I Chronicles 28:1-19 - David's Final Charge to Israel

I Chronicles 28:1-19

So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek after all the commandments of the Lord your God in order that you may possess the good land and bequeath it to your sons after you forever (verse 8). 

Message: David's Final Charge to Israel

Time: 1 Chronicles has a mystery writer and focuses on David's reign though doesn't repeat David's sin with Bathsheba. It was written in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah or 538-333 BC while the Jews were dispersed throughout Persia, some having returned from Israel. The book lists genealogies, pr+iests, Levites, armies, temple officials, and other leaders of various ministries and devotes significant attention to proper worship of Yahweh and adherence to the regulations of the Law. It focuses on obedience that results in God’s blessing, the priority of the temple and priesthood, and the unconditional promises to the house of David.

What the Lord is Saying: David is dying and at the end of his life Solomon is now beginning to build the temple after David has started gathering the supplies and items to be included in the build. 

David assembles all of the leaders of Israel, including tribe leaders, commanders, those overseeing property and livestock. He mentions that God called him and his people to build a home for the ark , a house for His name, yet he would not build it but his son Solomon. This came from the Lord. "His kingdom forever for those that perform God's commandments and ordinances." Blessings occur from obedience. This is the covenant relationship established by God. Our works do not earn God's acceptance but our faithfulness to his commands is done to ensure God's continued blessings. True discipleship is marked by obedience in learning to do all that God commands though I have always approached this as doing so because we want to be faithful to Him because of His great love for us. Even as I read and study Proverbs, living in righteousness yields good outcomes. Thus, in verse 8 of this chapter, "seek after all the commandments of the Lord your God so that you may possess the good land." Deuteronomy 6:17, "You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His provisions and His statutes which He has commanded you." We need to be serious always about keeping God's laws. 

David also speaks directly to Solomon and tells him to (1) know God and (2) Serve Him wholeheartedly. This is our way of life and what we need to desire. I will go to church tomorrow and my ambition in church should be to know Him. I serve Him by serving others and I am struggling right now in this regard. I am 58 now and feel like I am struggling with working and serving others in the church. My ability to do numerous priorities daily is getting harder. I am spending time in His word and enjoying knowing Him but finding that my service of God is waning. David also tells Solomon to know and serve "with a willing mind." This suggests eagerness and readiness. I feel like I need to blot out distractions. Verse 9 is a great verse. "Be courageous and act." 

Next David gives more detailed instructions regarding the temple. The porch or the entrance from the secular to the sacred. Churches most often call this the foyer but it is there before one enters the sanctuary. He explained its buildings designed to facilitate worship; supply rooms or storehouses; upper rooms for prayer and meditation; the mercy seat or atoning cover where the priests sprinkled the blood once a year for atonement. These plans reflected God's plans for the house of the Lord. 

There are specific instructions for worship. There are divisions in the worship process in order to make sure that worship is done in an orderly fashion. David isn't only providing Solomon the individuals but he is also now laying out the specifics of the material that is being used for construction. Each lampstand is mentioned as it is the light in the temple. It is a critical part of the temple obviously, its placement and how it is constructed. My understanding comes from here. Verse 16 mentions, "The table of showbread, also known as the table of the Presence, was a sacred piece of furniture in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, where twelve loaves of bread were placed as an offering to God, representing the twelve tribes of Israel." The placement of the cherubim overhangs the ark of the covenant and its details are mentioned. 

Summary: David commissions Solomon to build the temple, to trust God, be obedient to His commands and gives him detailed instructions on the inside building of the temple and its attributes. 

Promise: Pay close attention to God's words and his instructions. 

Prayer: Lord, give me strength. Lord, I want to know You and want to serve You but I admit getting busy and procrastinating and not getting after it at times. But I need to simply try. Like with the men of the art of marriage class. You gave me a charge to spend time with them and perhaps get them involved regularly with other men in prayer and encouragement. I need to follow up with them. Help me to make this happen. Just as the Lord chose Solomon to build a temple, it seems Your Spirit pressed upon me to get these men involved in small groups. Help me to be courageous and act. Courage is something I need Lord. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.