Be Strong, and Do It

2015-12-19

In 1 Chronicles 28:1-10, David addressed the chief men of the country concerning his successor, Solomon. David had wanted to build a temple to God during his life (1 Chronicles 28:2; cf. 2 Samuel 7:2). Instead, because David had been a man of war, his son Solomon (whose name means “peace”) would be the one to build the temple. David, who had “shed blood” (1 Chronicles 28:3), had been in many wars, and some were quite bloody and cruel (2 Samuel 12:29-31). Solomon had rest from his enemies, and indeed build the temple of God.

God had promised to build David his own house (i.e., household or family, 2 Samuel 7:16). Solomon was to be the next in line. Since all of the commanders and sons of David were present at this proclamation, Joab and Adonijah seem that much more treasonous when we get to 1 Kings 1:5-7. God’s choice was clearly Solomon, calling Him His son (1 Chronicles 28:6; cf. 2 Samuel 7:14).

Solomon’s kingdom would last only if he did the commandments of the LORD (1 Chronicles 28:7), and likewise the people would need to do the same if they wanted to remain in the land (1 Chronicles 28:8). The LORD would know if Solomon turned from Him, because He knows all things (1 Chronicles 28:9). Indeed Solomon did start well as a king, but his many foreign wives brought him away from the LORD (1 Kings 11:1). Most of the kingdom was taken away from his son as a result (1 Kings 12:16).

Regardless of how Solomon was in his later years, he did build the temple. He sought wisdom of the LORD, and the nations around him respected him and served him. If we can take a spiritual application, if we serve God and keep His commandments, we may not have the physical blessings that Solomon had. However, I do believe we will impact people for Christ in a very powerful way. The church of God is the real temple today, and God will do greater works in this spiritual temple than anything we ever saw in Solomon’s temple.