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.