David's Charge to Solomon

                                                                   1 Chronicles 28:9-21

 

April 26, 2023

 

David's Charge to Solomon

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.  Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”

Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat;  and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the Lord, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts;  for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, and all the work of the service in the house of the Lord; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the Lord,  the weight of gold for all golden vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service,  the weight of the golden lampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand in the service,  the weight of gold for each table for the showbread, the silver for the silver tables,  and pure gold for the forks, the basins and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each;  for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.  “All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the Lord, all the work to be done according to the plan.”

Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.  And behold the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God, and with you in all the work will be every willing man who has skill for any kind of service; also, the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command.”

 

As a servant to the Master, our only job is to serve the Master and do what He tells us to do.  David had it in his heart to build God a house, but God said no, not you, but your son Solomon.  Now you cannot begin to read the verses above without seeing the time David had given in thought and prayer about the house for God, it is called Solomon Temple.

 

David accepted the no how do you do when God says no?  David put it all together, the materials, the works, the support staff, and gave a vision to the people of what God was going to do through Solomon.  But he did so much more, he gave Solomon details on each room, how they should be furnished, and what a gift, all Solomon had to do was listen and do.  I often wonder if the Church of 2023 is hearing from God, and preparing the next generation to know the God of your Father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought.  Solomon did as he was told, he served the Master and built His house.  And for years he served the Master until Solomon got full of himself, and allowed pagans to steal his heart away from God.

 

Could it be that with the blessing of God, Solomon forgot the servant/Master relationship, and he forgot the charge of David, to be careful?  He no longer acted on this charge from David; If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.  We know that Solomon forsakes God, he was like many who go by the name Christian, they put themselves before God, and they have no understanding of Servant/Master, for they are the master, but that will only bring heartache. 

 

If you find you have forgotten your identity, ask the Father to forgive you, and be careful to listen and do what the Master has said, do not let the crumbs the world offers steal the full life Jesus has offered.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice