Good Monday to you my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
Making adequate preparation for important upcoming events is an important part of life, isn’t it? And those who plan well are normally rewarded with a good outcome, and those who procrastinate or disregard planning usually find themselves in chaos and often they cry out blaming others for their mess. Probably you and I have witnessed both extremes in people we know, maybe even our own families, right? Yesterday we witnessed King David chaos when he had not communicated a leadership succession plan for his throne and the kingship of Israel. Today, I’m happy to invite us to step into the opposite experience with King David. Will you join me in 1 Chronicles 22 in the Bible?
As King David was ageing one of his regrets was that while he had wanted to design and build a great temple for the God of Israel in Jerusalem, several years before, through his spiritual advisor the prophet Nathan, God had made it very clear to David that this major construction project was not his to take on, but rather his role would be making adequate preparations for his son to build a temple for God. (1 Samuel 7:12-14)
Time has passed and King David has realized that among all his sons, Solomon is the God selected son who will build this great temple and thus in 1 Chronicles 22 let’s watch as David does what we might call ‘good due diligence’ to be sure everything will be ready so that after David’s death, Solomon will be able to take on this great project as the first and priority project of the early years of his kingship. While David failed in some areas of his life, this is one of the great highlights of the older years of David’s kingship.
If you look at 1 Chronicles 22:2-4, you’ll see David set about to gather both a labor force and a vast amount of building supplies for this great project. While we do not have a Scripture record, it is obvious God Himself had given the very specific architectural plans to David, so there was no question about size and shape or location for this building, nor was there any confusion about building materials and especially about the use of very precious materials like gold and silver.
Then King David made this great statement: “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore, I will make preparations for it.’ So, David made extensive preparations before his death.” (1 Chronicles 22:5) Oh there’s great wisdom in that one verse isn’t there? King David was passionate about the fact that the One, True, Holy, Almighty God of Israel should have a magnificent building constructed in His honor to which the world would be called to consider God’s majesty!
As you and I look around the world today, at all the wide array of facilities in which God is worshiped, and styles of worship by which people gather to honor God, do you see a passion either in religious leaders or the worshippers that Almighty God be worshipped in a manner of which HE alone is worthy?
The record says David called his son Solomon, probably in front of a great gathering of the leaders of Israel, for a very special commissioning: “David said to Solomon: ‘My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. But the word of the LORD came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and fought many wars. You are not to build a house for My Name… But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side… and he is the one who will build a house for My Name’… ‘Now my son Solomon, the LORD be with you, and may you have success and build this great house of the LORD your God, as He said you would. May the LORD give you discretion and understanding when He puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” (1 Chronicles 22:7-13)
Did you hear words very similar to what Moses said to Joshua as the mantle of leadership was passed from one to the other? (Deuteronomy 31) I wonder how many times David and Solomon had discussed that great transition of responsibility between Moses and Joshua? I wonder if both father and son determined they would try their best to transition the kingship of Israel as seamlessly as Moses and Joshua had.
Now I ask us all, my friends, as we look back over the history of our nations, what has been the pattern of both leadership preparation for great projects, as well as leadership transition? I don’t mean only in political leadership, but the entire leadership culture of your society and mine, in business, education, health care, politics and even religious work. King David wasn’t finished with his message to his son and the other leaders of Israel.
As we look at David’s next comments, I’ll use modern measurements. David continued: “I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD – nearly 4,000 tons of gold; and 40,000 tons of silver; and so much iron and bronze that it cannot be weighed, as well as vast amounts of wood and stone… You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in every kind of work in gold and silver, bronze and iron – craftsmen beyond number. Now, begin the work and the LORD be with you.” (1 Chronicles 22:14-16)
Put yourself in young Solomon’s shoes for a moment, my friends. He was perhaps 20 years of age. The task being entrusted to him was enormous, but he must have had a surge of confidence when considering all his father King David had done to assemble a vast supply of resources needed as well as an army of well trained and selected craftsmen whose privilege it would be to construct one of the greatest buildings of all history!
Now I ask all of us… as we reflect on how our parents and other adults like teachers or coaches or spiritual leaders or even grandparents prepared us for the adventure of adult life, what do we conclude? And if you are a parent or grandparent, how have you and I prepared our kids and grandkids?
Finally, these last few lines of David are so important: “Then King David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. David said to them, ‘Is not the LORD your God with you? And has He not granted you rest on every side from your enemies? Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God so that you may bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the Temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD.” (1 Chronicles 22:17-19)
Do you see it my friends? David knew the secret to this great, legendary project would not so much be the craftsmen, nor the finest building materials, nor Solomon’s leadership but rather the success of this great project would be the degree to which Solomon, the leaders of Israel and all the people devoted their hearts and souls to seeking God!
Now we need to pause right here, don’t we? Several key questions we need to ponder:
1. How well have you made preparations for the rest of your life to honor God in every way?
2. How have you prepared your children and grandchildren for what you know awaits them in the years ahead of them?
3. How earnestly, passionately are you seeking God with all your heart and soul?
Here’s a song to help us worship and consider those questions, and tomorrow I’ll meet you right back here.
Today’s Scripture: 1 Chronicles 22.
Choose below to read or listen.
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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