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22 Then David said, “Here shall be the house of the LORD God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”
David Prepares for Temple Building
David commanded to gather together the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. David also provided great quantities of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, and cedar timbers without number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. For David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.
Solomon Charged to Build the Temple
Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’
“Now, my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you. Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God. Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. With great pains I have provided for the house of the LORD 100,000 talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone, too, I have provided. To these you must add. You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work! The LORD be with you!”
David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, “Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and his people. Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the LORD.”
(ESV)
1 Chronicles 22 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Though David served Israel in many ways, his primary role was as a military leader. He was considered a man of war. Before a nation can build a palace or temple, they must first defeat their neighboring enemies. David would defeat the enemies and Solomon would build the temple. This was the order the Lord desired.
David’s conquests gathered unbelievable wealth for the nation of Israel.
With great pains I have provided for the house of the LORD 100,000 talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone, too, I have provided. To these,you must add.
1 Chronicles 22:14 ESV
Today, this amounts to 36 billion in gold and 80 million in silver! Many think this is a scribal error, but even if that’s possible the fact remained that David provided the essentials for the needle to move forward. Commentator David Guzik compiled the following list of his accomplishments…
David is an example of someone who works in the background, who receives none or little credit for his work, but the job cannot be done without him.
• David gathered the materials for the temple
• David prepared some of those materials
• David won the peace with surrounding nations that Israel needed to build the temple
• David found and purchased the site to build the temple
• David established the plans for the temple
• David organized and commanded the administration and servants of the temple
This reminds me of the “greater David” who would come from his lineage. Jesus Christ did the same thing on a higher platform. He came with a Message and prepared humanity for the kingdom of God. He won the ultimate peace with God’s wrath by defeating sin and death at the cross. Jesus also prepared his “materials” (the church) who would take the Good News to the ends of the Earth.
When we read this story, we need to think in terms of David representing Jesus and Solomon representing us. Solomon needed to grow in wisdom in order to fulfill his calling. But, the foundation was already laid for him and victory was waiting. We have the same opportunity. Through Christ, our foundation has been set and the victory has been won! We must develop wisdom as we fulfill our role as his sons and daughters.