1 Chronicles 22
By David Petersen
Even with his strenghth failing during his last days, David continued to serve the Lord. He didn't just quietly rust out. He had longed to build a temple for the Lord. But the Lord had not allowed him to do that. When he was not allowed to build the temple, David didn't complain and say "Oh well, if I can't do what I want, then I'm just going to quit." No, he did what he could by preparing to have the temple built.
Sometimes church people will become dissatisfied and want to quit when things don't work out according to their own wills. "If I can't have my way, then I am going to change churches." David was not like this. He accepted God's will and continued to contribute to the work.
His advancing age and deteriorating health did not discourage him. Instead it gave him a sense of urgency. He knew that his time was running out. He did not retire to south Florida and play backgammon for the rest of his days. He didn't sit at home all day and watch Days of Our Lives and Wheel of Fortune. Instead of watching the wheel of fortune spin, he set the wheels in motion for the construction of the temple.
I don't know where you are in your spiritual life. However, the clock is ticking for all of us. Perhaps you need to trust the Lord for salavation. Some of you are playing on the "back 9" and have not served the Lord diligently during you lifetime. You can start today.
David enabled Solomon to do the work of God. Solomon made good use of the vast resources that David left for him to build the table. We should be engaged in enabling others to do the work of the Lord. In particular, we need to prepare the next generation to carry on the Lord's work as David did with Solomon. This preparation should start when they are young.
What legacy will you leave on the earth? Someone said "Life is short and soon it will be past, it's only what you do for Christ that will last."
Paul said "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." 1 Cor 3:6. Sometimes we may not see all the fruit in this life. But we still need to be sowing. And we need to trust God to give the increase.
A few verses later he said "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon." 1 Cor 3:10. What foundation are you laying?
1 Chronicles Chapter 22
22:1 Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.
2 And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.
3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight;
4 Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel.
7 And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:
8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
11 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.
12 Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.
13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
14 Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.
15 Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.
16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.
17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people.
19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.
Introduction | 2 Samuel 1-4 | 2 Samuel 5 | 2 Samuel 6 | 2 Samuel 7 | 2 Samuel 8 | 2 Samuel 9 | 2 Samuel 11 | 2 Samuel 12 | 2 Samuel 13-14 | 2 Samuel 15-17 | 2 Samuel 18-19 | 2 Samuel 20-21 | 2 Samuel 22 | 2 Samuel 23 | 2 Samuel 24