UNROLL
Dawn on a bare limestone hilltop: a round rock threshing floor and a small altar of uncut stones with a thin line of smoke, and beside them neat heaps of white cut stone, stacked cedar beams and covered piles of bronze and iron, with a small walled town on its ridge below, under a calm, pale dawn sky.

The Book of

1 Chronicles 28

David cannot build the house. He gathers all Israel, charges his son, and puts the plan in his hands.

21 verses≈ 6 min2 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–9GenealogiesAll Israel, from Adam
  2. 10Saul fallsThe kingdom turned to David
  3. 11–12David kingAll Israel gathers
  4. 13–16The arkBrought home with songs
  5. 17The covenantA house forever
  6. 18–20David's warsThe LORD gave victory
  7. 21The siteOrnan's threshing floor
  8. 22–27Preparing the templePriests, Levites and singers
  9. 28–29David's farewellBe strong, and do the workChapter 28

David Commissions Solomon

Now David summoned all the leaders of Israel to Jerusalem: the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the divisions in the king’s service, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, along with the court officials and mighty men—every mighty man of valor.

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David
David

Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and as a footstool for our God. I had made preparations to build it,

but God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for My Name, because you are a man of war who has shed blood.’

Evening: old Samuel tips a ram's horn and pours a stream of golden olive oil over the bowed head of the youth David, the oil running into his reddish-brown hair, while his seven older brothers stand watching.

Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me out of all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah He chose my father’s household, and from my father’s sons He was pleased to make me king over all Israel.

And of all my sons—for the LORD has given me many sons—He has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. And He said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build My house and My courts, for I have chosen him as My son, and I will be his Father. I will establish his kingdom forever, if he resolutely carries out My commandments and ordinances, as is being done this day.’

David
David

So now in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, keep and seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God, so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants forever.

As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

1 Chronicles 28:9

Consider now that the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it.”

Chosen, step by step

He choseHe choseHe choseto sit onJudahchosen asleaderJesse’shouseholdof the houseof JudahDavidking overall IsraelSolomonchosen tobuild MyhouseThe throne ofthe LORDof the kingdom of theLORD

Whiteboard

Each step was the LORD’s choice: a tribe, a family, a son, and then one of David’s many sons. The throne was never David’s own. Solomon would sit “on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.”

Reflect

A whole heart and a willing mind

David told Solomon to serve God “wholeheartedly and with a willing mind,” because “the LORD searches every heart.” What would serving Him with a willing mind look like in the work in front of you this week? Where is your heart divided?

The Plans for the Temple

Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, storehouses, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the mercy seat.

The plans contained everything David had in mind for the courts of the house of the LORD, for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the house of God and of the dedicated things, for the divisions of the priests and Levites, for all the work of service in the house of the LORD, and for all the articles of service in the house of the LORD:

A dim treasury room lit by one clay lamp: two Levites in plain linen weigh small gold ingots against stone weights on a large bronze balance, beside open wooden chests of gold ingots and silver bars and a few plain gold and silver bowls.

The plan

Everything by weight

  1. By weight

    Gold and silver articles

    the weight of all the gold articles for every kind of service;

    the weight of all the silver articles for every kind of service;

  2. Gold and silver lampstands

    the weight of the gold lampstands and their lamps, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps;

    the weight of each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand;

  3. Tables for the showbread

    the weight of gold for each table of showbread, and of silver for the silver tables;

  4. Pure gold

    Forks, bowls, pitchers, dishes

    the weight of the pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls, and pitchers;

    the weight of each gold dish;

    the weight of each silver bowl;

  5. Refined gold

    Incense altar and cherubim

    the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense;

    and the plans for the chariot of the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

Inner court · size not givenNEastThe houseBronze altarThe SeaStandsStandsThe house, enlarged · 60 × 20 cubitsBoazJachinArkCherubimLampstandsSide roomsMost Holy PlaceHoly PlacePortico

Plan to scale in cubits · north at the top

Not yet built

The plan David gave Solomon

David gave Solomon the plans for the portico, the house, its storerooms, upper rooms and inner rooms, “the room for the mercy seat,” the courts and the rooms around them, the lampstands, and the cherubim that “spread their wings and overshadowed the ark.” This is the plan of a house not yet built: the house Solomon would build, drawn from its measurements in 1 Kings 6–7. The gold altar of incense and the tables for the showbread stood in the Holy Place. The courts’ size is not given; they are drawn modestly.

Question

Quick question

David handed Solomon the plans for the whole house, down to the weight of each bowl. Where did they come from?

What did David say about the plans he gave Solomon?

“All this,” said David, “all the details of this plan, the LORD has made clear to me in writing by His hand upon me.”

Evening in a stone court: the white-bearded old King David stands with both hands on the shoulders of young Solomon, looking into his face; Solomon stands straight, a rolled scroll tied with red cord held against his chest; behind them, small and soft, the leaders of Israel and a few Levites in white linen, under a warm, calm evening sky.

David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you before all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.

0:15

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the service of the house of God, and every willing man of every skill will be at your disposal for the work. The officials and all the people are fully at your command.”

Pray

He will not forsake you

Thank the Lord that He is with those He calls, and that “He will neither fail you nor forsake you” until His work is done. Ask Him for strength and courage for the work He has given you, so that you are not “afraid or discouraged.” And ask Him for a whole heart to seek Him, for “If you seek Him, He will be found by you.”

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1 Chronicles 28

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A verse to carry with you

David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you before all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.

1 Chronicles 28:20

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