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God calls his people to be faithful
Through the centuries, this promise became part of the heritage of the chosen nation. Deuteronomy 7:6-8. Many generations after the promise was given to Abraham, these people entered the land of promise. Joshua 3:14-17. The conquest of the land was not complete until the time of the kings. After the first king disobeyed God - and was divinely rejected (1 Samuel 15:23) - David was anointed to be the next king (1 Samuel 16:13). His kingdom was, finally, established. 2 Samuel 5:3. Worship was, again, to become the focal point of the nation. 2 Samuel 6:13-18. However, David was a conqueror. 2 Samuel 8:1-13.We are told that "the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went." 2 Samuel 8:14. He had a desire to build a permanent place for the ark of the covenant. 2 Samuel 7:2. This man was divinely forbidden to construct this building. 2 Samuel 7:12, 13. Even though the final product would not be part of the personal legacy of David, he made many preparations for the construction of the temple. 1 Chronicles 22:3, 4. After Solomon - the son of David - was made king, the father gave instructions to the son, and prayed for the young man. 1 Chronicles 22:12, 13. A short inventory of gathered materials was presented. 1 Chronicles 22:14-16. Thus, Solomon was given a head start on one divine task that would mark - historically - the glory of his reign. As David passed the torch of the kingdom to Solomon, he wanted "all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men" (1 Chronicles 28:1) to know his desire for the completion of the house of God. As David stood before these leaders, he declared, "of all my sons, he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel". 1 Chronicles 28:5. Thus, rivalry among the sons was to be diminished - if not eliminated. However, see 1 Kings 1:5, 41, 50-53. The retiring king passed on to the new king the words of God that had been given to him. "And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father." 1 Chronicles 28:6. The message to the new king continued with words that showed the conditions necessary for the long-term success of this kingdom. "Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day." 1 Chronicles 28:7. David continued his address to all of these leaders. "Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever." 1 Chronicles 28:8. It is easy for the next generation to assume that the things of old are, simply, relics to be scrapped, or - at best - to become treasured antiques. David attempted to close this loophole, as he addressed Solomon before these leaders. "And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind…" 1 Chronicles 28:9a. The retiring king reminded his son that "the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts…" 1 Chronicles 28:9b. This information was followed by a warning - "if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever." 1 Chronicles 28:9c. Solomon knew the short history of the kings of his nation. David gave words of warning and encourage- ment. "Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it." 1 Chronicles 28:10. It was not necessary for Solomon and the leaders to come up with a design. "Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern… of all that he had by the spirit…" 1 Chronicles 28:11, 12. The retiring king did not want his son to think that this was some kind of human design that had resulted from the genius of the human mind. "All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern." 1 Chronicles 28:19. When some kind of project is begun, there can be great interest and energy shown. However, as time wears on, much of the original enthusiasm can begin to fade. David knew this tendency of the human mind. He gave specific words of encouragement to Solomon. "David said unto Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee: he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord." 1 Chronicles 28:20. Provisions had been made for the re-establishment of all of the orders of the priesthood and their service. "And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment." 1 Chronicles 28:21. Even though Solomon did not hear directly from God, he was willing to carry out the plan and purpose that had been given to his father. Even though we were not, personally, on the mount when our Lord went into heaven (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:12), we, still, must be obedient to the great commission (Mark 16:15-18; Acts 1:8). As Solomon was faithful, may we be faithful to the task that has been assigned to us.
Rev. Temples can be contacted at P.O. Box 1569, Auburndale, Fla. 33823; 863-965-0157. Email: jctjet@ aol.com
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