2 Chronicles 4:1-22 - Shining Vessels of Service in the Temple

2 Chronicles 4:1-22

Furnishings of the Temple (1 Kings 6:23–38; 7:13–51)

1 Moreover he made a bronze altar: twenty cubits was its length, twenty cubits its width, and ten cubits its height.

2 Then he made the Sea of cast bronze, ten cubits from one brim to the other; it was completely round. Its height was five cubits, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. 3 And under it was the likeness of oxen encircling it all around, ten to a cubit, all the way around the Sea. The oxen were cast in two rows, when it was cast. 4 It stood on twelve oxen: three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; the Sea was set upon them, and all their back parts pointed inward. 5 It was a handbreadth thick; and its brim was shaped like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It contained three thousand baths.

6 He also made ten lavers, and put five on the right side and five on the left, to wash in them; such things as they offered for the burnt offering they would wash in them, but the Sea was for the priests to wash in. 7 And he made ten lampstands of gold according to their design, and set them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left. 8 He also made ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left. And he made one hundred bowls of gold.

9 Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court and doors for the court; and he overlaid these doors with bronze. 10 He set the Sea on the right side, toward the southeast.

11 Then Huram made the pots and the shovels and the bowls. So Huram finished doing the work that he was to do for King Solomon for the house of God: 12 the two pillars and the bowl-shaped capitals that were on top of the two pillars; the two networks covering the two bowl-shaped capitals which were on top of the pillars; 13 four hundred pomegranates for the two networks (two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowl-shaped capitals that were on the pillars); 14 he also made carts and the lavers on the carts; 15 one Sea and twelve oxen under it; 16 also the pots, the shovels, the forks—and all their articles Huram his master craftsman made of burnished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the LORD.

17 In the plain of Jordan the king had them cast in clay molds, between Succoth and Zeredah. 18 And Solomon had all these articles made in such great abundance that the weight of the bronze was not determined.

19 Thus Solomon had all the furnishings made for the house of God: the altar of gold and the tables on which was the showbread; 20 the lampstands with their lamps of pure gold, to burn in the prescribed manner in front of the inner sanctuary, 21 with the flowers and the lamps and the wick-trimmers of gold, of purest gold; 22 the trimmers, the bowls, the ladles, and the censers of pure gold. As for the entry of the sanctuary, its inner doors to the Most Holy Place, and the doors of the main hall of the temple, were gold.

The furnishings or vessels Solomon had made for the house of worship for the LORD are described here in detail.  The altar, the sea, the washing lavers, the lampstands and bowls of gold, instruments to shovel the ashes of sacrifices, the capital pillars, and more.  He had the temple house furnished with all the accouterments for sacrifices of worship activity by the priests in the house of God with the finest gold, including the entry door, main hall door, and the doors to the Most Holy Place inside where the LORD God met the high priest to cover the sins of the congregation by sacrifice and appeasing prayer.  The gold covering was not just for its beauty of worship, but signified the purity of holiness to the LORD and of the sacrifices of worship offered as close as possible to perfection as is fitting for a holy God by the hands of penitent sinful man.  These vessels of service in the temple remind us now of ourselves and our bodies as His temples (1 Corinthians 6:19, 3:16) meant to be kept holy to offer worship, not to earn atonement on the mercy seat of the Most Holy Place inside, but with responsive thankful hearts for the atoning work of our great High Priest, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 8:1-2, 9:11-12) and the right given by grace to approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16, 10:21-22) in that place of holiness which we live to attain in our sanctification day by day as we approach Him in prayer and thanksgiving.  We are the vessels furnishing the house of God made to shine as lights of pure gold (Daniel 12:3, Matthew 5:16, Philippians 2:15, 1 Corinthians 3:12) reflecting Him in holiness (Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:15-16) of worship in daily sacrifice (Hebrews 12:1, 2) as we follow Jesus Christ to the glory and honor of our Father in heaven by the power of His Spirit living in and enabling us to so serve Him, shining our vessels to reflect His glory in conforming holiness.  May we reflect on this for His honor and worship. 

2 Chronicles 3:1-17 - Building the Prepared House of God

2 Chronicles 3:1-17

Solomon Builds the Temple (1 Kings 6:1–22)

1 Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 And he began to build on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.

3 This is the foundation which Solomon laid for building the house of God: The length was sixty cubits (by cubits according to the former measure) and the width twenty cubits. 4 And the vestibule that was in front of the sanctuary was twenty cubits long across the width of the house, and the height was one hundred and twenty. He overlaid the inside with pure gold. 5 The larger room he paneled with cypress which he overlaid with fine gold, and he carved palm trees and chainwork on it. 6 And he decorated the house with precious stones for beauty, and the gold was gold from Parvaim. 7 He also overlaid the house—the beams and doorposts, its walls and doors—with gold; and he carved cherubim on the walls.

8 And he made the Most Holy Place. Its length was according to the width of the house, twenty cubits, and its width twenty cubits. He overlaid it with six hundred talents of fine gold. 9 The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold; and he overlaid the upper area with gold. 10 In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim, fashioned by carving, and overlaid them with gold. 11 The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits in overall length: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, touching the wall of the room, and the other wing was five cubits, touching the wing of the other cherub; 12 one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, touching the wall of the room, and the other wing also was five cubits, touching the wing of the other cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubim spanned twenty cubits overall. They stood on their feet, and they faced inward. 14 And he made the veil of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, and wove cherubim into it.

15 Also he made in front of the temple two pillars thirty-five cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was five cubits. 16 He made wreaths of chainwork, as in the inner sanctuary, and put them on top of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates, and put them on the wreaths of chainwork. 17 Then he set up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand and the other on the left; he called the name of the one on the right hand Jachin, and the name of the one on the left Boaz.

Solomon built the house of God as prepared by Him and shown to David his father where and how it should be constructed.  The place was on Mount Moriah at Jerusalem where the Angel of the LORD stopped ed the destruction of the city (1 Chronicles 21:18, 22) at the threshing floor of Ornan after David had sinned by counting the people of God (1 Chronicles 21:1-2, 7-8, 14-15) to prove their strength instead of trusting God as their strength over their enemies and had chosen a plague from God over famine or enemy attacks as the price of pride.  That -lace was where mercy and grace were given and an altar erected as a placeholder until this temple was built to seek atonement through sacrifice and worship that trusted God’s glorious sovereign power instead of man’s strength.  The design patterned in the heavens (Hebrews 8:5, 9:8-9) was carefully followed as given to Moses for the traveling tabernacle until the permanent temple design was delivered to the man of war David and passed to Solomon as the man of peace to complete.  The Most Holy Place to meet with God where the Ark of the Covenant was made with the angelic cherubim standing over the mercy seat to seek atonement through the high priest every year then as a foreshadowing of Christ as our permanent High Priest who would sacrifice Himself as He officiated this saving grace once for all (Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 26, 28, 10:10) whom He calls to Himself to find eternal atonement in His sacrifice of death and resurrection for we the people of God.  It is this perfect temple of Christ Himself that even Solomon as a man of peace could only imitate by the heavenly pattern of the eternal one we now enter to worship in spirit and truth, at peace with God as we trust His work to battle for our souls and not by our religious rites or reliance of compliance.  Such is the grace founded in this pattern given on the mountain to Moses, to David, and built here by Solomon.  They were merely building the prepared house of the LORD God representing the true in the heavens to come, unseen until Jesus Christ revealed it to us. 

2 Chronicles 2:1-18 - Prepared and Ready to Build God’s House?

2 Chronicles 2:1-18

Solomon Prepares to Build the Temple (1 Kings 5:1–18)

1 Then Solomon determined to build a temple for the name of the LORD, and a royal house for himself. 2 Solomon selected seventy thousand men to bear burdens, eighty thousand to quarry stone in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred to oversee them.

3 Then Solomon sent to Hiram king of Tyre, saying:

As you have dealt with David my father, and sent him cedars to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me. 4 Behold, I am building a temple for the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to Him, to burn before Him sweet incense, for the continual showbread, for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, on the New Moons, and on the set feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel.

5 And the temple which I build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. 6 But who is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him?

7 Therefore send me at once a man skillful to work in gold and silver, in bronze and iron, in purple and crimson and blue, who has skill to engrave with the skillful men who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. 8 Also send me cedar and cypress and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and indeed my servants will be with your servants, 9 to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the temple which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful.

10 And indeed I will give to your servants, the woodsmen who cut timber, twenty thousand kors of ground wheat, twenty thousand kors of barley, twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.

11 Then Hiram king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon:

Because the LORD loves His people, He has made you king over them.

12 Hiram also said:

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, for He has given King David a wise son, endowed with prudence and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal house for himself!

13 And now I have sent a skillful man, endowed with understanding, Huram my master craftsman 14 (the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre), skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple and blue, fine linen and crimson, and to make any engraving and to accomplish any plan which may be given to him, with your skillful men and with the skillful men of my lord David your father.

15 Now therefore, the wheat, the barley, the oil, and the wine which my lord has spoken of, let him send to his servants. 16 And we will cut wood from Lebanon, as much as you need; we will bring it to you in rafts by sea to Joppa, and you will carry it up to Jerusalem.

17 Then Solomon numbered all the aliens who were in the land of Israel, after the census in which David his father had numbered them; and there were found to be one hundred and fifty-three thousand six hundred. 18 And he made seventy thousand of them bearers of burdens, eighty thousand stonecutters in the mountain, and three thousand six hundred overseers to make the people work.

Solomon as king was prepared by the LORD through his father to step into the moment he was ready to begin building the house of God.  He acknowledged that he was not worthy to do the work, yet accepted the responsibility of the calling to give it all his attention and effort, asking help and further supplies such as the wood and workers from king Hiram of Tyre whom his father knew and no doubt had recommended as he prepared his son for this monumental task.  He paid them all well as is fitting to honor God for their work in builds temple of the LORD which “heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain.”  Hiram acknowledged in response to the praise given him back to Solomon as a wise son with prudence (good sense in wisdom) and understanding (perfect discernment) for this glorious work.  Hiram sent his master craftsman to accomplish the difficult tasks in metal work, stone work, weaving, and engraving as well for honoring the God of Gods in the house built to honor and serve Him in worship of sacrifice.  All in all, there were also at exactly one hundred and fifty-three thousand six hundred foreign workers in the land from that king’s hand of generous support to assist Solomon in the immense task given him by the LORD through his father.  We likewise are given the task of building the house of God not made with hands as a physical temple building, but a spiritual one (1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Peter 2:4-5) of which we the people under God in Christ are the building blocks (Ephesians 2:21-22, 1 Peter 2:5) and timbers and whose effectual works are as precious metals (1 Corinthians 3:12-13, 16) adorning the building to honor and worship our Lord as living (Romans 12:1) sacrifices offered daily in death to self (Luke 9:23-24, Galatians 2:20) on the cross with him and living for Him as we give Him all our attention and effort under the humility of grace that enables us to serve and honor the Lord in this monumental task of building one another up to a mature man (Ephesians 4:12-13, Colossians 1:28-29) in Christ according to the ministry of His word in this glorious temple we are constructing in one another as His church universal.  Are we prepared and ready to build God’s house?

2 Chronicles 1:1-17 - What Do You Want From God?

2 Chronicles 1:1-17

Solomon Requests Wisdom (1 Kings 3:1–15)

1 Now Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and exalted him exceedingly.

2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ houses. 3 Then Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for the tabernacle of meeting with God was there, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 4 But David had brought up the ark of God from Kirjath Jearim to the place David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 5 Now the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD; Solomon and the assembly sought Him there. 6 And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

7 On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

8 And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”

11 Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”

Solomon’s Military and Economic Power (1 Kings 10:26–29; 2 Chronicles 9:25–28)

13 So Solomon came to Jerusalem from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tabernacle of meeting, and reigned over Israel. 14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 Also the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as abundant as the sycamores which are in the lowland. 16 And Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Keveh; the king’s merchants bought them in Keveh at the current price. 17 They also acquired and imported from Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred and fifty; thus, through their agents, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

Solomon assumed the throne promised to him and God gave him strength to rule after his father David.  He first brought the Ark of God’s testimony to the place in Jerusalem where the temple would be built by him, placed the bronze altar there, and made a thousand sacrifices to appease the LORD God there on behalf of the people.  After that day of worship in seeking to please the LORD, God came to him in the night, whether in a dream or just in person, it must have been a fright.  God asked Solomon to ask God, “What shall I give you?”  This is a critical question for us all even today in Christ after we do our best in devoted service of worship to our Lord and His people.  What do you want from God?  He still asks this question to each of us beyond mere service and attempts to love Him and others (Mark 12:30-31) as the commandments tell us.  Solomon wisely asked to be used for God’s purposes in his calling in the line of the Messiah as a wise ruler over the people promised by faith to Abraham (Genesis 13:16, 22:17-18) and through his father to him.  He therefore asked for both knowledge and wisdom to apply that understanding to lead the people in the promised kingdom.  We would do well to emulate this request to ask for knowledge to understand God’s word and the teachings there that we may gain understanding to apply it in true wisdom from the Lord and not our own reasoning or that of others apart from the Spirit’s imparting of the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:12-13, 16) to guide us in serving God and his children and glorify Him in the worship of our lives (Romans 11:34, 36) from the heart set on Him (Colossians 3:2) and His due honor and praise.  Solomon was given so much more that he did not ask for in addition to the unbounded wisdom and knowledge he requested as we also (Ephesians 3:20) can in Christ with the proper heart attitude of service and not selfish gain.  This of course does not guarantee us unbounded riches as Solomon since we are not the king of the kingdom of God’s people, yet the riches of grace and the word and fellowship of the saints far surpasses worldly mammon.  May we have the right mindset of Solomon to ask from God all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) to love and serve Him and others as the commandments meant for us to do from the beginning.  What do you want from God?

1 Chronicles 29:21-30 - Passing on the Legacy to Serve God

1 Chronicles 29:21-30

Solomon Anointed King (1 Kings 1:38–40; 2:12)

21 And they made sacrifices to the LORD and offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the next day: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 22 So they ate and drank before the LORD with great gladness on that day. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him before the LORD to be the leader, and Zadok to be priest. 23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the leaders and the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David, submitted themselves to King Solomon. 25 So the LORD exalted Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

The Close of David’s Reign

26 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 And the period that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years he reigned in Hebron, and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem. 28 So he died in a good old age, full of days and riches and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place. 29 Now the acts of King David, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer, 30 with all his reign and his might, and the events that happened to him, to Israel, and to all the kingdoms of the lands.

Passing the legacy on is the account found in the final passage of this book.  Solomon was anointed and crowned king for the second time (1 Chronicles 23:1) after first being pro as David’s successor, and this time he ascended to the throne to sit in his father’s place of honor and service to the LORD of God’s kingdom and people.  Solomon prospered in the LORD and all God’s people followed his rule under God, the same God who lifted up Solomon in the sight of the people for the wis given him to rule in majestic splendor without the wars and bloodshed hanging over him as with his father king David.  His father then died in a “good old age,” with his own honor under God and with the bountiful riches given him to rule with.  David and set the example of ruling wholeheartedly with all his warring strength, and now his son would reign with all his heart in the wisdom and peace of God for a long time as the legacy of God’s grace was handed down.  Do we follow this pattern in discipleship to pass on the legacy of serving God in the work of the gospel bringing peace with God (Romans 5:1) under the grace and wisdom given us in Christ as Paul (2 Timothy 2:2) also showed us in God’s word? 

1 Chronicles 29:10-20 - Sing, How Great is our God!

1 Chronicles 29:10-20

David’s Praise to God

10 Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said:

“Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.

11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O LORD,
And You are exalted as head over all.

12 Both riches and honor come from You,
And You reign over all.

In Your hand is power and might;
In Your hand it is to make great
And to give strength to all.

13 “Now therefore, our God,
We thank You
And praise Your glorious name.

14 But who am I, and who are my people,
That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?
For all things come from You,
And of Your own we have given You.

15 For we are aliens and pilgrims before You,
As were all our fathers;
Our days on earth are as a shadow,
And without hope.

16 “O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. 17 I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You. 18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You. 19 And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statutes, to do all these things, and to build the temple for which I have made provision.”

20 Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless the LORD your God.” So all the assembly blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and prostrated themselves before the LORD and the king.

After proclaiming that the house of the LORD was to be built, king David sang this song praising how great is his and our God.  He acknowledged the eternal nature of God who is worthy of all praise as he extolled His greatness, power, glory, victory, and majesty for ll to sing along with him in worship.  He further acknowledged His right to reign as Sovereign Lord over all creation and its inhabitants as our head under whom we fall in rightfully bowing before His authority and majesty.  David then reminded the people then and now that the LORD God deserves honor for all His provision which we receive from His hand and not our own labors (Jeremiah 32:17, Revelation 15:3), for only by His mighty hand (Deuteronomy 7:8, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Peter 5:6) do we have any strength or standing in this world.  Because of who God is and all he has done, we likewise should praise His great name and be eternally thankful for His deliverance of grace.  Israel was delivered from her mortal enemies to gain their promised land; we who are in Christ have been delivered from the ultimate enemy the devil and the punishment for our sins by the grace earned by the work of Christ and not our own.  This is why we have even greater reason to thank and praise the Lord as we realize that all we have comes from Him and His mighty hand of grace that we might willingly offer ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) at the altar of grace, in all humility, as sojourning strangers in this of sin’s woe.  Our days truly are as a shadow as all who walk the earth since Adam until we are called and chosen in that great grace of deliverance from sin and death (John 8:36, Acts 13:38-39, Romans 6:22-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24), given hope at last.  How great is our God (1 Timothy 1:17)!  Sing with me of His greatness to His honor and praise! 

1 Chronicles 29:1-9 - Loyal Hearts Give Freely

1 Chronicles 29:1-9

Offerings for Building the Temple

1 Furthermore King David said to all the assembly: “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced; and the work is great, because the temple is not for man but for the LORD God. 2 Now for the house of my God I have prepared with all my might: gold for things to be made of gold, silver for things of silver, bronze for things of bronze, iron for things of iron, wood for things of wood, onyx stones, stones to be set, glistening stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble slabs in abundance. 3 Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver: 4 three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses; 5 the gold for things of gold and the silver for things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be done by the hands of craftsmen. Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the LORD?”

6 Then the leaders of the fathers’ houses, leaders of the tribes of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the officers over the king’s work, offered willingly. 7 They gave for the work of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. 8 And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD, into the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly.

We find the example for our own giving to the work of the Lord in this account.  King David had prepared the materials and provided God’s design for the house of the LORD to his son Solomon, knowing that the work would be immense but necessary because the building was for God and not the people.  It was to be the place God met with man and man offered sacrifices of praise and worship to acknowledge the worth One above any other.  David had given freely and abundantly of his own treasure to the project and then challenged the others who were listening to devote themselves to the work of the LORD along with him.  The leaders all offered willingly as well with a loyal heart, wholeheartedly and perfectly at peace, complete and at rest in the decision as the word loyal (שָׁלֵם šâlêm) means here.  They did this with joy in their abundant giving (2 Corinthians 8:3-4, 5) as we should also with a willing (2 Corinthians 8:12) heart and mind at ease in giving to meet needs (2 Corinthians 8:13-14) and for the work of the Lord in His house we meet in to worship together in God’s presence with praise and thanksgiving as we meet those needs.  Loyal hearts give freely with complete peace in such acts of worship and praise.

1 Chronicles 28:1-21 - God Works through His Chosen Ones

1 Chronicles 28:1-21

Solomon Instructed to Build the Temple

1 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.”

When king David gathered all the leaders of his people together to announce the construction of the house of God, he humbly admitted it would not be his work, but the LORD’s, and that his son Solomon was chosen to lead that work.  God works through the ones He chooses, not always the obvious choices that we would make because His plans and purpose look at the heart for willingness but also at the choices we make in life such as David who was a man of blood and war.  God chose a man of peaceful reconciliation instead, even though He had still chosen David for the lineage of the Branch of faith who is the Messiah, the Anointed one of the LORD.  He chose the house from which the Lion of Judah would arise to reconcile the world to Himself (Romans 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:18, Colossians 1:20) to ultimately bring peace with God and establish his kingdom forever through the One and only able to perfectly keep all His word (Matthew 5:17, John 19:28) as promised.  Solomon responded to the charge and call to serve with a willing mind and loyal heart in seeking to please the one who called him to the task, knowing that the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts of men.  He was encouraged to be strong in the LORD and not fear or falter in the work set before him to serve and do for God.  We likewise have been called in Christ to accomplish His work through us, knowing our faithfulness or lack thereof affects our part in this but not the ultimate work itself, for our sovereign Lord is the one doing the work through our or another’s faithfulness.  May we be committed to be about our Father’s business with faithfulness, humility, and steadfastness in the grace we have been called into and in which we now stand in God’s chosen Son as His chosen ones for the tasks given us.  Remember that God chooses to work through His chosen ones (Isaiah 26:12, Philippians 2:13, Ephesians 2:10) to accomplish His will as planned from eternity (1 Corinthians 2:7, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2) in the gospel of Jesus Christ for His purpose (Romans 8:28-29, 30, Psalm 115:1, 1 Peter 4:11, 2 Thessalonians 1:12) and glory.  

1 Chronicles 27:1-34 - Counting or Trusting God’s Promises?

1 Chronicles 27:1-34

The Military Divisions

1 And the children of Israel, according to their number, the heads of fathers’ houses, the captains of thousands and hundreds and their officers, served the king in every matter of the military divisions. These divisions came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, each division having twenty-four thousand.

2 Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand; 3 he was of the children of Perez, and the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month. 4 Over the division of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his division Mikloth also was the leader; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 5 The third captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, who was chief; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 6 This was the Benaiah who was mighty among the thirty, and was over the thirty; in his division was Ammizabad his son. 7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 8 The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 9 The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbechai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

Leaders of Tribes

16 Furthermore, over the tribes of Israel: the officer over the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; over the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah; 17 over the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; over the Aaronites, Zadok; 18 over Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; over Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 over Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; over Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel; 20 over the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; over the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; over Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 over Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

23 But David did not take the number of those twenty years old and under, because the LORD had said He would multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish, for wrath came upon Israel because of this census; nor was the number recorded in the account of the chronicles of King David.

Other State Officials

25 And Azmaveth the son of Adiel was over the king’s treasuries; and Jehonathan the son of Uzziah was over the storehouses in the field, in the cities, in the villages, and in the fortresses. 26 Ezri the son of Chelub was over those who did the work of the field for tilling the ground. 27 And Shimei the Ramathite was over the vineyards, and Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the produce of the vineyards for the supply of wine. 28 Baal-Hanan the Gederite was over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowlands, and Joash was over the store of oil. 29 And Shitrai the Sharonite was over the herds that fed in Sharon, and Shaphat the son of Adlai was over the herds that were in the valleys. 30 Obil the Ishmaelite was over the camels, Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the donkeys, 31 and Jaziz the Hagrite was over the flocks. All these were the officials over King David’s property.

32 Also Jehonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a wise man, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel was the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion. 34 After Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, then Abiathar. And the general of the king’s army was Joab.

The king counted the military numbers but relied on the LORD for its strength and not the count; yet when counting the numbers of the children of Israel by family tribes, he do not count them all.  Those under twenty years old he refused to count because he chose to trust the promise of God to Abraham when He said He would multiply Israel (Genesis 15:5-6, 22:17, 18, Romans 4:3) like the stars of the heavens and the sand grains of the seas, which promise of faith we also hold to in counting ourselves dead to sin and alive in Him by that same faith that counts on God who numbers us and and multiplies us, not counting on our own numbers or strength for righteousness or our victory over sin and death.  God’s wrath remains on (John 3:36, Romans 1:17-18) those rejecting this promise of faith in His work on the cross of sacrifice which is Christ’s through the gospel of faith that does not count our sins to be met with His due wrath (Galatians 3:13-14, Romans 6:23) and to which promise we hold fast.  We therefore learn from this example to count on God’s grace and promise to deliver us from the enemy and not to count on our own strength or ability or wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:20-21, 25, 2 Corinthians 1:9-10) to gain the victory found only (Galatians 1:3-5, 1 Corinthians 15:57) in the Lord.  We therefore glory only in our Lord and His strength against the enemy (1 Corinthians 1:27, 30-31) and do not count on our strength in tallying our numbers as a people or nation or as a force we lean on as a way of reckoning to win the battles which really belong to the Lord.  Are we counting on our own abilities or trusting God’s promises with the faith of Abraham? 

1 Chronicles 26:1-32 - Watchmen of the Gates and Treasury

1 Chronicles 26:1-32

The Gatekeepers

1 Concerning the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. 2 And the sons of Meshelemiah were Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.

4 Moreover the sons of Obed-Edom were Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth; for God blessed him.

6 Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born who governed their fathers’ houses, because they were men of great ability. 7 The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers Elihu and Semachiah were able men.

8 All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom, they and their sons and their brethren, able men with strength for the work: sixty-two of Obed-Edom.

9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, eighteen able men.

10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the first (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him the first), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.

12 Among these were the divisions of the gatekeepers, among the chief men, having duties just like their brethren, to serve in the house of the LORD. 13 And they cast lots for each gate, the small as well as the great, according to their father’s house. 14 The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and his lot came out for the North Gate; 15 to Obed-Edom the South Gate, and to his sons the storehouse. 16 To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came out for the West Gate, with the Shallecheth Gate on the ascending highway—watchman opposite watchman. 17 On the east were six Levites, on the north four each day, on the south four each day, and for the storehouse two by two. 18 As for the Parbar on the west, there were four on the highway and two at the Parbar. 19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the sons of Korah and among the sons of Merari.

The Treasuries and Other Duties

20 Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasuries of the house of God and over the treasuries of the dedicated things. 21 The sons of Laadan, the descendants of the Gershonites of Laadan, heads of their fathers’ houses, of Laadan the Gershonite: Jehieli. 22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and Joel his brother, were over the treasuries of the house of the LORD. 23 Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: 24 Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was overseer of the treasuries. 25 And his brethren by Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.

26 This Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasuries of the dedicated things which King David and the heads of fathers’ houses, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated. 27 Some of the spoils won in battles they dedicated to maintain the house of the LORD. 28 And all that Samuel the seer, Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated, every dedicated thing, was under the hand of Shelomith and his brethren.

29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons performed duties as officials and judges over Israel outside Jerusalem.

30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, one thousand seven hundred able men, had the oversight of Israel on the west side of the Jordan for all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king. 31 Among the Hebronites, Jerijah was head of the Hebronites according to his genealogy of the fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought, and there were found among them capable men at Jazer of Gilead. 32 And his brethren were two thousand seven hundred able men, heads of fathers’ houses, whom King David made officials over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God and the affairs of the king.

Though different in their respective ways, these watchmen of the gates of the temple and its temple treasures (1 Chronicles 9:26-27) have much in common.  One watched the gates to the house of the LORD and the other watched over the treasury within the house itself.  The directional entrances or gates of the North, South, East, and West were the traditional definition of a gatekeeper and protected the area from robbers and attacks from the ungodly enemy (2 Chronicles 23:19), while those over the treasury focused on protecting the dedicated or consecrated things (Joshua 6:19, 1 Kings 7:51) of the temple from theft, those articles which were made of valuable precious metals of value in money to thieves but valued as instruments of service to God in righteousness to the LORD and the assigned guardians.  What we see as a picture here is the need for us to guard the valuables of the Lord such as the doctrines of truth and practice of righteousness in the house of the Lord today.  The gatekeepers are the elders and deacons who watch over the spiritual well-being of the flock (1 Peter 5:2-3) and minister the safety and support of the building and its worshippers (Acts 6:2-3) in the administration and service to meet the needs of the flock.  The temple now is not the building, but the spiritual assembly of the living stones (Ephesians 2:19-20, 21-22, 1 Peter 2:4) that make up the house of God which must be kept holy to serve Him with acceptable sacrifices (Romans 12:1, 2, 1 Peter 2:5) instead of the temple made of stone as in the days of this passage or even like our present day church buildings in which the real stones are being built up to worship in spirit and in truth.  May those called as the watchmen of the church’s gates and treasures of truth and service dwell on these things to serve and worship Him together as servants leading and caring by example.