July 10 - David Prepares for the Temple

July 10 - David Prepares for the Temple
1 Chronicles 22:1-19; 28:1-21; 29:1-9

David couldn’t build the Temple, but he could certainly get things ready for his son, Solomon, to build.  He called stonecutters to prepare dressed stone. He provided iron to make nails.  He brought in cedar logs to build. He ordered all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon.  He gathered gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.  He identified stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as craftsmen beyond number.

If he wasn’t going to be able to do the actual building, he wanted to ensure that Solomon would have no trouble following through with his heart’s desire.

We read in 1 Chron. 28:11-18 that David had also drawn up the complete plans for the temple in accordance with what the Spirit of the Lord had placed in his mind.  The plans encompassed the portico, the buildings of the temple, the storerooms, the inner rooms and the place of atonement.  He also had instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites and those who would serve in the temple. He went so far as to specify the weight in gold or silver that would be used for each item from the table of consecrated bread to the lampstands; the forks, bowls and pitchers.  Finally, the plan for the cherubim which sheltered the ark of the covenant.

The Lord had promised that there would be peace and this meant that there would be plenty of time for the building to occur.

His words to the Israelites leaders were, “Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you might bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the Lord.” (1 Chronicles 22:19)

The people brought forth offerings of gold and silver, bronze and iron, and many precious stones.  “They rejoiced at the willing response of the leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced.” (1 Chronicles 29:9)

Solomon was made king and David died … at a good old age (1 Chron. 29:28).

A new age would begin.  The beginning would be glorious.