1 Chronicles 28 Blueprints
Even though God wouldn’t let David build His Temple, David has blueprints and materials to pass on to Solomon, and instructions for the people.
Since we have been going through David’s life, I need to make sure this gets included in his story. I should have been coordinating the narratives in the two account, but I forgot, or maybe I got lazy. I will go back and rework all the accounts together before assembling it for his book.
I am not certain if this event happened before Solomon was crowned or after. My reasoning behind the question is that David “stood” before the congregation to deliver these instructions. By the time Solomon was anointed, ‘business’ was conducted in David’s bed chambers. Maybe he made a special appearance just for this purpose. The reason I might put it after, is that David clearly tells the people that Solomon will be the one to construct the Temple, as he is the one the Lord chose to be king after him. I don’t think Adonijah could have convinced the leaders to follow him if this address happened before Solomon was anointed. Too many people knew who the future king would be.
I’m going to err on the side of caution and put this event after Solomon’s anointing. David will make a special appearance in his last year of life. Let’s join David as he lays out his instructions.
♥ ♦ ♥
David knows that he cannot leave this earth without tending to the instructions for the House of the Lord. Since his own house was finished, he has been longing to see a house built for the Lord. He knows he will not live to see it here on earth, because God told him that his son would build it. But that doesn’t stop David from preparing for its construction.
With every conquest, David sets aside a portion of it for the building of the House of the Lord. He has amassed a large store of materials, but he knows more will be needed. He has also drawn up sketches of what he envisions it will look like. Now that Solomon is officially king, he has to ‘pass the torch’ of this project to him.
The people need to be told that they will be working under Solomon to complete this project. David knows that they love him, so giving them these instructions from his own lips will make them more receptive to whatever Solomon may need from them. He HAS to do this before he sleeps with his ancestors.
David calls Solomon to his bedside. As long as David still lives, he remains king. Solomon is instilled in the position of assuming that mantle once David dies, but that is not today.
Solomon eagerly goes to his abba’s bedside. He bows before David to honor him. As Solomon rises, David begins to speak.
“I need you to call ALL the officials of Israel together in Jerusalem. Have the officials of the tribes, the officials who administer the work of the kingdom, the leaders of the clans, the supervisors of the property and livestock that belon to the king and my sons—indeed all the palace officials, leading soldiers, and important men—gather in Jerusalem. I must address them as one.”
“It will be done, my lord” assures Solomon.
As soon as Solomon reaches the throne room, he calls for dispatches to be sent throughout Israel with David’s command for the leading men to assemble in Jerusalem. He sets a time of four days for them to reach Jerusalem. This allows for travel time for the most distant of the tribes. He doesn’t want to push the date too far back, as he doesn’t know how much longer David will walk this earth.
The day after the dispatches are sent out, the leaders of Israel come pouring into Jerusalem. Solomon is pleased to see such a rapid response. Apparently, they feel the same urgency Solomon does.
The morning of the fourth day dawns. David has saved as much of his strength as he can for his final appearance before the people. There is nothing he can do about his haggard look. He has earned it over the years of service he has rendered as both soldier and king for the people of Israel. But he will NOT appear before them looking weak and frail.
This morning, his servants wash and style his hair, dress him in his finest robes, and apply a little color to his face through the use of Bathsheba’s cosmetics. He even wears a corset to help maintain his posture. David takes one last look at himself in the looking glass before being helped from his room to the rear of his balcony. He will NOT allow assistance as he crosses the balcony, or stands before the people. He plans on using the balcony railing for any support he needs. And Solomon will be standing beside him, should any emergency need arise.
Solomon joins David at the rear of the balcony.
“Are you ready my lord” Solomon asks.
“I am. Are you” replies David.
Solomon nods and father and son step onto the balcony and cross it to stand just behind the railing. David takes a deep breath, or as deep as possible with the corset, to ready himself.
The crowd below the balcony is immense. They are all cheering for both their leaders. After a moment, David raises his hand for silence. The noise immediately dies down. They are ready for David to address them.
“My friends, listen to me. I wanted to build a permanent home for the Covenant Box, the footstool of the Lord our God. I have made preparations for building a temple to honor him, but he has forbidden me to do it, because I am a soldier and have shed too much blood. The Lord, the God of Israel, chose me and my descendants to rule Israel forever. He chose the tribe of Judah to provide leadership, and out of Judah he chose my father’s family. From all that family it was his pleasure to take me and make me king over all Israel. He gave me many sons, and out of them all he chose Solomon to rule over Israel, the Lord’s kingdom.
“The Lord said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who will build my Temple. I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. I will make his kingdom last forever if he continues to obey carefully all my laws and commands as he does now.’
“So now, my people, in the presence of our God and of this assembly of all Israel, the Lord’s people, I charge you to obey carefully everything that the Lord our God has commanded us, so that you may continue to possess this good land and so that you may hand it on to succeeding generations forever” (1 Chronicles 28:2-8).
Heads are nodding throughout the crowd as they take on David’s dream with him. David turns to Solomon next.
“My son, I charge you to acknowledge your father’s God and to serve him with an undivided heart and a willing mind. He knows all our thoughts and desires. If you go to him, he will accept you; but if you turn away from him, he will abandon you forever. You must realize that the Lord has chosen you to build his holy Temple. Now do it—and do it with determination” (1 Chronicles 28:9-10)
Solomon bows his head before David in acceptance of this commission. David turns to his servant who is waiting at the rear of the balcony. He is holding items David gave him for this moment. David reaches out his hand toward him and he approaches bringing the items David had entrusted to him.
David faces Solomon again and begins to explain what is contained in the scrolls his servant is holding. “These scrolls contain the plans for all the Temple buildings, for the storerooms and all the other rooms, and for the Most Holy Place, where sins are forgiven. They also contain the plans for the courtyards and the rooms around them, and for the storerooms for the Temple equipment and the gifts dedicated to the Lord. The plans for organizing the priests and Levites to perform their duties, to do the work of the Temple, and to take care of all the Temple utensils are also included within. To help you in allotting the materials I have included instructions as to how much silver and gold is to be used for making the utensils, for each lamp and lampstand, for the silver tables, and for each gold table on which are placed the loaves of bread offered to God. Instructions as to how much pure gold is to be used in making forks, bowls, and jars, how much silver and gold in making dishes, and how much pure gold in making the altar on which incense is burned and in making the chariot for the winged creatures that spread their wings over the Lord’s Covenant Box are all included. ‘All this is contained in the plan written according to the instructions which the Lord himself gave me to carry out’ (1 Chronicles 28:19).”
David hands the scrolls to Solomon. Solomon looks down at them with longing eyes. He truly desires to pour over them and absorb every detail contained in them. But this is not the time. His knows Abba is not finished yet. Solomon tears his eyes away from the scrolls and looks again at David.
David smiles at Solomon, then fixes a determined look on his face and places his hand on Solomon’s shoulder before continuing.
“Be confident and determined. Start the work and don’t let anything stop you. The Lord God, whom I serve, will be with you. He will not abandon you, but he will stay with you until you finish the work to be done on his Temple. The priests and the Levites have been assigned duties to perform in the Temple. Workers with every kind of skill are eager to help you, and all the people and their leaders are at your command” (1 Chronicles 28:20-21).
Solomon nods and then bows before his king. “I accept all this from your hands and from the hand of the Lord. I will do ALL that He gives me. I will diligently complete this task for my Lord.”
David nods in return. He looks out over the crowd one final time, then turns and walks to the back of the balcony. Once he is out of sight of the people, he sags against his servant. His energy is completely spent. Two of his closest servants carry him back to his room. Once in the privacy of his own chambers, the corset and robes are discarded and he climbs once again into his bed. Abishag climbs in beside him to lend him her body heat. David falls asleep and dreams of the completed Temple.
Solomon takes the scrolls David has given him to his own chambers. He doesn’t have time right now to dig into them, but he will when the business of the day is concluded. David has shown Solomon some of his ideas over the years, but this is the first time he will get to see them all together. This will also be when Solomon views the organization of the Levites, including those appointed as singers, that his abba worked out with the leaders of the Levites a few weeks ago.
(to be continued)
I didn’t realize that the plans given to Solomon were actually given by the Lord to David. It makes sense, as God gave Moses detailed plans for the Tabernacle. He wasn’t about to leave designing His house up to man. I also didn’t realize how detailed the plans were. God let David see it in his mind’s eye, even though his eyes would never see it.
This had to be a bitter-sweet time for David. To have his dream realized, but not be able to do it himself. Handing over the plans for your dream project and asking someone else to finish it for you. David probably made peace with this a long time ago, but he had to revisit it again that day.
Thank You Father God for allowing me to complete, or at least start, some of my ‘dream projects’. I wonder if they will all be completed in my lifetime, or if someone else will have to bring the final pieces into existence. If it is in Your plan, YOU will see that it happens. I trust You Lord with ALL my dreams.
