preparations

Our Covenant-Keeping God

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1 This is the number of the people of Israel, the heads of fathers’ houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering 24,000:

2 Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division in the first month; in his division were 24,000. 3 He was a descendant of Perez and was chief of all the commanders. He served for the first month. 4 Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division of the second month; in his division were 24,000. 5 The third commander, for the third month, was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the chief priest; in his division were 24,000. 6 This is the Benaiah who was a mighty man of the thirty and in command of the thirty; Ammizabad his son was in charge of his division. 7 Asahel the brother of Joab was fourth, for the fourth month, and his son Zebadiah after him; in his division were 24,000. 8 The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhuth the Izrahite; in his division were 24,000. 9 Sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were 24,000. 10 Seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim; in his division were 24,000. 11 Eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites; in his division were 24,000. 12 Ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjaminite; in his division were 24,000. 13 Tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai of Netophah, of the Zerahites; in his division were 24,000. 14 Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah of Pirathon, of the sons of Ephraim; in his division were 24,000. 15 Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were 24,000.

16 Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites, Eliezer the son of Zichri was chief officer; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah; 17 for Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; 18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel; 20 for the Ephraimites, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. 23 David did not count those below twenty years of age, for the Lord had promised to make Israel as many as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but did not finish. Yet wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered in the chronicles of King David.

25 Over the king’s treasuries was Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah; 26 and over those who did the work of the field for tilling the soil was Ezri the son of Chelub; 27 and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. 28 Over the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite; and over the stores of oil was Joash. 29 Over the herds that pastured in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai. 30 Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. 31 All these were stewards of King David’s property.

32 Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, being a man of understanding and a scribe. He and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni attended the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel was the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend. 34 Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king’s army. – 1 Chronicles 27:1-34 ESV

As David neared the end of his life and his lengthy 40-year reign, he spent a great deal of time, energy, and financial resources getting his house in order. Along with his detailed preparations for the future construction of the Temple, he organized the Levites so that they would be ready to serve in this new house of God when the time came. He recruited musicians and singers to serve alongside the Levitical priests, providing worshipful music that would inspire the people of Israel in their adoration of Yahweh.

David knew that his reign was coming to an end and that his son, Solomon would serve as Israel’s next king. In fact, David had already placed Solomon on the throne as his co-regent. This decision was in direct response to an attempted coup by one of his other sons. To forestall Adonijah’s efforts to steal the throne from his half-brother Solomon, David hastily organized Solomon’s coronation and had Zadok the priest anoint him with oil and announce him as king.

Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” – 1 Kings 1:39 ESV

All that David did in the closing days of his life was in keeping with his understanding of God’s covenant promises. He was operating on the basis of God’s word and getting everything in order so that the full transition of power to Solomon would be as seamless and trouble-free as possible. David recalled the words of God and did everything in his power as king to ensure that Solomon’s future as king would be built on a solid foundation.

“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” – 2 Samuel 7:12-16 ESV

So, in chapter 27, the chronicler records David’s efforts to organize his army, governmental administrators, tribal leadership, and all those who served as counselors and advisors to the king. While David fully trusted that God could fulfill His covenant promises without any additional help, he was committed to making Solomon’s path to power an easy one. David conscientiously made all the necessary preparations – down to the last detail – so that he could die knowing his son would be well-established and well on his way to a lengthy and successful reign.

As David’s death date approached, he called his son to his side and provided him with one last piece of fatherly advice.

“I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’” – 1 Kings 2:2-4 NLT

In 1 Chronicles 27, the author reminds his readers that David was almost obsessed with his end-of-life preparations. He left no stone unturned and no detail unattended. From the construction materials for the Temple to the priests who would serve within its wall, David went out of his way to guarantee his dream of building a house for God would be fulfilled. But he knew that the Temple would need to dwell in a nation where its safety and security could be maintained by a stable government and strong military presence. That government would need reliable men who could serve in the highest offices within the royal administration. There would also need to be trustworthy officials to serve within each of the tribes, administering justice and providing oversight to the far-flung reaches of the kingdom.

David organized his army into divisions of 12 with each one serving on a rotational basis, ensuring that the kingdom was well-prepared for any threat that may arise.

This is the list of Israelite generals and captains, and their officers, who served the king by supervising the army divisions that were on duty each month of the year. Each division served for one month and had 24,000 troops. – 1 Chronicles 27:1 NLT

David was the warrior-king who understood the role of the military in the life of the nation. He wanted to leave his son with a well-trained fighting force that could effectively guard the kingdom from outside attacks or any possible threat of a coup from within. David knew from personal experience just how quickly a kingdom could fall so he intended to leave his son with an army equipped and organized to guarantee the peace and protection of the nation for years to come.

Again, David was painstaking in his efforts to secure Solomon’s future. He even took the time to deal with the appointment of civil servants within the various tribes. He knew that the success of any king was dependent upon the loyalty of the leadership at the local level. The support of the tribes would be key to Solomon’s longevity as king, so David took steps to assign men who could provide faithful leadership to their tribe and clan but who would also support Solomon as he attempted to lead the unified nation. This serves as evidence that David was moving the nation away “from the traditional tribal system towards a centralized bureaucracy” (Martin J. Selman, 1 Chronicles, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries). Israel was no longer a loosely organized confederation of 12 tribes, but a single nation operating under the rule of a king who served as God’s anointed leader.

While the modern reader may find all these details to be of little interest, the chronicler’s original audience was expected to draw encouragement from David’s zeal and determination. All of these preparations were made at the end of his life and he would personally experience no benefit from them. He would never see the completed Temple or worship within its walls. His efforts were not motivated by selfishness or self-centeredness. David was playing the long game and focusing his attention on the promises of God. His reign would end but his dynasty would be long-lasting because God had said it would be so.

The returned exiles who were living in the land of promise needed to be reminded that the promises God made to David remained in effect. Nothing had changed. Their God was still faithful and His word was trustworthy and true – despite the less-than-ideal circumstances in which they found themselves. They were back in the land of promise. They had rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, restored the Temple, reinstated the sacrificial system, and begun the slow process of renewing the kingdom that had been destroyed by the Babylonians 70 years earlier. But they had no king. Their nation was in disarray. Their hopes for the future were overshadowed by the reality of their current situation. But, like David, they needed to trust the promises of God and make preparations for the future. They had work to do and while they might not live to see the fulfillment of God’s promises, they must believe that He was faithful and true. He was the covenant-keeping God who was always good for His word.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Isaiah 29:11 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A Privilege and Honor to Serve

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1 As for the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. 2 And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. 4 And Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth, for God blessed him. 6 Also to his son Shemaiah were sons born who were rulers in their fathers’ houses, for they were men of great ability. 7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad, whose brothers were able men, Elihu and Semachiah. 8 All these were of the sons of Obed-edom with their sons and brothers, able men qualified for the service; sixty-two of Obed-edom. 9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, able men, eighteen. 10 And Hosah, of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him chief), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.

12 These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their chief men, had duties, just as their brothers did, ministering in the house of the Lord. 13 And they cast lots by fathers’ houses, small and great alike, for their gates. 14 The lot for the east fell to Shelemiah. They cast lots also for his son Zechariah, a shrewd counselor, and his lot came out for the north. 15 Obed-edom’s came out for the south, and to his sons was allotted the gatehouse. 16 For Shuppim and Hosah it came out for the west, at the gate of Shallecheth on the road that goes up. Watch corresponded to watch. 17 On the east there were six each day, on the north four each day, on the south four each day, as well as two and two at the gatehouse. 18 And for the colonnade on the west there were four at the road and two at the colonnade. 19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and the sons of Merari.

20 And of the Levites, Ahijah had charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated gifts. 21 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers’ houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.

22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham, and Joel his brother, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the Lord. 23 Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites— 24 and Shebuel the son of Gershom, son of Moses, was chief officer in charge of the treasuries. 25 His brothers: from Eliezer were his son Rehabiah, and his son Jeshaiah, and his son Joram, and his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth. 26 This Shelomoth and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries of the dedicated gifts that David the king and the heads of the fathers’ houses and the officers of the thousands and the hundreds and the commanders of the army had dedicated. 27 From spoil won in battles they dedicated gifts for the maintenance of the house of the Lord. 28 Also all that Samuel the seer and Saul the son of Kish and Abner the son of Ner and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated—all dedicated gifts were in the care of Shelomoth and his brothers.

29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were appointed to external duties for Israel, as officers and judges. 30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, 1,700 men of ability, had the oversight of Israel westward of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and for the service of the king. 31 Of the Hebronites, Jerijah was chief of the Hebronites of whatever genealogy or fathers’ houses. (In the fortieth year of David’s reign search was made and men of great ability among them were found at Jazer in Gilead.) 32 King David appointed him and his brothers, 2,700 men of ability, heads of fathers’ houses, to have the oversight of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of the Manassites for everything pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king. – 1 Chronicles 26:1-32 ESV

While reading these closing chapters of the book of 1 Chronicles, one must remember that all of this was being done by David, a man who dreamed of building a house for the Lord but had been denied that privilege by God Himself. Instead, David’s son, Solomon, would construct the Temple. But rather than pout, take his toys, and go home, David decided he would do the next best thing; he began gathering all the materials and establishing the organizational backbone that would make the Temple possible. Here he is, in the closing days of his administration and life, spending the vast majority of his time and wealth to ensure that everything needed to construct the temple was ready and available. He even put in place all the administrative and organizational aspects of building and maintaining the Temple – long before construction had even begun.

The amount of detail in these chapters is staggering. It can make for a difficult and somewhat boring read. But it reveals David’s passion for God. Even though he would never see the completed temple or have the privilege of worshiping in it, he made sure that it would be built and would be worthy of the One who occupied it. David’s passion for God is unparalleled. Having been denied by God the privilege of building the Temple, David could have gone about his life and let the weighty responsibility of this massive building project fall on the young shoulders of his son Solomon. But David was not going to risk taking his dream to the grave with him, never knowing if it would ever be fulfilled. He was determined to see that the Temple was built and his God honored.

He worked diligently and determinedly to make sure every aspect of its construction and ongoing maintenance was covered. His zeal for God’s house reminds me of how Jesus reacted when He found the money changers operating inside the Temple when He arrived in Jerusalem for Passover. He became angry and physically threw them out of the place. He was not going to allow His Father’s house to be defiled in such a way. Like Jesus, David had a passion for the things of God. You might even say he was obsessed. He was consumed with ensuring that the Temple would be a fitting dwelling place for God because God was worthy of it. David was determined to see that God got what He deserved, even if he never got to see it himself. That is dedication.

Dr. Thomas L. Constable puts it this way, “His preoccupation with God’s promises and his preparations for their fulfillment served as a good example for Chronicles’ original readers. David’s zeal for the house of the Lord reflected his zeal for the reputation of the Lord. He truly put God’s glory before his own personal ambitions.”

Could the same be said of me? Do I put God’s glory above my own personal ambitions? Is making God great and making Him known more important to me than anything else? Sadly, the answer is most often, “No.” But these closing chapters of 1 Chronicles remind me to make God number one in my life, to give Him the glory He deserves. Am I willing to recognize His greatness and tell others about it? Am I prepared to make the reputation of God more important than my own?

For David to hire 24-hour guards to station at the gates of the temple and to employ the finest musicians and singers, would have cost him a great deal of money. It should not be overlooked that he did all this before the Temple had even been built. He would not even live long enough to see the Temple completed. There must have been some in his administration who looked at all his efforts and exorbitant expenses and questioned his sanity and wisdom. They wondered why he would waste so much time, money, and effort for the construction of a house that God had not even allowed him to build. But David loved His God and wanted to please Him; he wasn’t concerned about what men thought about it all.

The apostle Paul shared David’s disregard for the approval of men.

…but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. – 1 Thessalonians 2:4 ESV

Paul lived his life in such a way that he could lay his head on the pillow at night, knowing that he had done what God had called him to do. He had been obedient and faithful. Rather than seek glory or the praise of men, he sought to bring pleasure and praise to God through the way he conducted his life.

We had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. – 1 Thessalonians 2:2 ESV

His life was not easy. Pleasing God did not come without its fair share of troubles and conflicts. There was always the not-so-subtle temptation to listen to the words of men and to seek their approval. Popularity and acceptance are strong urges in every human being. We want to be wanted. We desire to be accepted. But as children of God, our greatest desire must be to please God – not in an attempt to earn His favor or stay in His good graces. We can do nothing to make God love us more or force Him to love us any less. His great love for us has already been expressed in His Son’s death on the cross in our place. But our desire to please Him must flow from grateful hearts for all He has done for us. Pleasing men is a futile game to play because they are fickle and their adoration and acceptance will come and go. But God’s love for us is everlasting and unfailing. He deserves our willing desire to live obediently in response to His Word and in submission to His Spirit, not to please men, but to please Him.

One final thought: The men mentioned in this chapter were assigned the duty of serving as gatekeepers for the yet-to-be-constructed Temple. They were being hired for a seemingly menial job at a sacred site that didn’t even exist. They must have been jealous when they heard of David’s recruitment of other men to serve as the caretakers of the Temple treasury. He also handed out more cush-sounding assignments that included administrative responsibilities as officials and judges. Yet those chosen to serve as gatekeepers did not look down on their roles or consider their positions as inferior. They were honored to serve the king and their God as the protectors of the Temple.

Psalm 84 reflects the attitude of all those who were privileged to serve in any capacity within the Temple of the Lord. Written by the descendants of Korah, one of the sons of Levi, this Psalm gives a glimpse into the hearts of all those whom David chose to honor God with their lives.

A single day in your courts
    is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
    than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
    He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
    from those who do what is right.
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
    what joy for those who trust in you. – Psalm 84:10-12 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Sole Secret to Success

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1 Then David said, “Here shall be the house of the Lord God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

2 David commanded to gather together the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. 3 David also provided great quantities of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, 4 and cedar timbers without number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. 5 For David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.

6 Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart 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 waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’

11 “Now, my son, the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has spoken concerning you. 12 Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. 14 With great pains I have provided for the house of the Lord 100,000 talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone, too, I have provided. To these you must add. 15 You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working 16 gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work! 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 peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the Lord and his people. 19 Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the Lord.” – 1 Chronicles 22:1–19 ESV

David’s days were coming to an end. He was growing old and his reign as the king of Israel was just about over. His reign as king had been a roller coaster experience filled with wars, domestic disputes, and enough ups and downs to leave his head spinning. But as he contemplated the end of his life and reign, one thing was on his mind: The construction of the temple he had longed to build for God.

David had dreamed of building a house suitable for God but had been denied the privilege. Instead, God had promised to build a house for him – “a dynasty of kings!” (2 Samuel 7:11 NLT). And somewhere along the way, God had shared with David the reason his dream of building the Temple had been dashed. God informed David, “You have killed many men in the battles you have fought. And since you have shed so much blood in my sight, you will not be the one to build a Temple to honor my name” (1 Chronicles 22:8 NLT). This was not a divine indictment of David’s many wars and battles against the enemies of Israel; those conflicts were God-ordained and came with David’s role as the anointed king of Israel.

God was indicating that the Temple would be built during a time of peace, not war. David’s role had been to establish the kingdom by subduing Israel’s enemies and solidifying the unity of the 12 tribes under a common banner. He had successfully accomplished that mission but it would be his son who would build the temple during a time of unprecedented peace.

“…you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.” – 1 Chronicles 22:9 NLT

In Hebrew, Solomon’s name (šᵊlōmô) means “peace” and he would reign during a period of divinely ordained tranquility and stability. There would be no wars to wage or conflicts to distract Solomon’s attention. His time and resources could be dedicated to his primary responsibility of building a house for God.

This was in fulfillment of a promise that God had made to David.

“For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:12-13 NLT

Having been assured by God that his dream would eventually be fulfilled through his son, David went about making preparations for the construction of God’s house. Even though God had denied David the right to construct the temple himself, David was still excited about the prospect of his son, Solomon, making this life-long dream a reality. So, he began the process of buying the land, collecting the materials, and providing much of what was necessary for the process of construction to begin once he was gone and Solomon had ascended to the throne in his place.

David was a pragmatic man who knew that his young son would need all the help he could get to accomplish this massive building project.

“My son Solomon is still young and inexperienced. And since the Temple to be built for the Lord must be a magnificent structure, famous and glorious throughout the world, I will begin making preparations for it now.” – 1 Chronicles 22:5 NLT

David was taking no chances. To ensure that his dream was fulfilled according to his wishes, he used his authority, connections, and the royal treasury to set Solomon up for success.

David gave orders to call together the foreigners living in Israel, and he assigned them the task of preparing finished stone for building the Temple of God. David provided large amounts of iron for the nails that would be needed for the doors in the gates and for the clamps, and he gave more bronze than could be weighed. He also provided innumerable cedar logs, for the men of Tyre and Sidon had brought vast amounts of cedar to David. – 1 Chronicles 22:2-4 NLT

But David knew that Solomon would need more than a good location and the proper construction materials. He could provide Solomon with all the physical elements required to build a magnificent Temple but that would not be enough. There would be a spiritual dimension to Solomon’s efforts that would spell the difference between success and failure. He knew from first-hand experience that Solomon was going to need to be obedient to God, and not just in completing the construction of the Temple.

God had told David, “I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do” (2 Samuel 7:14 NLT). This promise would have been frightening as well as assuring. As a father, David wanted his son to avoid the discipline of God at all costs. He knew from personal experience that God’s punishment, while always lovingly administered, was difficult nonetheless.

Building the temple would be useless and pointless if the one constructing it was disobedient to God. In his role as king, David had learned the importance of faithful obedience to God. So he passed along what he had learned to his young son, Solomon:

“Now, my son, may the LORD be with you and give you success as you follow his instructions in building the Temple of the LORD your God. And may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, that you may obey the law of the LORD your God as you rule over Israel. For if you carefully obey the laws and regulations that the LORD gave to Israel through Moses, you will be successful. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!” – 1 Chronicles 22:11-13 NLT

David told Solomon that his success in building the temple would be tied to his faithful adherence to the instructions given by God. This would not be Solomon’s temple but God’s. He was to listen to God and do exactly what he was told. David prayed that God would give his son wisdom and understanding and that Solomon would obey God’s law for the entirety of his reign. He knew that obedience would be the key to Solomon’s successful completion of the Temple and his kingship as well. So, he encouraged Solomon to be strong and courageous and to not allow fear or a sense of defeat to mark his reign.

“The LORD your God is with you,” he declared. “He has given you peace with the surrounding nations. He has handed them over to me, and they are now subject to the LORD and his people. Now seek the LORD your God with all your heart. Build the sanctuary of the LORD God so that you can bring the Ark of the LORD’s covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the LORD’s name.” – 1 Chronicles 22:18-19 NLT

David was preparing to hand over the reins of a powerful kingdom that was enjoying a time of unprecedented peace. The royal treasuries were filled with plunder from his many successful military campaigns. He was bequeathing to Solomon a beautiful royal palace and a well-fortified city in which to live, along with a well-respected name and legacy of leadership that would be difficult to match.

But the most important thing David could leave his son was his encouragement to obey God faithfully. He recognized that this had been the secret to his own success, and he wanted Solomon to be a man after God’s own heart just as he had been.

David understood that the best way to recognize a man after God’s own heart is through his life of faithful, consistent obedience. There had been days when David disobeyed and failed to follow God’s plan, but he always returned to God, having recognized his sin, taken responsibility for it, and repented of it. He wanted Solomon to understand that the Temple would be useless and impractical if the God for whom it was built never took up residence in it, and disobedience would be the quickest way to guarantee God’s absence.

David had left Solomon far from empty-handed.

“I have worked hard to provide materials for building the Temple of the Lord—nearly 4,000 tons of gold, 40,000 tons of silver, and so much iron and bronze that it cannot be weighed. I have also gathered timber and stone for the walls…” – 1 Chronicles 22:14 NLT

There were ample stones and timber to build a magnificent edifice for God. Solomon would have no lack of resources or skilled craftsmen to accomplish this massive building project. But David knew that Solomon’s greatest need was internal, not external. David could provide all the manpower and materials necessary to bring his vision to life, but only Solomon could bring a heart that was wholly dependent upon the Lord. So along with all the timber, stones, gold, and silver, David left his son some sound fatherly advice.

Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the Lord’s name.” – 1 Chronicles 22:19 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Day 114 – Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13

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My Time Has Come.

Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13

“As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” – Matthew 26:18-20 NLT

The timing of Jesus’ triumphal entry, betrayal, trial and crucifixion was no fluke. The fact that this all happened during the celebration of Passover was no coincidence. This was the high holy week for all Jews and the city of Jerusalem would have been filled to capacity with pilgrims coming from all over the known world at that time. Luke tells us in Acts that there were “Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans and Arabs” (Acts 2:9-11 NLT). The city would have been a melting pot of different nationalities, consisting of all those who had converted to Judaism. Passover was a seven-day celebration that was followed 50 days later with the celebration of Pentecost, which commemorated the giving of the Law on Sinai. The energy level within the city would have been at an all-time high. People were everywhere. It was a festival and celebration, that would have had a holiday feel about it, much like Christmas does for us.

As the day for the celebration of the Passover meal approached, the disciples went to Jesus and asked Him where He wanted them to prepare the meal. This would not have been the first time they had celebrated Passover together. Ever since Jesus chose them as His followers, they would have made their way to Jerusalem each year, and eaten this meal together, much like a family, with Jesus as the head of the household. What the disciples didn’t know was that this particular Passover meal was going to be a radical departure from all those they had participated in before – all the way back to their childhoods. The entire last week of Jesus’ life, commonly referred to as Passion Week, was filled with significant allusions to the Old Testament celebration of Passover, most of which would have escaped the notice of the disciples. In Jesus’ instructions to His disciples, he said, “My time has come…” Jesus fully grasped the significance of what was about to happen and what it had to do with the Passover. He knew He was about to play the part of the innocent lamb, sacrificing His life in order that men might escape the grasp of death – just as in the days of the original Passover in Egypt.

His time had come. The climax of His earthly life was fast approaching. And as He sent the two disciples to make preparations for what would be His last Passover meal, His mind had to be swimming with thoughts regarding what was about to take place in the days ahead. Meanwhile the disciples who had been tasked with the preparations for the meal would have had their hands full. In reading the different accounts of this story in the Gospels, it appears as if all they had to do was procure a room. But there were extensive rituals to be performed. There was an unblemished lamb to purchase, sacrifice and prepare. In fact, these two disciples would have been the ones to actually take the life of the lamb they had chosen. There in the Temple grounds, along with thousands of other pilgrims, they would have watched as the life blood of their lamb was drained into a vessel, and then poured out at the foot of the altar. Then the lamb was “skinned, and cut open, the fat, the kidney’s, and liver, set apart for the altar; the rest wrapped in the skin, and carried home from the Temple.… As the new day approached, at sunset, the carcass was trussed for roasting, with two skewers of pomegranate wood, so that they formed a cross in the lamb. It was then put in an earthen oven of a special kind, resting, without bottom, on the ground, and was roasted in the earth” (J. Dwight Pentecost, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ).

Prior to this, they would have had to prepare the house in which they would be taking their meal together. They would have had to have removed all leaven, fermented grain or liquid, and anything that might defile the house. All the vessels to be used in preparation of the meal had to be painstakingly cleansed. This would have been an all-day affair. A blast from the silver trumpets in the Temple would have announced to all Jerusalem that the Passover had arrived. The time had come, just as it had over the years. But this time it was going to be different. This time there would be a new Lamb. This would be the final Passover. Once this week ended, there would never be a need for another lamb to ever be sacrificed again. No more blood would need to be shed. No more sacrifices would need to be made. A new covenant was going to be instituted. And while all of this escaped the notice of the disciples, Jesus was fully aware of what was going on and the eternal significance of the role He was about to play. It was for this moment He had come and the time had come for Him to do what only He could do.

Father, it is difficult to understand what these final days would have been like for Your Son. It is impossible to grasp what was going through His mind and heart as He drew closer to those final moments of His life. What He did, He did willingly. He was not forced or coerced. He was not made to die in our place. He did it gladly and out of love for us – in spite of our unlovableness. Thank You for sending Him to die in my place. Jesus, thank You for being willing to be obedient, even unto death – just for me. I know I didn’t deserve. I know I had done nothing to earn it. But You did it anyway. And I am eternally grateful. Amen.

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org