1 Chronicles 29

David “served his own generation by the will of God” (Acts 13: nkjv). When you serve your own generation faithfully, you also serve future generations. “He who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2: nkjv). The legacy of David enriched God’s people Israel for centuries. Not only did David provide all that was needed for the building of the temple, he also wrote songs and designed musical instruments to be used in the worship services (23:5). Even more, it was through David’s family that the Savior came into the world, “the Root and Offspring of David” (Rev. 22:16), so David still enriches the church today.

When we hear David’s name, we may think first of Bathsheba and David’s sins, but these chapters present David the builder, the man who risked his life to gather wealth for the building of a temple to the glory of God. He’s a great example for believers of every age who want to make their lives count for Christ and leave behind their own legacy of spiritual blessing.

Spiritual motivation Some Bible readers today might be tempted to scan these chapters, skip all the lists of names, and go on to read about the reign of Solomon in 2 Chronicles, but to do so would be a great mistake. Think of the encouragement and guidance these chapters must have given to the Jewish remnant that returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. (See the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and Zechariah.) These courageous people had to rebuild the temple and organize its ministry, and reading these chapters would remind them that they were doing God’s work. God gave each detail of the original temple and its ministry to David, who then gave it to Solomon. Those “lists of names” helped Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest examine the credentials of those who wanted to serve in the temple (Ezra 2:59–64), and refuse those who were not qualified.

These chapters encouraged the Jews in their labors centuries ago, and they can encourage us today as we seek to build the church (Eph. 2:19–22). When you read 1 Corinthians 3:9–23 and compare it with 1 Chronicles 22, 28, and 29, you see parallels that ought to encourage us to build the church the way God’s Word commands. David knew that God’s temple had to be built with gold, silver, and costly stones (22:14; 29:1–5), and Paul took these materials and applied them spiritually to the local church. They stand for the wisdom of God as found in the Word of God (Prov. 2:1–10; 3:13–15; 8:10–21). Wood, hay, and straw can be picked up on the surface, but if you want gold, silver, and jewels, you have to dig for them. We don’t build the local church on clever human ideas or by imitating the world; we build by teaching and obeying the precious truths of the Word of God. (See 1 Cor. 3:18–20 for Paul’s view of the wisdom of this world.)

Solomon didn’t have to draw his own plans for the temple, because the Lord gave the plans to David (28:11–12). As we read the Word and pray, the Lord shows us His plans for each local church. “Work out your own salvation [Christian ministry] with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12–13 nkjv) was written to a congregation of believers in Philippi, and though it has personal application for all believers, the emphasis is primarily on the ministry of the congregation collectively. Some local church leaders run from one seminar to another, seeking to learn how to build the church, when they probably ought to stay home, call the church to prayer, and seek the mind of God in His Word. God has different plans for each church, and we’re not supposed to blindly imitate each other.

The temple was built to display the glory of God, and our task in the local church is to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31; 14:25). When Solomon dedicated the temple, God’s glory moved in (1 Kings 8:6–11), but when Israel sinned, the glory moved out (Ezek. 10:4, 18–19; 11:22–23). We wonder how many local churches go through the motions of worship Sunday after Sunday, yet there’s no evidence of the glory of God.

The temple was to be “a house of prayer for all nations” (Isa. 56:7), but the religious leaders in Jesus’ day had made it into a den of thieves (Matt. 21:13; Luke 19:46; Jer. 7:11). A den of thieves is the place where thieves run to hide after they’ve done their wicked deeds, which suggests that a service in a local church can be a good place to go to pretend to be spiritual (1 John 1:5–10). How many local churches are known for their effective ministry of prayer? They may be houses of music, education, and even social activities, but are they houses of prayer?

The temple was built and God honored it with His presence because the leaders and people gave their best to the Lord, sacrificed, and followed His directions. This is a good example for us to follow today. We are privileged to assist in the building of the church, and our motive must be only the glory of God.

No amount of human machinery and organization can take the place of heartfelt consecration to the Lord. David was going to leave the scene, an inexperienced son would follow him, and the construction of the temple was a task beyond any one man or group of men. Apart from the blessing of the Lord, the people could not hope to succeed. Leaders come and go, but the Lord remains, and it is the Lord whom we must please.

David challenges the leaders (28:1–8). David assembled at Jerusalem the leaders mentioned in the previous chapters and reviewed for them the story of his great desire to build a temple for the Lord. It’s good for people to know the heart of their leader and how God has worked in his or her heart. He emphasized that it was the Lord who chose and anointed him and who chose Solomon to be his successor. He reminded the leaders of God’s gracious covenant with the house of David and of their responsibility to obey the law of the Lord. If they kept the terms of the covenant and obeyed God, He would keep His promises and bless the nation. As long as they obeyed the terms of God’s covenant, they would possess the land and enjoy its blessings.

David charges Solomon (28:9–10). Solomon had a great responsibility to set the example and obey the law of the Lord. A “perfect heart” means a heart wholly dedicated to the Lord, one that’s not divided. It’s unfortunate that in his later years Solomon became a double-minded man and began to worship idols, for this led to God’s discipline and the division of the kingdom. For the second time, David admonished Solomon to “be strong” (22:13), and he would do it a third time before he finished his speech (v. 20). Dr. Lee Roberson has often said, “Everything rises and falls with leadership.” If leadership is faithful to the Lord and trusting in Him, God will give success.

David conveys his gifts for the project (vv. 11–21). David’s first gift to Solomon was a written plan for the temple and its furnishings (vv. 11–19). While the temple followed the pattern of the tabernacle in a general way, what Solomon built was larger and much more elaborate than what Moses built. David reminded Solomon that these plans were not suggestions from the Lord; they were a divine commission. The organization of the priests and Levites was also commanded by the Lord. Moses had to make everything according to the pattern God gave him on the mount (Ex. 25:9, 40; Heb. 8:5), and so did Solomon. The plans for the temple spelled out how much material should go into each piece of furniture and each part of the building (vv. 13–19), and nothing was to be changed.

David’s second gift was another word of encouragement to strengthen Solomon’s will and his faith (v. 20). Like Moses encouraging Joshua (Deut. 31:6–7), David told Solomon that the Lord would never forsake him and that he could find in God all the wisdom and strength he needed to complete the project.

The third gift Solomon received from his father was a people prepared to work with him and complete the project (v. 21). We’ve seen how David organized the various levels of leaders, both civil and religious, so they could work harmoniously and follow their new king. Just as the Lord provided skillful people to construct the tabernacle (Ex. 35:25–35; 36:1–2), so He would provide the workers that Solomon needed to build the temple of Jehovah. This promise was fulfilled (2 Chron. 2:13–14). Furthermore, all the people would listen to their new king’s commands and obey him.

David’s fourth gift was his own store of wealth that he had accumulated for the building of the temple (29:1–5). According to 22:14, the spoils of battle devoted to the Lord amounted to 3,750 tons of gold and 37,500 tons of silver. David added from his own wealth 110 tons of gold and 260 tons of silver (v. 4). This means that David was responsible for providing 3,860 tons of gold and 37,760 tons of silver. But the king then urged his leaders to give generously to the “building fund” (vv. 6–9), and they contributed 190 tons of gold, plus another 185 pounds, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron, as well as precious stones. This sounds like Paul’s “gold, silver, and precious stones” (1 Cor. 3:12). The remarkable thing about the leaders and their offering is that they gave willingly and “rejoiced with great joy” at the privilege! This time we’re reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 8:1–5 and 9:7.

David calls on the Lord (29:10–21). This magnificent prayer begins with praise and adoration to the Lord (vv. 10–14). God had blessed David richly, so he blesses God thankfully! His words are a short course in theology. He blesses the God of Israel and acknowledges His greatness, power, glory, victory, and majesty. God owns everything! God is sovereign over all! His name is great and glorious! But who are David and his people that they should be able to give so lavishly to the Lord? After all, everything comes from Him, and when we give, we only return to the Lord that which He has graciously already given to us.

In contrast to the eternal God, David declares that he—the king!—is like any other human, an alien and a stranger on the earth. God is eternal, but human life is brief and nobody can prevent the inevitable hour of death. (Here David sounds like Moses in Ps. 90.) Since all things come from God, and life is brief, the wisest thing we can do is give back to God what He gives to us and make an investment in the eternal.

He assures the Lord that the offerings came from his heart and the hearts of his people, and that they gave joyfully and with sincerity. David prays that his people might always have hearts of generosity, gratitude, and joy, and that they might always be loyal to their God. In other words, may they worship God alone and not make wealth their God.

Like any godly father, David closed his prayer by interceding for his son Solomon, that he would always be obedient to what was written in the law, and that he might succeed in building the temple to the glory of God. (“Palace” in v. 19 kjv means “any large palatial structure.”) He then called on the congregation to bless the Lord, and they obeyed and bowed low and even fell on their faces in submission and adoration. What a way to begin a building program!

The next day, David provided sacrifices for the Lord and a feast for his leaders. The burnt offerings were sacrificed to express the people’s total dedication to the Lord. But David also offered fellowship offerings, and a part of each sacrifice was used for a fellowship meal. It was a joyful occasion that climaxed with the coronation of Solomon. It was very important that the representatives of all Israel agree that Solomon was God’s appointed king; otherwise, he could never have led them in the building of the temple. David was anointed privately by Samuel (1 Sam. 16:13) and publicly at Hebron on two occasions (2 Sam. 2:4; 5:3), so he was anointed three times. At the same celebration, Zadok was anointed high priest, which suggests that Abiathar was set aside. Eventually Abiathar turned traitor and supported Adonijah and was sent into retirement (1 Kings 2:26–27, 35).

The book closes on a sober note as it records the death of King David. A Russian proverb says, “Even the greatest king must at last be put to bed with a shovel.” True, but some bring glory to God even from the grave! From that day on, the Jewish kings were all measured against David (1 Kings 3:3; 15:5; 2 Kings 18:3; 22:2; 14:3; 15:3, 34; 16:2; 18:3; 20:3).

David’s legacy is a long one and a rich one. He unified the nation, gave the people peace in their land, and extended the borders of the kingdom. God chose him to establish the dynasty that eventually brought Jesus the Savior into the world. He provided much of the wealth that was used to build the temple, and the king who constructed it. He also purchased the site on which the temple would be built. God gave David the plans for the temple, and David recruited the workers to build it.

K I N G S1David wrote songs for the Levites to sing as they worshipped God, and he also provided the musical instruments. He organized the temple ministry and taught the people that the worship of God was the number-one priority for them and the nation. Before he died, he encouraged Solomon, challenged the leaders, and gave to the new king a united people, enthusiastic about building the house of God. We today learn from David’s life both what to do and what to avoid. We read and meditate on David’s hymns, and sometimes we sing them.

10:29)

A. God’s gift of wisdom—3:1–28 B. Organizing the government—4:1–34 C. Building the temple—5:1—6:38; 7:13–51

D. Dedicating the temple—8:1—9:

E. Building the royal houses—7:1–12 F. Miscellaneous royal projects—9:10–24

G. Solomon’s glory—10:1–29 A. Solomon’s folly—11:1–43 B. Rehoboam’s folly—12:1–24; 14:21–31

C. Jeroboam’s folly—12:25—14:

15:1—22:53)

A. Judah—15:1–24 B. Israel—15:25—22: The two books of Kings record about four hundred years of the history of Israel and Judah, while the two books of Chronicles see the history of the united kingdom and then the kingdom of Judah from the priestly point of view. Besides recording history, these books teach theology, especially the faithfulness of God in keeping His covenant, the E s t h e r J e r e m i a h J o n a h J o b L a m e n t a t i o n s M i c a h P s a l m s E z e k i e l N a h u m P r o v e r b s D a n i e l H a b a k k u k E c c l e s i a s t e s H o s e a Z e p h a n i a h S o n g o f J o e l H a g g a i S o l o m o n A m o s Z e c h a r i a h I s a i a h O b a d i a h M a l a c h i sovereignty of God in directing the destinies of all nations, and the holiness of God in opposing idolatry. Especially important is the way all four books magnify the Davidic dynasty and thus prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. The books of Kings identify eight kings of Judah, descendants of David, who pleased the Lord: Asa (1 Kings 15:9–15); Jehoshaphat (22:41–43); Joash, or Jehoash (2 Kings 12:1–3); Amaziah (14:1–4); Azariah, or Uzziah (15:1–4); Jotham (15:32–38); Hezekiah (18:1–3); and Josiah (22:1–2). The rulers of the northern kingdom were not a godly lot and were not part of David’s dynasty.

Acrisis isn’t what makes a person; a crisis shows what a person’s made of.” In one form or another, you find this statement in the writings of insightful thinkers from antiquity to the present. Another version is, “What life does to you depends on what life finds in you.” The same sun that hardens the clay melts the ice.

The kingdom of Israel was facing a crisis because King David was on his deathbed. In facing this crisis, different people responded in different ways.