1 Chronicles 22:6-19--Solomon Charged to Build the Temple

1 Chronicles 22:6-19
English Standard Version

Solomon Charged to Build the Temple
6 Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. 8 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. 9 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. 10 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.’

11 “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. 12 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. 13 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. 14 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. 15 You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working 16 gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work! The LORD be with you!”

17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 “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. 19 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.”

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See how the book of Chronicles reads differently than the books of Samuel or Kings?  In the book of Chronicles, we've seen them focus on the life of David as the LORD fulfills His covenants.  We're now focusing on the Davidic Covenant--specifically the part where Solomon was going to build the Temple of the LORD (this is a really important part of David's and Solomon's story for the priests that are writing this).

David tells Solomon how it was in his heart to build a house for the LORD, but how the LORD did not want David to build His house, because he was a man of war with blood on his hands.  However, the LORD chose Solomon, who would be a man of peace, to build His house.  He also charged Solomon to be careful to obey the Law of the LORD in every aspect so that he might have peace, tranquility, prosperity and long life for himself and the people of Israel.  Solomon did not listen to this advice, but that's coming later.

David then tells Solomon of all that he has prepared for the building of the Temple in raw materials, finished materials, laborers and foreman.  There was little that Solomon actually had to work for as David had done most everything for him, but David encouraged Solomon to add his own offerings to the offerings that David had provided to make the Temple even more luxurious.

Then, David ordered all the leaders of the tribes of Israel to give their assistance to Solomon in any way possible, for this is the LORD's desires.  The people were to set their hearts and minds on the LORD as well, and the leaders were to make sure that the citizens stayed devoted to the LORD--it was not just the charge of Solomon as the king, the head of the national government, but also the charge for all the heads of tribes, and clans, and families.  This charge carried itself down all the way to the individual family units.  They were to be devoted to God and of one mind and one mission with Solomon and the charge the LORD had given him.  We'll get to see a description of some of the work going into building this Temple later in the book of Chronicles, but it is enough for us to see right now that David is making preparations for his succession and making sure that the LORD's instructions are passed onto Solomon.  The remaining chapters in the book of 1 Chronicles will be David doing what he can to make things easier for Solomon to take over and preparing the people for the transition.  You may thing that David made it too easy on Solomon because he didn't have to work for anything, and that could have led to some of the issues in Solomon's life, but there's something about having a succession plan, making it public and working towards it in a very public way that makes transition easier when it comes whether it's in business or family or government.  If everyone knows what's going on and what's expected to happen, then there should be less fighting over the power vacuum when the leader dies, retires, or is no longer able to fulfill their duties.