Reflections on 1 Chronicles 28

 1 Chronicles 28(Contemporary English Version)

1. David called a meeting in Jerusalem for all of Israel's leaders, including the tribal leaders, the government officials, the army commanders, the officials in charge of the royal property and livestock, the palace officials, and the brave warriors.
   
2. After everyone was there, David stood up and said: Listen to me, my people. I wanted to build a place where the sacred chest would be kept, so we could go there and worship the LORD our God. I have prepared all the supplies for building a temple,
   
3. but the LORD has refused to let me build it, because he said I have killed too many people in battle.
   
4. The LORD God chose Judah to be the leading tribe in Israel. Then from Judah, he chose my father's family, and from that family, he chose me to be the king of Israel, and he promised that my descendants will also rule as kings.
   
5. The LORD has blessed me with many sons, but he chose my son Solomon to be the next king of Israel.
   
6. The LORD said to me, "Your son Solomon will build my temple, and it will honor me. Solomon will be like a son to me, and I will be like a father to him.
   
7. If he continues to obey my laws and commands, his kingdom will never end."
   
8. My friends, you are the LORD's people. And now, with God as your witness, I want you to promise that you will do your best to obey everything the LORD God has commanded us. Then this land will always belong to you and your descendants.
   
9. Solomon, my son, worship God and obey him with all your heart and mind, just as I have done. He knows all your thoughts and your reasons for doing things, and so if you turn to him, he will hear your prayers. But if you ignore him, he will reject you forever.
   
10. The LORD has chosen you to build a temple for worshiping him. Be confident and do the work you have been assigned.
    
11. After David finished speaking, he gave Solomon the plans for building the main rooms of the temple, including the porch, the storerooms, the rooms upstairs and downstairs, as well as the most holy place.
    
12. He gave Solomon his plans for the courtyards and the open areas around the temple, and for the rooms to store the temple treasures and gifts that had been dedicated to God.
    
13. David also gave Solomon his plans for dividing the priests and the Levites into groups, as well as for the work that needed to be done at the temple and for taking care of the objects used for worship.
    
14. He told Solomon how much gold and silver was to be used in making the sacred objects,
    
15. including the lampstands and lamps,
    
16. the gold table which held the sacred loaves of bread, the tables made of silver,
    
17. the meat forks, the bowls and cups,
    
18. the gold incense altar, and the gold statue of a chariot for the winged creatures which were on the lid of the sacred chest.
    
19. David then said to Solomon: The LORD showed me how his temple is to be built.
    
20. But you must see that everything is done according to these plans. Be confident, and never be afraid of anything or get discouraged. The LORD my God will help you do everything needed to finish the temple, so it can be used for worshiping him.
    
21. The priests and Levites have been assigned their duties, and all the skilled workers are prepared to do their work. The people and their leaders will do anything you tell them.

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All of the activities described in the previous chapters in organizing the priests and Levites and government officials was building to the occasion recorded in chapter 28. The timing of this occasion was due not only to the fact it was now time to build the temple but also that David had grown old and his death was imminent. So David called together all of these newly appointed leaders along with his son Solomon and instructed them on what was to happen next and why.

David made it clear these instructions were not his own but from the Lord. Out of all Israel, the Lord had chosen him to be king and now out of all his sons the Lord had chosen Solomon to succeed him. Though many of these leaders had no doubt heard it before, David explained how he had wanted to build a house for the Lord but the Lord told him, "You are not to build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood." Furthermore, the Lord told David, "Your son Solomon is the one who is to build My house and My courts." (28:3, 6)

After giving this background, David then instructed the gathered leaders to "observe and seek after all the commandments of the LORD your God so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants forever." Then he instructed Solomon, saying, "As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. Realize now that the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it." (28:8, 9-10)

Following this gathering with the leaders of Israel, David gave all the plans for the temple to Solomon. These were not his plans, though, but plans the Lord had given him, for "By the LORD's hand on me, He enabled me to understand everything in writing, all the details of the plan." (28:19) David had not only gathered materials and workmen for building the temple, he had organized the priests and Levites to assist in this project. All that was left for Solomon was to make it happen which David challenged him to do, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work." (28:20)

These are words for all of us to hear for ourselves, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work." The abundant life God has in store for all of us is found not in taking the path of least resistance but in accepting the path God lays before us and traveling it with strength and courage that only He can give us.