temple he had planned. So, the initial meaning was that Solomon was to build YHWH’s house, (the continuing Davidic kingship), and was to be YHWH’s chosen son, as YHWH was to be his father. There would be a closeness of relationship which would spell well for the future, with God the loving and authoritative father, and Solomon the obedient and responsive son. David changed this emphasis by making it refer to a physical Temple.
That he had misunderstood the reference to the building of a house was far from David’s thoughts. He thought materially in terms of a physical house because it was that which was the desire of his heart, even though elsewhere he appeared to have grasped the deeper meaning of the words (17.17). It was, however, the idea of a physical house that had taken hold of his heart. How often we read into God’s word our own conceptions. But the house that YHWH had envisaged, not a physical house but a house made up of obedient rulers, had by this been thrust into the background. And Solomon by his folly in fact failed to establish the Davidic house over the whole of Israel, because his own magnificence meant more to him than establishing a righteous rule.
7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day.’
God’s aim was that by building up the Davidic house Solomon would establish his kingdom forever. But it would only happen if he himself was faithful in his obedience to God. That was why there was the proviso that Solomon would be constant and do His commandments and ordinances forever. But he was a stable young man who had already demonstrated his wisdom, and his heart appeared to be fixed on YHWH. Thus, outwardly the future seemed secure.
All this was to some extent put at risk by David’s misinterpretation of it as signifying the building of the Temple, because therefore he set Solomon’s mind in the wrong direction and made him apply his thoughts to the wrong thing. He set his mind to outward magnificence rather than to solid rulership. As we have seen God sought to minimize this by making the coming Temple symbolize the kingdom of peace. But the attempt failed because of Solomon’s failure to grasp the truth. If dad didn’t catch the true meaning how would the son then understand the truth.
It was Jesus Who would later point out that it was this very Temple which had become one great obstacle to the true spiritual worship of God (John 4.20-24), and to coming under God’s Kingly Rule, and that God had replaced it by the living Temple Which was Himself (John 2.19-22). The Greater Son of David thoroughly understood the promises of chapter 17.
8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and 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 now directs his words towards all who had gathered, and in the hearing of YHWH. He commands them to observe and keep all God’s commandments, and to do it in the presence of all Israel, and in the presence of YHWH, in order that the promises might be fulfilled, and the everlasting kingdom assured. At least he was aware that these things could only come about if YHWH’s people were faithful to YHWH’s covenant. And as he looked at Solomon’s eager young face, and saw him nodding his agreement, he probably had no doubt that all would work out. Little did he realize what his passion for a physical Temple would do to his son.
9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.
But even in his optimism David was aware that the fulfilment of God’s promises depended on obedience. So, turning now to his son Solomon he urged him to develop a true knowledge of God. He was to know Him as the God Who had seen David through all his adversities and had brought him to the place in which he now was (but sadly such knowledge only comes through experience). And he was to serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind, knowing that we can hide nothing from God. For God Is the One Who searches all our hearts, and understands all our thoughts and reasonings. He knows the imaginations of our hearts. Nothing is hidden from Him.
So he assured him that if he truly sought God He would be found by him, but that if he forsook Him, following his own ways, he would be cast off forever. For God is not mocked. What a man sows he will reap. Yet even as he spoke he must have felt that his strictures were unnecessary. Solomon’s heart seemed so firmly fixed on God that it would hardly seem likely that he could fail. The future was to prove otherwise.
10 Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”
David then planted his own ambitions on his son, as he had no doubt previously tried to arouse them in him. He told him to take careful note that YHWH had chosen him to build a house for the Sanctuary, replacing the curtained tent with a magnificent cedar structure. He must let nothing stop him. He must be strong and do it, however difficult the venture might seem.
But what he was unable to do was plant his years of experience of God in his son. What would to him have been the crowning moment of his dedication to God, would for his son become the first step on the way to destruction. You cannot put an old head on young shoulders. And yet to begin with it did not appear to be a danger. Only time would reveal the consequences of his ambition. It is always dangerous to add to God’s plans.
David had planned for his Temple meticulously, and now handed over to Solomon patterns for the building of the Temple, and for its ministries, which had been obtained ‘by the Spirit’. He also handed over access to a vast amount of wealth that would go towards the building of the Temple, giving the pattern of what would be done with it. There was nothing that he had not thought of. All this explains why Solomon was able to proceed as rapidly as he did.
11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat;
We learn here of the detail of preparations David had made, preparations which he now handed over to his son. He gave him the pattern of the porch of the new Temple, and of all the buildings connected with it, and of its treasure chambers, and of its rooms above the Sanctuary, and of the very place where the mercy seat would be set.
12 and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things;
He gave him the pattern for the courts of the house of YHWH, and for all its surrounding chambers, including the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for things dedicated to YHWH, all of which he had received from ‘the Spirit’. Having gone along with David in his enterprise God guided him in it by His Spirit so that it would not lead men astray. (We can compare how God had also guided Saul by His Spirit, even though He had not approved of the establishing of a king).
13 also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the articles of service in the house of the LORD.
He also gave him the pattern for the courses of the priests and Levites, and for all the vessels which would be used in the house of YHWH.
14 He gave gold by weight for things of gold, for all articles used in every kind of service; also silver for all articles of silver by weight, for all articles used in every kind of service; 15 the weight for the lampstands of gold, and their lamps of gold, by weight for each lampstand and its lamps; for the lampstands of silver by weight, for the lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand.
David provided the gold and silver which would be needed for the many different kinds of vessels required, and gold and silver for the many lampstands and their lamps. These would include the seven branched lampstand in the Holy Place, and the many lampstands which would be required to enable worship day and night (1 Kings 7.48-49).
16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of the showbread, for each table, and silver for the tables of silver;
He provided the gold that would be needed for the making of the tables of showbread (1 Kings 7.48), and silver for other tables which would be required outside the Holy Place.
17 also pure gold for the forks, the basins, the pitchers of pure gold, and the golden bowls—he gave gold by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls, silver by weight for every bowl;
He provided gold for the golden flesh hooks and basins and golden cups, and for all the golden bowls, as well as silver for the silver bowls. All that was to be used in the Holy Place was made of gold.
18 and refined gold by weight for the altar of incense, and for the construction of the chariot, that is, the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
And he provided the gold required for the making of the altar of incense (1 Kings 7.48), and for the fashioning of the cherubim who were YHWH’s chariot (1 Kings 6.28).
19 “All this,” said David, “the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans.”
All this, David assured Solomon, he had learned from writing from the hand of YHWH. For it was YHWH Who had made known to Him the patterns, just as he had made them known to Moses in respect of the Tabernacle. By this David may have meant that his own patterns were drawn from Exodus, which he saw as written by the hand of YHWH. In truth, had YHWH handed to David written patterns we would probably have heard a lot more of the event.
20 And David said to his son 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, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
As he had in 22.13 David now encouraged Solomon to be strong and courageous in the face of the awesome task which he faced. He was not to be afraid or dismayed, because YHWH would be with him and would not fail him or forsake him until all was complete. The words are based on YHWH’s charge to Joshua as he faced the conquest that lay ahead (Joshua 1.5-7). In a sense Solomon also was entering a sphere where all was new, where he had crucial decisions to make, and was filled with responsibilities which might weigh heavily on him. The point was not just that building the Temple would be an arduous task, but that he was entering the unknown, and that it required special concentration and spirituality as what was worthy of YHWH was being produced. This was something unique which had never been attempted before. He did not want Solomon to be weighed down by the responsibility.
21 Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and every willing craftsman will be with you for all manner of workmanship, for every kind of service; also the leaders and all the people will be completely at your command.”
He assured Solomon that he would have all the help that was needed. All the courses of the priest and Levites were on hand to assist him, especially in spiritual matters, and there was a great band of willing and skilled artisans, brought together by David himself, who would be there to guide him in every aspect of the work. Furthermore, all David’s commanders, and indeed all the people, would be available, wholly at his command. Nothing that could be made available about human resources was missing.
