God's Choice Acknowledged

Reflections on 1 Chronicles 29:21-25

GOD'S CHOICE. Like Saul and David before him, Solomon was anointed as king both privately and publicly. Solomon was anointed hastily the first time because his brother Adonijah had proclaimed himself king. Zadok and Nathan anointed him as God's chosen and seated him on the throne before Adonijah could claim it (1 Kings 1:38-40). Similarly, Samuel anointed Saul the first time as a sign that God had chosen Saul (1 Samuel 10:1). Likewise, Samuel anointed David privately the first time to declare him as God's choice to replace Saul (1 Samuel 16:12-13).

CHOICE ACKNOWLEDGED. Solomon was anointed a second time before all the leaders of Israel. All Israel (officers, soldiers, and the king's sons) acknowledged Solomon as their king at the second anointing. Similarly, David was anointed again publicly both when Judah acknowledged him (2 Samuel 2:4) and when all Israel acknowledged him as God's chosen king (2 Samuel 5:3). (Saul was also later acknowledged as king, but a second anointing is not mentioned; see 2 Samuel 10:24; 11:14-15.)

JESUS, THE ANOINTED ONE. The Scriptures seldom mention whether later kings were anointed. It seems likely that most in Judah were anointed, but still it is seldom mentioned. However, the Psalms and prophets often speak of an ideal, anointed (messianic) king, and it is this king that was the hope of Israel. Jesus fulfilled the promised hope. He is spoken of as the Christ/Messiah/Anointed One. Jesus said that the words of Isaiah were fulfilled in him:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
-- Luke 4:18 (NIV)

Similarly, Peter declared that "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power" (Acts 10:38). Today, Jesus is God's chosen king. God has anointed him, and we should acknowledge him and submit to him in all things.

A National Assembly

Reflections on 1 Chronicles 28:1 - 29:20

After Solomon had been anointed king and set on the throne, David called the leaders of the government and the leaders of the Levites to Jerusalem to meet with their new king and put them under his command. Undoubtedly Solomon met with many of these leaders privately, but David also planned a national assembly while the leaders were in Jerusalem. Although David had been weak and confined to his own room in the palace, David rose to his feet on this occasion to address the whole assembly.

GOD SELECTED (28:1-7). First, he explained that he had wanted to build a temple for the Lord, but the Lord had not chosen him for the task. The kingdom was the "kingdom of the Lord" (v. 5), and God would exercise his sovereignty over his kingdom. He had chosen Judah to be a leader in Israel, he had chosen David to king over all Israel, and he had chosen Solomon to succeed David and build the temple in Jerusalem.

DAVID DIRECTED (28:8-10). David then charged Solomon to follow the Lord's commands carefully, to acknowledge God and serve him wholeheartedly, and to be strong and complete the building of the temple. He promised that if he would do these things, he would possess the land and pass it on as an inheritance to his descendants forever.

DAVID DELIVERED THE PLANS HE HAD RECEIVED (28:11-19). Then David gave to Solomon the plans for the temple that the "Spirit had put in his mind" (v. 12) and David had then put "in writing from the hand of the LORD" (v. 19).

DAVID ENCOURAGED (28:20-21). David encouraged his son with these words, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished" (v. 20).

DAVID ENABLED (29:1-9). David understood that the plans for the temple called for abundant materials because the structure was to reflect the glory not of man but of God, so he gave freely from his own treasures so that Solomon might have the resources to build the temple. The leaders of the people also gave freely for the project, and the people rejoiced greatly at the willing response of their leaders.

DAVID PRAISED THE LORD (29:10-20). David concluded his address to the national assembly with a song of praise to a majestic and powerful God before whom he and all Israel stood in awe because of their own insignificance. The public assembly not only solidified Solomon's position as king over all Israel, but it also motivated all Israel to help in building a temple for God.

Power Forward

Reflections on 1 Chronicles 27:1-34

When the leaders of Israel assembled in Jerusalem, David gave Solomon the reins of power which would enable him to rule Israel. David was able to give Solomon a kingdom and the glory that attended that kingdom because God had blessed him.

A large population is a king's glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined. -- Proverbs 14:28 NIV

OFFICIALS OVER THE ARMY. The army he transferred to Solomon was divided into twelve divisions. Each division, which consisted of 24,000 soldiers, was on duty one month during the year.

OFFICIALS OVER THE TRIBES. The thirteen officials over of the tribes of Israel were put under Solomon's authority. Two tribes, Gad and Asher, were omitted for unknown reasons bringing the number to ten. To these ten, three were added: officers over Levi, Aaron, and the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead.

OFFICIALS OVER THE ROYAL PROPERTY. Officers over the David's property were put under Solomon's command. His lands included vineyards, fields of olive and sycamore-fig trees, and pastures in the plains of Sharon and the valleys. His herds included camels, donkeys, sheep, and goats. He also had storehouses in Jerusalem and outlying districts. There were also officers over the field workers and over David's sons. David's remaining counselors were also turned over to Solomon.

An Enduring Legacy

Reflections on 1 Chronicles 23:1 - 26:32

During David's lifetime, David reorganized the Levites including the priests. This reorganization would be fully implemented under Solomon when the new temple was built, and it would be retained after the return from Babylonian captivity and endure to the time of Christ. When David counted the Levites, there were 38,000 over the age of 30. He divided them into four groups. The first supervised the work of the temple, the second acted as officials and judges, the third were gatekeepers at the temple, and the fourth praised the Lord in music at the temple. David called the leaders of the priests and Levites to Jerusalem to introduce them to Solomon, the new king who would build the temple where they would soon serve.

TEMPLE WORKERS (1 Chronicles 23:6 - 24:31). David retained the three divisions of Levites, but they were assigned different duties because a temple placed permanently in Jerusalem made their responsibilities in carrying the tabernacle unnecessary (1 Chronicles 23:26). Instead, they were put in charge of the courtyards and side courts, of purifying the sacred utensils, of making the bread, of overseeing all measurements, and of praising God (1 Chronicles 23:28-31). The priests were divided into 24 courses, 16 descended from Aaron's son Eleazar and 8 from his son Ithamar.

SINGERS (1 Chronicles 25:1-31). The singers appointed by David prophesied, gave thanks, and praised God with the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals (25:1-3). The singers were sons of three men: Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, a grandson of Samuel (1 Chronicles 6:33). They were divided into 24 groups which corresponded to the 24 courses of priests. They had served at the tabernacle and in Jerusalem since the day David brought the ark to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 6:31-32; 16:39-42). David's instructions for their service in the temple came from the Lord (1 Chronicles 28:19; 2 Chronicles 29:25).

GATEKEEPERS (1 Chronicles 26:1-28). The first gatekeepers were assigned their positions at the Tent by David and Samuel (1 Chronicles 9:22-23) and at the ark when it was brought to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15:23-24). Their duties would be greatly expanded when the temple was built. Treasurers were a special section of the gatekeepers.

OFFICIALS AND JUDGES (1 Chronicles 26:29-32). The Levites who served as officials and judges were divided into two groups: one group consisting of 1,700 men served west of the Jordan, and a second group consisting of 2,700 men served east of the Jordan. They all served in matters pertaining to God and in the affairs of the king.

The long lists of names makes it is easy to lose sight of David's accomplishments with regard to the worship of God. What he did was make it easier for Israel to remember their God and transfer that knowledge to coming generations. This is exactly what God wanted.

He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
-- Psalm 78:5-7 NIV

Success Planned for the Successor

Reflections on 1 Chronicles 22:2-19

One responsibility of leadership is to prepare the way for a successor. Although it appears David was slow to designate Solomon as his successor, he had prepared the way for him.

PLAN AND CHARGE. David had wanted to build a house for the Lord, but God had forbidden him because he was a man of blood and war. Still, God promised that his son Solomon would be a man of peace and that he would build a house for God. When Solomon had been appointed king, David called him in and charged him to build a house for the Lord. David prepared the way for his successor by giving him a clear objective.

INEXPERIENCE. David may have been slow to designate Solomon as co-regent because Solomon was young and inexperienced. Solomon could not have been born much earlier than halfway through David's 40-year reign (he was born after the conquest of Ammon), but he did have a son before he became king (cf. 1 Kings 11:42 and 1 Kings 14:21), so he was probably about 20 years old. At that age, he would not have had the same experience in managing any of the royal property as brothers who were 10 to 15 years older (Absalom had had charge of sheep and sheep shearing; 2 Samuel 13:23). This may account for David's apparent reluctance to name a successor.

PREPARATION. Because David was passionate about his dream and because Solomon was young, David had already enlisted many of the laborers (stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in working with gold, silver, bronze, and iron) and donated materials (cedar logs, bronze, iron, silver, and gold) needed for building the temple.

BLESSING. After David instructed Solomon to build the temple and told him the preparations he had already made, he blessed his son wishing the Lord to be with him and to give him discretion, understanding, and success. Finally, he charged him to obey the Lord, to be strong and courageous, and never to be afraid or discouraged.