DAVID CHARGES SOLOMON
1 Chronicles 28:1-10
“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. (9)
chapter 28
1. David summoned all the officials of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the warriors and all the brave fighting men.
2. King David rose to his feet and said: "Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it.
3. But God said to me, ’You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’
4. "Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.
5. Of all my sons - and the LORD has given me many - he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
6. He said to me: ’Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
7. I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.’
8. "So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.
9. "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
10. Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work."
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. David, in his advanced age, called all the officials of Israel. His heart'sdesire was to build a temple for God. Yet God would not let him because he was a warrior. Even in David’s last stage of life, his heart was set on building the temple of God. Surely, David was a man after God’s own heart. He dearly loved God, making sure that God’s house was built in the next generation. So, David charged his son Solomon, in front of all Israel, to be careful to follow all the commands of God, that he may possess this good land. Also, to serve God with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind. If Solomon seeks God, God will be found, but if Solomon forsakes God, God will reject Solomon forever.
2. This was a clear charge from God. David was reiterating what God was saying because this was God’s truth. How can we follow all the commands of God? Only in Christ, we are free from all the laws (Gal 3:13). May we approach Jesus Christ. By faith in Jesus Christ, we will receive the promise of the Spirit. Solomon and Israel failed. But Jesus won the victory on the cross. Jesus is our true temple, who is in our hearts.
Prayer: Lord, Jesus, help us to daily approach you by faith and reveal your light and your glory through our lives.
One Word: Jesus is our true savior