April 19 A READ 1 CHRONICLES 28–29
David’s Final Words and Deeds
OVERVIEW
Compare the opening chapters of David’s life with the closing ones, and you will come to a startling conclusion: David ended his life the same way he began it—with humble confidence in God. In spite of his great and numerous accomplishments, he never let greatness go to his head. David’s final words to Solomon and the nation reflect the same wholehearted devotion to God that he first expressed as a young shepherd in the pasturelands of Judea. With the dream of his heart—building a temple for God—entrusted to his son and the tokens of God’s blessing all around him, David died “at a ripe old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. Then his son Solomon ruled in his place” (29:28).
MY DAILY WALK
Close your study of David’s life in 1 Chronicles by reading his prayer slowly and prayerfully. Is his expression of thanksgiving to God the prayer of your heart?
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!” (29:11-13).
David offered this prayer in gratitude for the generous, voluntary contributions of the congregation to the building of God’s house. Why not prepare a special offering for your church this weekend?
THE PERSON WHO FORGETS THE LANGUAGE OF GRATITUDE CAN NEVER BE ON SPEAKING TERMS WITH HAPPINESS.
INSIGHT
All That Glitters | 1 Chr. 29:7
Don’t miss the incredible statistics that describe the materials David set aside from his own treasury and from donations for building the Temple (29:7): 188 tons of gold, over 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and nearly 4,000 tons of iron. To get a true picture of the enormity and quality of the project, find the current price of gold and silver and calculate what those tons of precious metals would be worth today.
INSIGHT
Crowned and Crowned Again | 1 Chr. 29:22
The repeated coronation of Solomon—he is crowned here (29:22) and in 23:1—followed a pattern that began with Saul (1 Samuel 10:1; 11:15) and continued with David (1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 2:4; 5:3). In each case, the last coronation was a public confirmation of the first.
David’s Instructions to Solomon
1David summoned all the officials of Israel to Jerusalem—the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions, the other generals and captains,* the overseers of the royal property and livestock, the palace officials, the mighty men, and all the other brave warriors in the kingdom. 2David rose to his feet and said: “My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it, 3but God said to me, ‘You must not build a Temple to honor my name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’
4“Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, has chosen me from among all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen the tribe of Judah to rule, and from among the families of Judah he chose my father’s family. And from among my father’s sons the LORD was pleased to make me king over all Israel. 5And from among my sons—for the LORD has given me many—he chose Solomon to succeed me on the throne of Israel and to rule over the LORD’s kingdom. 6He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards, for I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father. 7And if he continues to obey my commands and regulations as he does now, I will make his kingdom last forever.’
8“So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel—the LORD’s assembly—I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the LORD your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance.
9“And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 10So take this seriously. The LORD has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.”
11Then David gave Solomon the plans for the Temple and its surroundings, including the entry room, the storerooms, the upstairs rooms, the inner rooms, and the inner sanctuary—which was the place of atonement. 12David also gave Solomon all the plans he had in mind* for the courtyards of the LORD’s Temple, the outside rooms, the treasuries, and the rooms for the gifts dedicated to the LORD. 13The king also gave Solomon the instructions concerning the work of the various divisions of priests and Levites in the Temple of the LORD. And he gave specifications for the items in the Temple that were to be used for worship.
14David gave instructions regarding how much gold and silver should be used to make the items needed for service. 15He told Solomon the amount of gold needed for the gold lampstands and lamps, and the amount of silver for the silver lampstands and lamps, depending on how each would be used. 16He designated the amount of gold for the table on which the Bread of the Presence would be placed and the amount of silver for other tables.
17David also designated the amount of gold for the solid gold meat hooks used to handle the sacrificial meat and for the basins, pitchers, and dishes, as well as the amount of silver for every dish. 18He designated the amount of refined gold for the altar of incense. Finally, he gave him a plan for the LORD’s “chariot”—the gold cherubim* whose wings were stretched out over the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant. 19“Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the LORD.*”
20Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished correctly. 21The various divisions of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple of God. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the officials and the entire nation are at your command.”