Year 1, Week 41, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 41, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 1 Chronicles 28.

Today’s reading continues a thread that started in the previous day’s readings with a primary focus on the Temple that was to be built. As the last several chapters have been identifying the particular duties for various Temple operations, so now everyone is called together: “David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of thousands, the commanders of hundreds, the stewards of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty men and all the seasoned warriors” (1 Chronicles 28:1). Now assembled, David speaks. Similar to 1 Chronicles 22, 1 Chronicles 28 contains the record of David’s charge for building the Temple, but also an assurance for Solomon that the LORD will provide all that is needed through His people. As David has previously stated, he was forbidden from building the Temple: “But God said to me, You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood” (1 Chronicles 28:3). However, David seems to have done everything he could have possibly done to insure that his son, Solomon, would build the Temple: “Be careful now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it” (1 Chronicles 28:10). David’s instructions to Solomon were ultimately from the LORD: “All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the LORD, all the work to be done according to the plan” (1 Chronicles 28:19).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading were the spiritual requirements that the LORD put upon Israel as they built the Temple: “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1a). This Psalm of Solomon, while probably broader in scope than the building of the Temple, is pertinent to the manner in which the Temple was to be built. The point of the Temple being built was to worship the LORD by celebrating His abiding presence with His people. Such an abiding presence is not simply a matter of having a Temple available. There were serious implications for how the people were to live if they wanted to experience the LORD’s presence. Leviticus explores the necessity of the people who wanted to approach the LORD to live in accordance with the LORD’s commands. Nadab and Abihu provide a tragic example of the danger of God’s presence when disobedience is entertained: “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified” (Leviticus 10:1-3). Obedience was needed after the Temple was built, and as it was being built. 

In addition to securing so many of the resources that would be needed to actually building the Temple, David charged Israel: “Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever” (1 Chronicles 28:8). This building project was about far more than pulling together the resources and raising a structure. This building project, like every other facet of their lives would, be about seeking out the commandments of the LORD and observing them. All of Israel was to engage in the building project as a component of living in true devotion to the LORD: “I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts” (Psalm 119:44-45). But even more so, Solomon was to cultivate true devotion to the LORD as he lead Israel to engage in the building project: “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

Solomon, son of David, was to seek the LORD, and if he did, the Temple would be finished and the people would experience the blessings afforded to them through gathering in the presence of the LORD to worship Him: “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished” (1 Chronicles 28:20). And while Solomon would see the Temple project completed, he would not finish his life in true devotion to God. However, another son of David would finish His life in true devotion to His Father, “by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8b). Thus, Jesus, the faithful son of David, is making a people into a Temple: “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). The true devotion of Jesus brings the presence of God into a new state of personal indwelling.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe