Preparations to Build the Temple

1 Chronicles 22:1-19 

    1 Then David said, "This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel." 2 So David commanded to gather the aliens who were in the land of Israel; and he appointed masons to cut hewn stones to build the house of God. 3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails of the doors of the gates and for the joints, and bronze in abundance beyond measure, 4 and cedar trees in abundance; for the Sidonians and those from Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
    5 Now David said, "Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it." So David made abundant preparations before his death.
    6 Then he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel. 7 And David said to Solomon: "My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the LORD my God; 8 but the word of the LORD came to me, saying, You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.' 11 Now, my son, may the LORD be with you; and may you prosper, and build the house of the LORD your God, as He has said to you. 12 Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. 13 Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the LORD charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed. 14 Indeed I have taken much trouble to prepare for the house of the LORD one hundred thousand talents of gold and one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond measure, for it is so abundant. I have prepared timber and stone also, and you may add to them. 15 Moreover there are workmen with you in abundance: woodsmen and stonecutters, and all types of skillful men for every kind of work. 16 Of gold and silver and bronze and iron there is no limit. Arise and begin working, and the LORD be with you."
    17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 "Is not the LORD your God with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and before His people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God. Therefore arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy articles of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the LORD."

After King David waged successful wars for God’s people but failed to collect the half a shekel towards the building of the tabernacle from each one counted, he then learned the price, counted the cost, and moved from warring to planning.  He had stones cut, iron and bronze gathered together, and piled up cedar logs for his son Solomon.  These things he did because God told David that he was a man of war and had the blood of war (and of Uriah) on his hands, and therefore was not to build the holy house of God.  David really had his heart set on building the temple of the LORD, but accepted God’s decree of holy judgment and acted accordingly to His will.  Massive preparations were made for Solomon to be successful and not delayed due to his inexperience, but David also gave his son godly advice.  He told him why God chose Solomon to not only build a physical house, but be an eternal house as a line for the Anointed One, the Messiah/Christ.  God would give Solomon peace won by David’s battles, but more so by God’s own hand of grace in His selection of Solomon to bring peace and quietness (Psalm 131:2), for even the name Solomon means ‘peaceful.’  The messianic prophecies included being a son to God as Father (Hebrews 1:5) and having an eternally-established rule (Isaiah 9:7).  He prayed for wisdom and understanding for his son from the LORD, and that he would be faithful in following all of God’s word; only then would Solomon be blessed in all he set out to do as the chosen of God.  He reminded him to be strong and not afraid in this great task, but to take courage and do the work given him.  Then David reminded his son that he had prepared the material part ahead of time to build the temple, freeing him to concentrate on the spiritual aspects without worry for how to gather what was needed; David equipped Solomon, both with godly advice for and with provisions to accomplish the great task of building the house of God.  This house then was of the physical temple as well as the unseen dwelling to come of the Messiah in His people through his lineage (2 Corinthians 6:16).  The final charge was to bring in the Ark of God’s covenant into the finished house of God, and to aim his heart and life at the LORD his God above all things.  Such is the charge to us as well; we are to build on the foundation of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-17) wisely, for we are the temples of the Lord now.  This means we set our souls and hearts on following Him in devoted and willing obedience out of love.  These are our preparations to build His temple in us and among all called in Christ; He is our eternal rest and peace, sitting forever sovereign on His throne to rule us.  May we be children who honor Him by following His every word.  Amen and amen.