DAVID ADDRESSES THE LEADERS OF ISRAEL The beginning of the book of the kings, concerning the last days of David, introduced Solomon, yet not in a way as shining as did the present chapter and the following one of the chronicles; in which we see the awesome farewell of David to his son and subjects. In which we notice: 1- What Solomon did in building the temple of the Lord, has been realized as a symbol of what we should realize through the truth, having the Lord dwell and find comfort in our hearts as His own house. 2- Although David prepared huge provisions for building the temple, yet he could not provide the inner comfort of the soul; until our Christ comes to grant us comfort and peace. 3- God chose Solomon as His son, to build Him a house (10) (Hebrew 2: 3-4); And considers Solomon’s kingdom as the Lord’s kingdom (5) 4- This could be realized on one condition, namely : “If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever: (9) 5- The book of the chronicles did not give us an account of the attempt of Adonijah to take the throne by force; and the weakness of David in his last days, but concentrated on God’s work to give the throne to Solomon. 6- The assembly was not intended to set an architectural plan for the building; as the temple came as an extension of the tabernacle of meeting, set by Moses through a divine proclamation (Exodus 25: 9). 7- The beginning of David’s address reveals his sound view of the royalty; the king speaks to his people as a brother who cherishes them; considers that he was chosen for their sake (1 Chronicles 14: 2), and not for his own benefit, whether material or mental; and that the relationship of the king with God is like that of a son with his own father (60 8- The style of the address is similar to the language of the book of Deuteronomy and some of the writings of the prophets; the style of preaching, and the desire to serve the Lord with a complete heart (Deuteronomy 6: 5; Jeremiah 24: 7). 1- David assembles all the leaders of Israel 1 - 8 2- David gives Solomon a commandment, a promise, and a warning 9 - 10 3- David provides Solomon with the building plans of the temple 11 - 19 4- David encourages Solomon to start work right away 20 – 21 1-DAVID ASSEMBLES ALL THE LEADERS OF ISRAEL: David assembled all the leaders, to reveal to them his desire to build the temple of the Lord, and the reasons why he was denied that honor; and to reveal, as well, the reasons behind choosing Solomon to replace him on the throne. He spoke to the officers of the tribes, the heads of the divisions, the captains of the thousands and hundreds; the stewards over all the substance and possessions of the king, and all the vslient mighty men of valor. Nothing preoccupied him in his farewell address but the building of the house of the Lord; and instead of complaining for being denied the honor of building it, he proclaimed his care for preparing his son Solomon for the work. “Now David assembled at Jerusalem all the leaders of Israel; the officers of the tribes, and captain of the divisions who served the king, the captains over thousands, and captains of hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possessions of the king, and of his sons, with the officials, the valiant men, and all the mighty men of valor” (1) “After serving his generation by the will of God” (Acts 13: 36), David, approaching the time for his departure from his body; and as an example of the “Son of David”, who, the nearer he came to the end of His time on earth, the more He strived to consummate His mission; we see David restore a little of his vigor after the weakness mentioned in (1 kings 1: 1), he got a little stronger, probably in response to his prayer in (Psalm 71: 18), to have a chance to present a final service to God and his people. David called all his elites to bid them farewell together (1), the way Moses did (Deuteronomy (31: 28), and Joshua (Joshua 34: 2; 24: 1). He did not declare the name of his heir on the throne except in the presence of those who represented the people. He held a great assembly of all the leaders of Israel to support the enthronement of Solomon as his successor. He confirmed to them that his choice of Solomon was not based upon hereditary factors, but according to the will of God Himself.. “Then king David rose to his feet and said, ‘Hear me my brethren and my people; I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God; and had made preparations to build it’” (2), Talking as an old man in the last stage of his life, David introduced himself as no more than someone to his brethren, saying, “Hear me my brethren and my people” (2). It gave him great pleasure to have them as his servants (21: 3), but now he calls them his brethren whom he loves, and his people whom he shepherds, and not his servants whom he leads. Addressing them with a great deal of respects, he not only got up from his sick bed to meet them; but being activated by the occasion, he even got up from his chair and rose to his feet (2) in awe to the Lord whose will he was going to proclaim, and in reverence to that great assembly of Israel.. It is as though he sees himself less than them as an assembly, although he is greater than anyone of them; and although his advanced age, frailty, beside his great stature as the king, would be enough for him to address them while sitting; but he intended to show the humility of his heart, by rising up to his feet. It is befitting of the leaders to talk to their subjects with humility and compassion; for this will not lessen their honor, but will increase their love for him; … By so doing, David drew their attention to what he was going to say. According to St. Basil the Great, the virtue of humility is the best lesson we learn from the Lord Christ Himself, and an imitation of Him. He says that it is befitting of the leader to be in good relationship with all his brethren, which would reveal all the secrets of their hearts; To be a role model to appreciate; To love his brethren “just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children” (1 Thessalonians 2: 7); And to be like a physician of their souls, to provide the proper medication for every sickness they may have.He also says: [He should be before God, a servant of Christ, and a steward of His sacraments, who always fear to say or to do something against the will of God, to becomes accordingly a false witness to him; Or to be accused of defiling the sanctities, through presenting what contradicts the teachings of the Lord, or what does not give Him pleasure, in his relationships with the brethren, like a nursing mother cherishing her own children. He should desire to provide everyone, not only with the gospel of God, but to present what is for the benefit of the whole congregation, like the commandment of our Lord and God Jesus Christ, saying: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 13: 34); “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15: 13)]. “But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood” (3) Here David made it clear that he had the intention to build a temple for God, but that was not according to the will of God (2-3); which he previously revealed to his son Solomon (22: 7- 8). Here he made it clear that a house for the comfort of the ark of the covenant is a footstool for God; For heaven is the throne of God, and the earth and the most magnificent of temples are nothing but His footstool. There is great difference between the proclamations of the divine glory in the high and the low worlds; In the former, the angels surround His throne (Isaiah 6: 2); and in the later, we the weak and poor creatures, worship at His footstool. (Psalm 99: 5; 132: 7). As an evidence of his faithfulness and readiness to build the temple, David told the assembly about what he prepared for it; God did not allow him to build the temple because God assigned him to perform something else; the wars of Israel were enough for one individual to carry out; he had to serve the people by the sword; while another had to serve them by the tools of building. The time of peace is the time of building and edification (Acts 9: 31) “However the Lord God of Israel chose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever; for He has chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father, He was pleased with me, to make me king over all Israel” (4) “And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons), He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel” (5) He proclaimed that choosing him and Solomon after him for the throne, were according to a divine ordinance; they both were therefore, the most worthy of the kingdom, for the Lord God of Israel has chosen them by prophecies (4-5). Here the right of the firstborn did not apply; but that of worthiness, as it was in the following previous situations:: 1-Judah was not the firstborn to Jacob; yet God chose his tribe to be the ruling tribe; And Jacob prophesied that Christ will come from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49: 10). . 2- It so seems that the family of Jesse was not the greatest of the tribe of Judah; For Shiloh was before Perez; And it is not clear if he was a descendants of Nahshon or of Salmon; and Ram, father of Nahshon, had an older brother (1 Chronicles 2: 9); So probably were Boaz, Obed, and Jesse. 3- David was the youngest of the sons of Jesse; Yet God loved him and chose him to be a king. God chooses whom He loves, to make him like Himself; as He did with David whom He made “a man according to His heart” . 4- Solomon was among the youngest of David’s sons, Yet God chose him to sit on the throne, and to build the temple; on account of that he was the most wise and tending to peace. It is obvious from this chapter that king David, so far, has not completely and obviously given the throne up to Solomon. The way David himself did not take the throne through the laws of inheritance, the enthronement of Solomon after his father David was not according to these laws, but through God’s own choice; for he was not the firstborn, as proclaimed by David on that occasion. It is obvious that not all the leaderships received that proclamation well; but the author of this book disregarded the inner intentions of the other sons of David to take the throne. What preoccupied David’s heart was not the mere enthronement of Solomon, but building of the temple, and putting a firm and detailed plan to realize that.. David’s instructions to his son as he delivered the throne to him, came concerning the building of the temple; as though that was the foremost and most prominent task for the coming king. 5- David’s instructions in harmony with what came in the book of Deuteronomy and in the prophets; It came carrying the portrait of preaching in a sermon-like way. In it David, the prophet and king concentrated on the need to diligently keep the commandments of the Lord with the whole heart (Deuteronomy 6: 15); and to seek to find Him (Deuteronomy 4: 29). Here, the author proclaimed in a simple way that God commanded David to deliver the throne to his son Solomon, to let him build the temple, that he himself could not realize, but prepared all the possibilities to realize. The way Solomon was not the firstborn to David to follow his father on the throne; David himself was not the firstborn to his father Jesse. This trend began since the first generation of humanity; as God chose Seth to get the blessing, and not his elder brother Cain; and chose Jacob, and not his older brother Esau the firstborn. God’s accounts completely differ from human accounts. While men seek the firstborn according to age; the true firstborn in the sight of God, is the more holy one. We as believers, became members in the church of the firstborn, not for the sake of the element of time, but through our unity and fellowship with Christ the Firstborn. As the kingdom concerns God himself, He chooses whomever to set as a king, with no commitment to the regular laws of heredity; as David was not a heir of Saul; nor Solomon the oldest of David’s sons. In a talk by St. Gregory of Nyssa about the creation of man, he believes that God created the world with all its magnificence, as a great palace He prepared for Adam and eve as king and queen; And that God provided to man all the possibilities of happiness and authority over the creation He brought to existence for his sake. In an article “A comparison between the king and the monk” (Comparatio Regis et monachi), St. John Chrysostom reveals a Christian principle, namely, the perception of the believer, whether a monk, a priest, or a member of the congregation, that he looks into the grace of God working in him, to make him a king of authority, greater and more exalted than many kings. And according to St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi: God created the earth, with everything on and under it; and created the stars; as a preparation for his steward or ambassador on earth, man! … As though He was preparing a royal palace for the sake of the king. . “Now He said to me: ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father” (6) David feels that Solomon’s true Father was God Himself, who said: “For I have chosen him to be My son, And I will be his Father” (6) According to St. Jacob El-Serougi, man by entering into the water of baptism, enters into his new spiritual birth, and is liberated from his old physical birth. Instead of having Adam, smitten by the serpent, a father. He came to have the heavenly One as a new Father; and instead of the fallen Eve, he came to have the holy baptism as a new mother; By that we entered into a new life and new possibilities. + Your Father is in heaven and not in the pit … We forgot Eve, and received our new mother the holy baptism, without whom we would be cast from up high down to the depths. We forsook Adam, for God counts us as His children; Now we do not call that needy miserable Adam a father to us; for we found for ourselves another Father full of riches. + Enjoying the work of His divinity in the water of baptism; we truly became His children; and since then we have the right to call Him “Our Father”; who gave us His Spirit by baptism. + O the Son, who made us children to His Father in the water of baptism; By You, I talk about our spiritual birth; O the only begotten, who gave us His Spirit in the water of baptism; Grant me the Word to sing Your praise by it with love; O Lord, who chose to be a brother to the wicked servants; Fill me with Your teachings to preach Your grace every day; O the Great Sun, who dwelt with His light in the water of baptism, shine in me to be enlightened and to describe Your beauty, with amazement. O Son of the Virgin, who also gave us a Virgin mother; Let my tongue and my loud voice proclaim Your praise, by reason, and without any confusion nor controversy. (St. (Mar) Jacob El- Serougi) “Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is these days” (7) Here the author made clear the purpose of God’s grace concerning Solomon (6-70: “For I have chosen him to be My son”; by which he proclaimed Solomon, as a symbol of the Lord Christ: “You are My Son” (Psalm 2: 7); the son of His love, who is called ‘Jedidia’ because God loved him; ….. And the Lord Christ is His beloved Son: 1- About Solomon He said: “Solomon shall build My house” (6); And the Lord Christ is the Founder and the Foundation of the temple of the gospel. 2- About Solomon He said: “I will establish his kingdom forever” (7). This prophecy was fulfilled in the kingdom of the Messiah that will endure forever (Isaiah 9; 7; Luke 1: 33). …. As far as Solomon is concerned, establishing his kingdom is with a condition: “If he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is these days” (7) If Solomon continues to be as good as he is today, his kingdom will be established, or else it will not be. … Let us take heed that, if we are steadfast in our duty, and not otherwise, we shall expect the endurance of God’s favors on us. I wish those who have been raised good, and have a good start, take heed that, if they continue to be good they will be happy; for persistence leads to the crown. + God, in the compassion of His love presented to us purifying commandments; so that if we choose to keep them, we can be purified, not only from the sins, but also from the evil desires; for sins are something and the evil desires are something else. The evil desires are: anger, boasting, love of pleasures, hate, and unclean desires, etc. Whereas the sins are putting those desires practically into action; namely, man, by his body executes the works stirred in him by his evil desires. … Man may have evil desires, yet he may not put them into action.. The law in the old covenant intended to teach us not to do what we do to others what we do not like for ourselves; namely it forbade us the practical execution of evil. But now, in the new covenant, we are commanded to drive the evil desires themselves away from our minds, those that motivate us toward evil. (St. Dorotheos) + He who does not keep the commandments, has no love for the Lord. (St. Dedymus the blind) “Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the congregation of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, be careful to seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever” (8) God is He who sets the king on his throne; It is therefore befitting of the king, appointed by God, to keep the divine commandments. Not allowing David to build a house for Him, God intended to set David himself a house in which to dwell. According to the scholar Origen: [Let there be for the soul an altar in the middle of the heart, on which are offered prayers, and burnt offerings of mercy, on which are slain the bulls of pride by the knife of meekness; the rams of anger, and the goats of pleasure and evil desires … Let the soul know how to set in the most high place of her heart, a lampstand that will unceasingly shed light]. That is what the prophet David perceived; hence he counseled his people before he departs, saying: “Seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God” (8. After telling them about God’s promise that his son Solomon will built His house (6); he intended to make the whole people a holy house for the Lord. The way David prepared for his son huge possibilities for building the temple (1 Chronicles 28: 11-19), he sought from the people to be careful to seek all the commandments of the Lord, to stretch His hand and build His house. He directed them to attach themselves and be steadfast in God and in their duty toward Him (8). Here we notice the following: 1-The subject of guidance: “keep and seek all the commandments of the Lord your God”. The Lord is their God, therefore they have to be governed by His commandments; they have to honor them all, and keep them all; to search for them in the Holy Books; to give heed to the council, and seek the statutes from those entrusted for them by their lips; and to pray to God to instruct and guide them; For the commandments of God are not kept except by maximum care. 2- Give reverence to guidance: He guided them “in the sight of Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the hearing of our Lord”; a good council and a clear warning; which they would be wrong to disregard, for God and men will be witnesses against them (1 Timothy 5: 21; 2Timothy 4: 1). Those who minister in the church should be faithful in their ministry, and have favor in the sight of God and men. 3- The goal of observing the guidance: “That they may possess the good land, and leave it as an inheritance for their children after them forever” (8). + It is befitting of us to believe that any delay in doing according to the commandment is considered as a time of disobedience for those who follow it afterward … Hence, we should remember the saying: “Do not delay to turn back to the Lord, and do not postpone it from day to day” (Sirach 5: 7); And, “Do not say to your neighbor: ‘Go and come back, and tomorrow I will give it” (Proverb 3: 28) (The scholar Origen) + David heard the words his Lord directed to him; and assembled all the people of Israel; He gave the command, and brought thousands forth without census to the royal palace; The good shepherd started talking to his flock, to feed them with the spiritual food and drink; He opened his mouth up like a fountain that gives forth life, and quench the thirst of the people with good drink; “Hear me my brethren and my people; I am going on the great journey of the whole earth, and be buried like all my fathers” (1 kings 2: 2). I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant before I die; but God was not willing to let me build it (6) God said to me: “It is your son Solomon who shall build My house to dwell and be sanctified in it” (6) Now, my son Solomon is young and inexperienced. May the Lord who created him guide him and grant him wisdom (1 kings 3: 7; 1 chronicles 29: 1). Walk along the way of God, do not divert from it to the right nor to the left. Be careful to seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land, and eat its produce, as it is written (8). Do not do like your fathers who ate and dared; and the Lord cast their carcasses in the wilderness (Numbers 14: 29) Remember how I was surrounded by tribulations and evil dangers, but the Lord saved me, and made me stronger than all the kings (2 Samuel 22). You, likewise, if you abide with him with perfect love, you will not be harmed by wars, dangers, or difficulties (St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi) 3- DAVID GIVES A COMMANDMENT, A PROMISE, AND A WARNING TO SOLOMON: It is befitting of us to compare between David’s commandments to his son Solomon concerning the building of the temple of the Lord, at the end of the first book of the chronicles, with what he himself gave to him in (1 kings 21: 1-9). In the book of kings, after presenting the commandments, David commanded the killing of Joab and Shimei; But here, after an extended talk concerning the building of the house of the Lord, his commands concerned the priests of the temple and the worship in it. “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with a loyal heart, and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands all the intents of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever” (9) David ended his talk by giving advises to Solomon himself (9 – 10). He cared very much for Solomon to be religious; Being a great man, he should not look down at worship; he should be wise; and in worship there will be his wisdom. In his advises to his son, we notice the following; 1- To know the God of his father, his good father, who dedicated and raised him to God. Having been born in a house of God, he is bound to do his duty toward Him, and to give Him thanks; “Your, and your father’s Friend, you should not forsake”. You should know God and serve Him. We will not truly serve God, unless we know him; And we shall not know Him unless we serve Him by the whole heart, mind, and ability; namely, serve Him with a perfect and upright heart. 2- As all the secrets of our souls are exposed before God, for He searches the hearts, and even the unsearchable deepest of depths (Proverbs 25: 3); We, therefore should be faithful; for if we deal with Him with deception, He will know it, for no deception could pass undetected by Him. We should preoccupy our thoughts and use them to serve God, who knows both the pure and the evil thoughts. 3- From here, we may experience either true happiness or misery forever, according to what we do or not do to serve God; For if we diligently seek Him, we shall find Him, which is enough to make us happy (Hebrew 11: 6); and if we forsake Him, forsake His service, and did not follow Him, he will reject us forever, which is enough to make us miserable. We should know for sure that God will never forsake anyone, unless he first forsake Him. It is befitting of the kings and rulers to feel dedicated with their whole hearts and motives to the Lord; bearing the features of God of love, compassion, holiness and good behavior. + “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you. If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him” (1 Corinthians 3: 16-17). And, “If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him He will cast you off forever” (9). (St. Jerome) + The commands of God are: purity; mercy, and the abiding and unchangeable peace; and all the rest of the beautiful virtues, crowned with beatitude. Strive to observe the commandments of the Spirit, that grant life to your souls, and by which you receive God in your souls. It is the safest way. Without the purity of the heart and the body, no one could be perfect before God; as it is written: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5: 8). Perfection comes from the purity of heart; for the heart is the center of the natural good and of the un-natural evil. And evil is the source of the sufferings of the soul, of revile, hatred, vain glory,, etc.; Whereas the good will give birth to the knowledge of God, the holiness, and the purity of the soul, from all sufferings. (St. Anthony the Great) + How could he get the purity of heart, he who does not keep the commandments revealed by the apostle, saying: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6: 2); and he who does not have the virtue of love; which: “suffers long, and is kind, love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; … bears all things, … and endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7); “For a righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel” (Proverbs 12: 10). (Father Sherimon) + We may see how some of those who rejected the things of this world, not only the gold and silver, but even the huge possessions, would probably become disturbed and annoyed for the sake of a knife, a pen, a pin, or a feather; when, if they direct their sight upon the purity of heart, they would never be disturbed for the sake of such little things. Having forsaken the great riches, they will also forsake every other thing. (Father Moses) . . “Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it” (10) The Lord chose you to build a house for the sanctuary; Now, seek the Lord, Serve Him, so that the work would be consummated in the right way, and would be acceptable to God. In short David’s advises to his son Solomon were to: 1- Know the Lord personally 2- Keep the commandments of the Lord, and obey His judgments. 3- Worship the Lord with the purity of heart. 4- Serve the Lord with joy 5- Be faithful: “ take heed against anything that is or seem to lead to evil” 6- Be strong and brave; Do not leave any range for fear; for we will not be able to consummate our work as we should, unless we persist and support ourselves by the divine grace. 4- PROVIDING SOLOMON WITH THE BUILDING PLANS OF THE TEMPLE: There is no place for any human views in how to build the temple, As it happened with Moses, the model of the temple was presented by the Spirit. “Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat” (11) The way Moses got the plan of the tabernacle of meeting from God (Exodus 25: 9); the plans of the establishments here was presented by David as inspired by God (19) Although the architectural plan of the temple and all its courts and chambers were referred to king David; the architectural plans of the tabernacle of meeting were referred to the prophet Moses (Exodus 25: 9; Hebrew 9: 1-2); and the architectural plans of the temple of the new covenant, secretly to the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 46-48); the three plans were claimed to be proclaimed by the Holy Spirit (12-19). Those establishments, designed according to models of heavenly sanctuaries seen by the prophet Moses on the mountain, were proclaimed by God to David and Ezekiel, and seen in a vision by John the beloved. It is therefore befitting of the true believer to practice the worship of God on earth, as an icon of the worship in heaven. Concerning the advises given by David to his son Solomon to seek God and His service; the book of law was to be his only reference. As far is the building of the temple is concerned, David provides his son with a model of the building, which included features, neither he nor his architects have ever seen before. The way the model of the tabernacle of meeting God showed to Moses on the mountain (Hebrew 8: 5); the model of the temple was given by the hand of God to David (19), probably by the service of angels. David gave the model to Solomon to know what to make according to a certain law; And the Lord Christ, when he gave his disciples instructions to build the church of the gospel, provided them with an elaborate model of it, and commanded them to follow His instructions to the letter. “And the plans for all that he had by the Spirit of the courts of the house of the Lord, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things” (12) In the case of the tabernacle of meeting, the prophet Moses saw a model before his eyes on the mountain, and intended to do it accordingly. Here, David proclaimed that the organization of worship in the temple is by a divine inspiration (12). Even the holy vessels in the temple, although different from those in the tabernacle of meeting. Yet they did not differ in their sense. “And the plans for all that he had by the Spirit”: It is not possible to depend on David’s piety or Solomon’s wisdom in something that big; the temple, to be holy and to refer to the Lord Christ. It has to have, not only all comfort and fitting things, but, also some kind of the holy secrets; and therefore, should not be left to the art or imagination of man, but has to be divinely inspired. Christ is the true temple; the church is the temple of the gospel, heaven is the eternal temple; and all of them are divinely inspired.; and a model of each has been set through divine wisdom, even before the foundation of the world, for the glory of God, and our glory. “also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for the articles of service in the house of the Lord” (13) David provided Solomon with plans of the courts of the house of the Lord, of the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of all the dedicated things (13); a list of all vessels, and a model of the chariot of the cherubim (18). Beside the two cherubs over the cover of the ark of the covenant, there were two other cherubs much larger in size, and their wings stretched to touch the walls on both sides (1 kings 6: 23, 28). David provided Solomon with a model called “the chariot”, because the angels are “the chariot of God” (Psalm 68: 17) “He gave gold by weight for things of gold, for all the articles used in every kind of service; also silver for all the articles of silver by weight, for all articles in every kind of service” (14) As every thing had to be done according to the model, and not less, David provided Solomon with the exact weight of every item in gold or silver (14). “The weight for the lampstands of gold, and their lamps of gold, by weight for each lampstand and its lamps; for the lampstands of silver by weight, for the lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand” (15) In the tabernacle of meeting there was one golden lampstand (Exodus 25: 31-40); but in the temple there were ten of them (1 kings 7: 49), all assumed to be carried by hand (15). “And by weight he gave gold for the tables of the showbread, for each table, and silver for the tables of silver” (16) In the tabernacle of testimony there was only one table of showbread (Exodus 25: 23); but here there were ten more (2 Chronicles 4: 8), beside silver tables; for being much larger than the tabernacle, the temple had to be furnished with larger items to suit its large size.. “And pure gold for the forks, the basins, the pitchers of pure gold, and the golden bowls – he gave gold by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls, silver by weight for every bowl” (17) “and refined gold by weight for the altar of incense, and for the construction of the chariot, that is, the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the Lord” (18) The ark of the covenant was in the form of a throne, and not in the form of a chariot; Yet, we find the book says that it was in the form of a chariot, which, at the same time, according to the prophet Ezekiel, is the divine throne (Ezekiel 1) Concerning the altar of incense, the gold used in it was said to be “refined gold” (18); for. referring to the atonement intercession of Christ, nothing surpasses it in purity and perfection. “All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans” (19) 5-DAVID ENCOURAGES SOLOMON TO START WORK RIGHT AWAY: And David said to his son Solomon: ‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God – my God – will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord” (20) The way David carried the people as though (on the arms of his soul), to deliver them to the true Leader; here he encourages his son Solomon, confirming to him that God preserved him since his birth, and granted him wisdom, enlightenment, and strength, to judge in the controversies according to the divine inspiration. For God to help you, you should first look up at Him (20); The Lord God, my God, whom I chose to worship; who was with me all along my days, and gave me success; with whose power, and goodness, according to my personal experience, I introduce Him to you; will be with you, to guide you, give you strength, and make your ways successful; He will never reject nor forsake you…… We should be sure that God who acquired our fathers and carried them in their ministries in their days, will also be with us, and will never forsake us, if we remain faithful to Him, as long as there is work for Him in and by us. The encouragement presented to Joshua (Joshua 1: 5), and Solomon, is presented to all believers (Hebrew 13: 5), He will never reject nor forsake us; For God forsakes no one unless he forsakes Him first. + [Father, what shall I do if they sought from me to issue a certain verdict in the court of law; for I am just a boy, and have no experience? David answered him, saying: The Lord who kept me safe since my childhood, and provided me with wealth and treasure of prophecy, will grant you wisdom, enlightenment, strength, and knowledge, to enable you to judge in controversies] (St. (mar) Jacob El-Serougi) “Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and every willing craftsman will be with you for all manner of workmanship, for every kind of service; also the leaders and all the people will be completely at your command” (21) “All (good) people will support you”. The priests and the Levites will guide you, and you should seek their counsel; and “every willing craftsmen will be with you for all manner of workmanship, for every kind of service”. Skill and willingness are two important features of those who work in the temple. And finally “the leaders and all the people will be at your command”; they will never be a cause of opposition nor delay of the work; For the good work shall continue as long as those partaking of it work from their whole hearts. ----------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM 1 CHRONICLES 28 PREPARE, O LORD, MY WHOLE BEING TO SET YOUR TEMPLE IN MY DEPTHS + King David got preoccupied with building a temple for You; He provided all what he has with love and joy; For he found his happiness and joy in You; He prepared the heart of his son and of all the leaders and people; For all to partake with pleasure of building Your great house. + Who will set my heart, mind, and all my energies for this work? I have no gold nor silver to present for building Your temple; But, by Your precious blood, Your amazing love, and exalted grace, You set that amazing building in me; Which needs no human hands; Nor stones, wood, or building materials; For You set it by Your Holy Spirit. You grant me a flood of Your holiness, meekness, and love; A flood of Your divine secrets, splendor, and light; To set a place for Yourself to rest Your head; To set a new heaven that gives pleasure to the heavenlies; To set in it an inexhaustible spring of love; To set in it an unceasing flood of joy, and exultation. + Come, O Lord Jesus, together with Your Good Father, and Your Holy Spirit; To proclaim Your divine presence in my depths; For it is You who made the plan of the building; And it is You who dedicate it with Your holiness; And adorn it with Your splendor; You keep and protect it; So that the devil will not crawl into it. + David, the man of war, needed Solomon, the man of peace, to build the house; And I, the first among the sinners, am in need of You, O King of Peace; To set Your throne in me; To transfer my heart of dust to Your kingdom; To reign, to consecrate, and to open the doors of my heart for Your righteousness.
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