The Lord is Coming

A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD says to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”

2 The LORD sends forth from Zion
    your mighty scepter.
    Rule in the midst of your enemies!
3 Your people will offer themselves freely
    on the day of your power,
    in holy garments;
from the womb of the morning,
    the dew of your youth will be yours.
4 The LORD has sworn
    and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
    after the order of Melchizedek.”

5 The Lord is at your right hand;
    he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will execute judgment among the nations,
    filling them with corpses;
he will shatter chiefs
    over the wide earth.
7 He will drink from the brook by the way;
    therefore he will lift up his head. – Psalm 110:1-7 ESV

This is a somewhat confusing psalm. It was written by David, but he appears to be talking about someone else. In the opening line, David writes, “The LORD (Yᵊhōvâ) says to my Lord ('āḏôn),” using two different Hebrew words that are translated in English as “Lord.” But who is David referring to, and what is the context of this somewhat cryptic psalm? Some scholars speculate that David is speaking of his own son, Solomon, who crowned David's successor while David was still alive. 

When it appears in all caps, the term LORD is a designation for Jehovah, the name of God. Adon is the Hebrew word for an owner, lord, master, or king. LORD is used three times in the passage, while Lord is used twice. But who is David referring to? Is he talking about himself or someone else? Are all the statements in this passage referring to him or another person? In the Hebrew culture, the term, The Lord, was understood to be a reference to the Messiah, the coming Savior of Israel. So in the psalm, David is referring not to himself, but to the future Messiah, God’s divinely appointed ruler over Israel.

Perhaps David believed his son Solomon would serve in that role. Like any father, David had high hopes for his son and longed for him to be the future deliverer of Israel. But what David didn't know was that this Spirit-inspired psalm was a prophetic vision concerning one of his future descendants who would rule in righteousness for eternity.

It is easy to see how David could have had his son Solomon in mind when writing this psalm. Years earlier, the prophet Nathan conveyed a message to him from Jehovah (the LORD).

“…the LORD (Yᵊhōvâ) declares to you that the LORD (Yᵊhōvâ) will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:11-16 ESV

David's son Solomon did build a house for God. He carried out his father's wishes and constructed the Temple in Jerusalem. But this grand accomplishment did not solidify his kingdom or prevent him from becoming unfaithful to the One for whom the Temple was built. Solomon was wise, wealthy, and powerful, but he also had an unbridled love affair with women. At one point, his harem included 300 wives and 700 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). This obsession with the opposite sex was in direct violation of God's decree. 

“The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.” – Deuteronomy 17:17 NLT

Solomon accumulated great wealth and many wives. 

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The LORD had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.

In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the LORD his God, as his father, David, had been. Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the LORD’s sight; he refused to follow the LORD completely, as his father, David, had done. – 1 Kings 11:1-6 NLT

So it is clear that the “Lord” referred to in Psalm 110 cannot be Solomon. He kingdom was not eternal. It came to an end because of his unfaithfulness. In fact, because of Solomon's idolatry and apostasy, the LORD split his kingdom in half. 

“Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants. But for the sake of your father, David, I will not do this while you are still alive. I will take the kingdom away from your son. And even so, I will not take away the entire kingdom; I will let him be king of one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, my chosen city.” – 1 Kings 12:11-13 NLT

So, who is David referring to when he writes the following?:

The LORD will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem;
    you will rule over your enemies.
When you go to war,
    your people will serve you willingly.
You are arrayed in holy garments,
    and your strength will be renewed each day like the morning dew. – Psalm 110:2-3 NLT

This psalm is a prophecy concerning Jesus and His future role as the conquering Messiah. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David prophesied about the Millennial reign of Jesus, which would take place at His second coming. David knew there was a day coming when all the enemies of Israel and God would be completely destroyed by the King of kings and LORD of Lords, but he had no way of knowing it would be Jesus, the incarnate Son of God.

The book of Matthew records an incident between Jesus and the Pharisees, where Jesus used this very passage to point to himself.

Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

They replied, “He is the son of David.”

Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’? For David said,

‘The LORD said to my Lord,
Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
    until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’

Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”

No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.  – Matthew 22:41-46 NLT

Jesus knew this Psalm predicted a future event that had not yet occurred. But there was no doubt in Jesus’ mind that Psalm 110 spoke of Himself. This Old Testament passage serves as a reminder to us that there is a day coming when Jesus, as the Christ (the Greek word for Messiah), will return to the earth to complete the plan of God for Israel and all mankind. Jesus’ work is not yet done. He currently sits at the right hand of the Father (Colossians 3:1), but when God is ready, He will send Jesus to finish what He began with His death and resurrection.

He will strike down many kings when his anger erupts.
He will punish the nations
    and fill their lands with corpses;
    he will shatter heads over the whole earth.
But he himself will be refreshed from brooks along the way.
    He will be victorious. – Psalm 110:5-7 NLT

As a king, David saw this as a wonderful picture of victory over his enemies. He knew that someday God would give Israel complete victory over every one of their foes. David lived in a time when battle was a daily ordeal. He was surrounded by enemies and regularly confronted by war. There was never a day when someone didn’t want to destroy him or the nation over which he ruled. So the idea of final victory and perfect peace was appealing to him. And it should be to us as well.

Like David, we are surrounded by enemies who oppose God and His ways. They live for this world and are influenced by the Prince of this world, Satan himself. Every day, we do battle with our flesh, the world, and the devil. We are under constant attack. There is never a time when we can take a day off or remove our armor. We must be constantly prepared to defend ourselves because the war and the casualties are real. We see them in the form of broken marriages, rebellious children, addictions, depression, anxiety, and disease.

This psalm assures us that a day is coming when God will set all things right. His plan will be finalized. His Son, the Messiah, will complete what He came to do. In His first advent, Jesus came to provide a means of salvation for mankind. He made it possible for sinful humanity to be restored to a right relationship with God. Through the sacrifice of His life, He offered men and women a means by which they could escape the coming wrath of God against all who refuse Him.

But there is a day coming when Christ will return a second time, but not as Savior, but as a conquering King. He will do battle with all those who stand opposed to God and He will be victorious. The enemy will be defeated once and for all, and Christ will set up His kingdom on earth and rule from the throne of David in Jerusalem. There will be peace in the world for the first time since the creation of the world. Order will be restored, and shalom (peace) will be present again. 

The apostle John was given a vision of this fulfillment of the scene that David tried to describe.

No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever. – Revelation 22:3-5 NLT

Jesus will return someday. He will complete the assignment given to Him by God the Father, and the glorious future David envisioned will come to pass. David did not live long enough to see it. Neither did Solomon. But the promise remains, and its fulfillment is assured because God is faithful and all-powerful. 

This is a Messianic Psalm. It predicts the coming return and reign of Christ on earth. It is short and sweet, painting the future rule of Christ in just a few lines. It establishes Jesus as a descendant of David and his Lord and Master. He is the Messiah.

This psalm should comfort all who call themselves Christ-followers. It is a reminder of how the story ends. Even though we see a lot of suffering in the world and even question how this whole mess will sort itself out, David reminds us that Christ still reigns and rules in heaven, and one day He will return and put all things right.

Jesus may have come as an innocent baby the first time, but He isn’t going to return that way. He will be the conquering king and warrior who defeats all the enemies of God and sets up His righteous rule on earth. That is not just a hope; it is a certainty. It will happen, and we can count on it. It is all part of God’s divine plan. When Jesus returns, He will judge the nations justly and righteously. He will make all things right. And that future hope should bring us present peace.

Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity. – Matthew Bridges, “Crown Him With Many Crowns” (1851)

Father, in the midst of the daily battles of life it is so easy to get defeated by what appears to be a hopeless cause. It can be so easy to want to give up and give in. Our efforts seem to make no difference. The battles we fight don’t seem to be winning the war. But in the Psalm You remind us that the ultimate victory is Yours, not ours. David had to fight his battles, but he rested in the knowledge that You will one day bring about complete victory. Never let me forget that. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Justice and Justs Desserts

1 O LORD, God of vengeance,
    O God of vengeance, shine forth!
2 Rise up, O judge of the earth;
    repay to the proud what they deserve!
3 O LORD, how long shall the wicked,
    how long shall the wicked exult?
4 They pour out their arrogant words;
    all the evildoers boast.
5 They crush your people, O LORD,
    and afflict your heritage.
6 They kill the widow and the sojourner,
    and murder the fatherless;
7 and they say, “The LORD does not see;
    the God of Jacob does not perceive.”

8 Understand, O dullest of the people!
    Fools, when will you be wise?
9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear?
He who formed the eye, does he not see?
10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?
He who teaches man knowledge—
11     the LORD—knows the thoughts of man,
    that they are but a breath.

12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD,
    and whom you teach out of your law,
13 to give him rest from days of trouble,
    until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the LORD will not forsake his people;
    he will not abandon his heritage;
15 for justice will return to the righteous,
    and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16 Who rises up for me against the wicked?
    Who stands up for me against evildoers?
17 If the LORD had not been my help,
    my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
18 When I thought, “My foot slips,”
    your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.
19 When the cares of my heart are many,
    your consolations cheer my soul.
20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you,
    those who frame injustice by statute?
21 They band together against the life of the righteous
    and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the LORD has become my stronghold,
    and my God the rock of my refuge.
23 He will bring back on them their iniquity
    and wipe them out for their wickedness;
    the LORD our God will wipe them out. – Psalm 94:1-23 ESV

Justice. We all want it, or at least we think we do. Especially when it applies to someone else. When we hear of someone doing something wrong or unfair, we demand for justice to be served. We want to see them brought to justice – whether it is a corporate executive who has swindled money from his investors or a radical terrorist who has taken innocent lives in some cowardly fashion. We long to see justice served and the guilty punished.

But what is justice? Do we understand what it means? The dictionary defines it as "the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause; the administering of deserved punishment or reward" (dictionary.com).

It is both the quality of being just or righteous—doing the right thing—and the action of upholding what is right by punishing those who have done wrong.

There are those who believe that justice does not apply to them; they are above the law. They can somehow break the rules and escape justice; sometimes our society allows them to do so. They may even believe that they can escape the justice of God. In Psalms 94, we get a glimpse of their attitude.

“The Lord isn’t looking,” they say,
    “and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.” – Psalm 94:7 NLT

They think that the God who created them cannot see what they are doing or hear what they are saying. He is somehow blind to their actions and attitudes, and even if He could see what they are doing, He is powerless to do anything about it. But the psalmist warned them to reconsider their faulty and deadly view of Yahweh.

Think again, you fools!
    When will you finally catch on?
Is he deaf—the one who made your ears?
    Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes?
He punishes the nations—won’t he also punish you?
    He knows everything—doesn’t he also know what you are doing?
The LORD knows people’s thoughts;
    he knows they are worthless! – Psalm 94:8-11 NLT

God sees all, and because He is just, He deals with all in a righteous way. He may not respond in the time frame we want, but God eventually makes everything right. He brings about justice, and no one can escape it.

You see a picture of this in 1 Kings 2 as Solomon ascends to the throne of Israel. This chapter records Solomon's rise to power, replacing his father David as king. His reign begins with him establishing justice by giving some evil men their just desserts. He quickly deals with Joab for his murders, Shimei for his unfaithfulness, Adonijah for his deceitfulness and treachery, and Abiathar for his role in Adonijah's rebellion. Each of these men had acted unfaithfully in some way. They had committed an injustice and deserved to be punished. Adonijah had attempted to take David's throne away from Solomon. Joab had disobeyed David and killed two innocent men. Abiathar had aided Adonijah in his aborted coup attempt. Shimei had turned against David and cursed him when he had been forced to flee Jerusalem when his son, Absalom, took over the city. Each of these men was guilty and deserved punishment, and some of them had seen enough time elapse that they thought they had escaped justice. They were home free. But Solomon began his reign by making sure justice was served. The wrongs were made right. The guilty were punished.

In this story, we see a glimpse of the justice of God. He will deal with the evil that exists in our land. We may feel like He is blind to what is happening around us, or perhaps incapable of doing anything about it, but God has a good memory and is patient. He will deal with the injustices of this world in His time and according to His ways. But rest assured, justice will be done. With the psalmist, we can cry out, "O LORD, the God to whom vengeance belongs, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice be seen! Arise, O judge of the earth. Sentence the proud to the penalties they deserve." (Psalms 94:1-2 NLT).

He will do what needs to be done. He will right every wrong and punish every wrongdoer. What Solomon did in an imperfect way, God will do perfectly. We can know that justice will be served. One day, God will administer His justice wholly and righteously. So when we see evil around us, we can rest in the fact that God sees and will act. He will deal with it.

But the LORD is my fortress;
    my God is the mighty rock where I hide.
God will turn the sins of evil people back on them.
    He will destroy them for their sins.
    The LORD our God will destroy them. – Psalm 94:22-23 NLT

Father, we live in a world filled with injustice. People take advantage of others. People unfairly harm others. The innocent suffer and the wicked seem to get away with doing what is wrong. But You are not asleep. You are not powerless or disinterested. You are just and righteous. You see all that is going on and You will repay each person for the evil they have done. Thank You for that reminder. But also, thank You for the assurance that my sins are forgiven. Because of Your Son's death on the cross, I will not have to undergo punishment for the evil I have done. But never let me use that as an excuse to live the way I want to live. Help me serve You obediently and faithfully out of gratitude that I am seen as just in Your eyes. The punishment for my sins has been paid in full. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

God Alone Is Just

A Psalm of Asaph.

1 God has taken his place in the divine council;
    in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
    and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
    maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
    they walk about in darkness;
    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I said, “You are gods,
    sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men you shall die,
    and fall like any prince.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
    for you shall inherit all the nations! – Psalm 82:1-8 ESV

While this psalm is relatively brief, its history of interpretation has been long and controversial. The opening line is where the confusion and ultimate disagreement begin. The English Standard Version reads, “God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment” (Psalm 82:1 ESV). Yet, the New English Translation renders this same verse quite differently.

God stands in the assembly of El;
in the midst of the gods he renders judgment. – Psalm 82:1 NET

The NET Bible translators chose to use the Hebrew word 'ēl because they believed it was a reference to the Canaanite god El. In the study notes that accompany their translation, the editors wrote, “The present translation assumes this is a reference to the Canaanite high god El, who presided over the Canaanite divine assembly. (See Isa 14:13, where El’s assembly is called “the stars of El.”) In the Ugaritic myths the phrase ʿdt ʾilm refers to the “assembly of the gods,” who congregate in King Kirtu’s house, where Baal asks El to bless Kirtu’s house (see G. R. Driver, Canaanite Myths and Legends, 91). If the Canaanite divine assembly is referred to here in Ps 82:1, then the psalm must be understood as a bold polemic against Canaanite religion. Israel’s God invades El’s assembly, denounces its gods as failing to uphold justice, and announces their coming demise” (NET Bible study notes).

The issue lies with the interpretation of the Hebrew word 'ēl. It has a range of meanings and was used to refer to everything from gods to human rulers and judges. El was the name of the Canaanite god, but it was also the title used by the Israelites when referring to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is commonly translated as “mighty one(s)” and is sometimes rendered as “divine council” (ESV) or “assembly (NASB). This reference to a divine council or assembly has led some interpreters to see these verses as speaking of angelic beings. Others have interpreted it as a reference to a category of lesser gods who serve as advisors to the one true God. These various interpretations are complicated by Asaph’s reference to “the gods” at the end of verse 1.

God ['ĕlōhîm] has taken his place in the divine council;
    in the midst of the gods ['ĕlōhîm] he holds judgment. – Psalm 82:1 ESV

Notice that Asaph uses the same Hebrew word, 'ĕlōhîm, when referring to Israel’s God and the gods over whom he holds judgment. The key to understanding the rest of the passage lies in how one interprets Asaph's use of the word 'ĕlōhîm. The Israelites viewed 'ĕlōhîm as a title more than a name. It was the word they used when referring to all gods, including their own and those of the pagan nations. The actual name they used to refer to their God was Yahweh, because that was what they had been commanded to do. Back when God commissioned Moses to deliver the people of Israel from their captivity in Egypt, He told His reluctanct servant, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations” (Exodus 3:15 NLT).

But in his psalm, Asaph uses God’s title 'ĕlōhîm and states that He rules in the midst of the 'ĕlōhîm. Once again, this Hebrew word has a variety of meanings. It is the plural form of 'ēl and can be rendered as “gods, mighty ones, judges, or rulers. In the Hebrew Bible, it is used to refer to angels, pagan gods, human judges, and even Yahweh Himself. But the question becomes, what was Asaph’s purpose in using this word in his psalm?

The context of his psalm contains the answer. He describes God as standing as judge over some assembly of influential individuals. Are they gods, angels, kings, or judges? Is this council made up of divine beings or mere men? Based on God’s line of questioning, it would appear that He is addressing human rulers whom He views as His divinely appointed representatives on earth. These men were to serve as mediators among the people of Israel, helping to apply God's laws in settling disputes and delivering justice. But God was not pleased with their performance.

“How long will you defend the unjust
    and show partiality to the wicked?
Defend the weak and the fatherless;
    uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” – Psalm 82:2-4 NLT

God was accusing these human judges of dereliction of duty. They had failed to do their jobs, and He was not pleased. King David wrote a similar stinging indictment in Psalm 59. As king, he was responsible for the oversight of all judicial matters in Israel. As his kingdom grew, he appointed judges to adjudicate all the cases among his people. But he soon discovered that the blind were leading the blind. His judges were as sinful as the people under their care, and he was merciless in his criticism of them.

Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word?
    Do you judge the people fairly?
No! You plot injustice in your hearts.
    You spread violence throughout the land.
These wicked people are born sinners;
    even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.
They spit venom like deadly snakes;
    they are like cobras that refuse to listen,
ignoring the tunes of the snake charmers,
    no matter how skillfully they play. – Psalm 58:1-5 NLT

The prophet Isaiah delivered a similar rebuke to the judges of Israel, whom God found to be negligent in their duties, guilty of gross incompetence, and worthy of His wrath.

What sorrow awaits the unjust judges
    and those who issue unfair laws.
They deprive the poor of justice
    and deny the rights of the needy among my people.
They prey on widows
    and take advantage of orphans.
What will you do when I punish you,
    when I send disaster upon you from a distant land?
To whom will you turn for help?
    Where will your treasures be safe?
You will stumble along as prisoners
    or lie among the dead.
But even then the Lord’s anger will not be satisfied.
    His fist is still poised to strike. – Isaiah 10:1-4 NLT

In verse 6 of his psalm, Asaph records God referring to these judges as “gods” ['ĕlōhîm] and “sons of the Most High,” but His compliment appears to be tongue in cheek.

“You are gods,
    sons of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, like men you shall die,
    and fall like any prince.” – Psalm 82:6-7 NLT

These verses reek of sarcasm as God takes these self-inflated, egotistical men to task for their overly lofty view of themselves. They have taken themselves too seriously and allowed their authority to go to their heads. Puffed up with pride, they have abused their power to take advantage of the weak and defenseless. Proverbs 24 provides insight into what these men were guilty of doing.

It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.
A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”
    will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.
But it will go well for those who convict the guilty;
    rich blessings will be showered on them. – Proverbs 24:23-25 NLT

God cares deeply about truth and justice. He gave His Law as a guide to moral conduct and a means of adjudicating disputes among His people. But it must be applied fairly and equitably. The powerful were never to use their authority to take advantage of the weak or less fortunate. Judges were not to use positions to fleece the flock and pad their own pockets. Bribes were to be avoided at all costs. Cronyism was unacceptable.  Showing partiality for personal gain was off limits and worthy of harsh judgment. God would not tolerate injustice among those responsible for the care of His flock.

As a citizen of the kingdom of Israel, Asaph had been subjected to this unjust judicial system and was ready for God to step in and rectify the problem. He calls the ultimate Judge of the universe to remediate the problem and adjudicate the claims of the weak and defenseless.

Arise, O God, judge the earth;
    for you shall inherit all the nations! – Psalm 82:8 ESV

Asaph was willing to trust God to do the right thing. He believed that Yahweh could and would right all wrongs and ensure justice was served. It was Solomon who wrote of God’s role as judge and his belief that justice will be served in the end.

I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt! I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.” – Ecclesiastes 3:14-16 NLT

Asaph and Solomon both knew that justice was up to God. Even the prophet Jeremiah understood that his desire for an equitable outcome to his grievances was up to an all-knowing, all-powerful God, whose desire for justice was matched by capacity to deliver it.

O LORD of Heaven’s Armies,
you make righteous judgments,
    and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets.
Let me see your vengeance against them,
    for I have committed my cause to you. – Jeremiah 11:20 NLT

Father, You are just, righteous, and good – all the time. While we may have to suffer the abuse of ungodly men using their power in unfair and inequitable ways, we know we can count on You to make all things right. Living in this world can be difficult because fallen men in positions of authority use and abuse their power in ways that promote injustice and produce unfair outcomes. But You are always on Your throne and You never miss a single unjust judgment. You know all and see all. And one day, You will rectify all. Help me to trust You more. Give me the strength to endure injustice by focusing my hope on You. You are the ultimate Judge of the universe and Your verdict is the only one that matters. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Our Gracious God

To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Testimony. Of Asaph, a Psalm.

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2     Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might
    and come to save us!

3 Restore us, O God;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved!

4 O LORD God of hosts,
    how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears
    and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors,
    and our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved!

8 You brought a vine out of Egypt;
    you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it;
    it took deep root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
    the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 It sent out its branches to the sea
    and its shoots to the River.
12 Why then have you broken down its walls,
    so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
13 The boar from the forest ravages it,
    and all that move in the field feed on it.

14 Turn again, O God of hosts!
    Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
15     the stock that your right hand planted,
    and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
    may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
    the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
18 Then we shall not turn back from you;
    give us life, and we will call upon your name!

19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts!
    Let your face shine, that we may be saved! – Psalm 80:1-19 ESV

Like the psalm that precedes it, this is a national psalm of lament, but it is difficult to determine the exact context surrounding its message. Some scholars believe Asaph is addressing the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. But if Asaph was a resident of the southern kingdom of Judah, his prayer in verse 3 would appear to place the timing of this psalm after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.

Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might
    and come to save us! – Psalm 80:3 ESV

Asaph seems to indicate that something has happened to the people of Judah, the residents of the southern kingdom. In verses 5 and 6, he describes the extent of their suffering, which he attributes to God's divine punishment.

You have fed us with sorrow
    and made us drink tears by the bucketful.
You have made us the scorn of neighboring nations.
    Our enemies treat us as a joke. – Psalm 80:5-6 NLT

Asaph’s reference to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh is intended as a not-so-subtle reminder that the nation of Israel used to be a unified whole. There had been a time under the reigns of David and Solomon when the 12 tribes of Israel were unified and dominated the political landscape of Canaan. Ephraim was the primary tribe in the north, the Benjamites lived in the south, and the tribe of Manasseh was located east of the Jordan River in the Transjordan. So it makes more sense to see this psalm lamenting Israel’s abysmal condition after the northern and southern kingdoms had fallen to the Assyrians and Babylonians.

It is interesting to note that Asaph opens his psalm with a reference to Joseph, the son of Jacob, who had been sold into slavery by his brothers. Under God’s sovereign hand, this young man ended up in Egypt and rose to the second-highest position in the land. His miraculous and meteoric rise to prominence was God-ordained and for the sole purpose of providing a place of refuge for his family when a famine struck the land of Canaan.

Asaph opens his psalm by addressing Yahweh as the “Shepherd of Israel” (Psalm 80:1 ESV), who leads Joseph like a flock. Joseph’s two sons, born to him in Egypt, were adopted by his father Jacob, and their descendants became heirs of the land of promise. Ephraim and Manasseh, two of the tribes mentioned in verse 2, were the descendants of Joseph’s two sons and, at one time, enjoyed a place within the unified nation of Israel alongside the tribe of Benjamin.

But sin had disrupted Israel’s peace and prosperity. King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, behaved like a fool by fostering idolatry and apostasy in the kingdom. His actions resulted in God splitting the kingdom in half. From that point, the downward spiritual spiral continued in the north, south, and east, as all the tribes exhibited a penchant for unfaithfulness and a stubborn refusal to repent and return to Yahweh.

So, Asaph calls on God to step in and fix the problem.

Show us your mighty power.
    Come to rescue us! – Psalm 80:3 NLT

Asaph attributes their fate to God’s displeasure with them, but he never acknowledges their complicity and guilt. At no point does Asaph attempt to confess the sins of his fellow Israelites. Instead, he questions why God remains so angry and unwilling to answer their prayers for deliverance.

Asaph attempts to remind God of His past acts of kindness by chronicling how He had delivered the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt and established them in the land of Canaan.

You brought us from Egypt like a grapevine;
    you drove away the pagan nations and transplanted us into your land.
You cleared the ground for us,
    and we took root and filled the land.
Our shade covered the mountains;
    our branches covered the mighty cedars.
We spread our branches west to the Mediterranean Sea;
    our shoots spread east to the Euphrates River. – Psalm 80:8-11 NLT

Those were the good old days, when the Israelites enjoyed the blessings of God. They had been fruitful and filled the land of Canaan. Under the leadership of David and Solomon, their numbers grew and their kingdom spread, making them a force to be reckoned with in the region. But all that had changed. The conditions in Israel were markedly different when Asaph penned this psalm because sin had brought the judgment of God.

Yet, Asaph never mentions their sin. He fails to acknowledge their complicity in their own demise, choosing instead to blame God.

But now, why have you broken down our walls
    so that all who pass by may steal our fruit?
The wild boar from the forest devours it,
    and the wild animals feed on it. – Psalm 80:12-13 NLT

While God had brought judgment upon the people of Israel, it had been as a result of their rebellion against Him. Asaph obsesses over the consequences they suffered and demands remediation, but he refuses to confess their guilt. He begs God to intervene and appears to try to shame God into action.

Take care of this grapevine
    that you yourself have planted,
    this son you have raised for yourself. – Psalm 80:14-15 NLT

Asaph freely admits that God had chosen Israel to be His treasured possession, but he couldn't understand why they were suffering so greatly. It made no sense. As the nation that bore His name, the Israelites should have been prospering and enjoying all the benefits of their privileged position. But, according to Asaph, they were like a vineyard that had been “chopped up and burned by” (Psalm 80:16 NLT) by their enemies.

So, Asaph asks God to reverse the trend and restore His people to greatness.

May you give support to the one you have chosen,
to the one whom you raised up for yourself. – Psalm 80:17 NET

In response to God’s miraculous deliverance, Asaph promises the renewed allegiance of the people of Israel.

Then we will never abandon you again.
    Revive us so we can call on your name once more. – Psalm  80:17 NLT

By referring to God’s name, Asaph appeals to God’s reputation. He knows that Yahweh holds His name in high regard and will not allow it to be tarnished by those privileged to bear it. He had warned the Israelites that their behavior reflected on His character.

“You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.” – Exodus 34:14 NLT

He would not allow them to drag His name through the mud by their repeated acts of apostasy and idolatry, and that is the reason for their current state of deprivation and despair. All 12 tribes were guilty of worshiping other gods and had angered Yahweh with their refusal to heed His warnings and repent of their sins. But Asaph longs to see God redeem and restore them.

Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.
    Make your face shine down upon us.
    Only then will we be saved. – Psalm 80:19 NLT

He was right. God was the only solution to their problem. Their cities lay in ruins, and their economy was devastated. They had no king or army and no hope of improving their fortunes unless God stepped in. Asaph’s reliance upon God was commendable, but he failed to recognize the corporate need for repentance. The prophets made it clear that redemption and restoration were available but required repentance.

Seek the Lord while you can find him.
    Call on him now while he is near.
Let the wicked change their ways
    and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
    Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. – Isaiah 55:6-7 NLT

God would later inspire Jeremiah to deliver the following message to the Israelites living in exile in Babylon. He wanted them to know that their captivity had an expiration date, but to enjoy His deliverance, they must exhibit repentant hearts.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” – Jeremiah 29:11-14 NLT

Asaph was right to call on God, but neglected to call the people to repentance. God had promised to hear their prayers and restore their fortunes, but He required that they look for him “wholeheartedly.” God demanded their sold-out devotion to Him alone, instead of their usual brand of half-hearted, going-through-the-motions, on-again-off-again worship.

Yet, despite their failure to repent and return to Him in wholehearted devotion, God eventually released them from their exile in Babylon and restored them to the land of Canaan. Their covenant-keeping God graciously ended their captivity and arranged for a remnant to return to Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah. Yahweh proved to be faithful even when His people refused to keep their end of the covenant agreement. And, according to the Book of Ezekiel, God is far from done with His chosen people. The day is coming when He will perform a miracle of transformation that will ensure their unwavering devotion to Him.

“For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

“And you will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. You will be my people, and I will be your God. I will cleanse you of your filthy behavior.” – Ezekiel 36:24-29 NLT

Father, You truly are amazing. Your love never fails. You always keep Your word. Your grace is always undeserved. Your mercy never runs out. Your patience is inexhaustible. And Your plan for Your people is unstoppable. Despite us, You continually pour out Your blessings through Jesus Christ. You have made a way where there was no way. You do the impossible and accomplish the improbable. And we don’t deserve it. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Our Forever Faithful God

A Maskil of Asaph.

1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
    incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
    I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
    that our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
    but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
    and the wonders that he has done.

5 He established a testimony in Jacob
    and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
    to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
    the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7     so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
    but keep his commandments;
8 and that they should not be like their fathers,
    a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
    whose spirit was not faithful to God.

9 The Ephraimites, armed with the bow,
    turned back on the day of battle.
10 They did not keep God's covenant,
    but refused to walk according to his law.
11 They forgot his works
    and the wonders that he had shown them.
12 In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders
    in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it,
    and made the waters stand like a heap.
14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud,
    and all the night with a fiery light.
15 He split rocks in the wilderness
    and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
16 He made streams come out of the rock
    and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

17 Yet they sinned still more against him,
    rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18 They tested God in their heart
    by demanding the food they craved.
19 They spoke against God, saying,
    “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
20 He struck the rock so that water gushed out
    and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread
    or provide meat for his people?”

21 Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath;
    a fire was kindled against Jacob;
    his anger rose against Israel,
22 because they did not believe in God
    and did not trust his saving power.
23 Yet he commanded the skies above
    and opened the doors of heaven,
24 and he rained down on them manna to eat
    and gave them the grain of heaven.
25 Man ate of the bread of the angels;
    he sent them food in abundance.
26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
    and by his power he led out the south wind;
27 he rained meat on them like dust,
    winged birds like the sand of the seas;
28 he let them fall in the midst of their camp,
    all around their dwellings.
29 And they ate and were well filled,
    for he gave them what they craved.
30 But before they had satisfied their craving,
    while the food was still in their mouths,
31 the anger of God rose against them,
    and he killed the strongest of them
    and laid low the young men of Israel.

32 In spite of all this, they still sinned;
    despite his wonders, they did not believe.
33 So he made their days vanish like a breath,
    and their years in terror.
34 When he killed them, they sought him;
    they repented and sought God earnestly.
35 They remembered that God was their rock,
    the Most High God their redeemer.
36 But they flattered him with their mouths;
    they lied to him with their tongues.
37 Their heart was not steadfast toward him;
    they were not faithful to his covenant.
38 Yet he, being compassionate,
    atoned for their iniquity
    and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
    and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 He remembered that they were but flesh,
    a wind that passes and comes not again.
40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
    and grieved him in the desert!
41 They tested God again and again
    and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
42 They did not remember his power
    or the day when he redeemed them from the foe,
43 when he performed his signs in Egypt
    and his marvels in the fields of Zoan.
44 He turned their rivers to blood,
    so that they could not drink of their streams.
45 He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them,
    and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 He gave their crops to the destroying locust
    and the fruit of their labor to the locust.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail
    and their sycamores with frost.
48 He gave over their cattle to the hail
    and their flocks to thunderbolts.
49 He let loose on them his burning anger,
    wrath, indignation, and distress,
    a company of destroying angels.
50 He made a path for his anger;
    he did not spare them from death,
    but gave their lives over to the plague.
51 He struck down every firstborn in Egypt,
    the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52 Then he led out his people like sheep
    and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid,
    but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 And he brought them to his holy land,
    to the mountain which his right hand had won.
55 He drove out nations before them;
    he apportioned them for a possession
    and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.

56 Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God
    and did not keep his testimonies,
57 but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers;
    they twisted like a deceitful bow.
58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places;
    they moved him to jealousy with their idols.
59 When God heard, he was full of wrath,
    and he utterly rejected Israel.
60 He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh,
    the tent where he dwelt among mankind,
61 and delivered his power to captivity,
    his glory to the hand of the foe.
62 He gave his people over to the sword
    and vented his wrath on his heritage.
63 Fire devoured their young men,
    and their young women had no marriage song.
64 Their priests fell by the sword,
    and their widows made no lamentation.
65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
    like a strong man shouting because of wine.
66 And he put his adversaries to rout;
    he put them to everlasting shame.

67 He rejected the tent of Joseph;
    he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68 but he chose the tribe of Judah,
    Mount Zion, which he loves.
69 He built his sanctuary like the high heavens,
    like the earth, which he has founded forever.
70 He chose David his servant
    and took him from the sheepfolds;
71 from following the nursing ewes he brought him
    to shepherd Jacob his people,
    Israel his inheritance.
72 With upright heart he shepherded them
    and guided them with his skillful hand. – Psalm 78:1-72 ESV

In this rather lengthy psalm, Asaph continues his recollection tour of Yahweh’s past activity in the lives of the Israelites. But he couples his retrospective on God’s goodness and grace with a painful reminder of Israel’s unfaithfulness. Asaph is painfully equitable in his exposure of his people’s rebellion against Yahweh, declaring the guilt of both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel. While it is likely that this psalm was written long before God divided the nation of Israel because of the disobedience of King Solomon, Asaph purposefully uses two different names to refer to his fellow Israelites.

In verses 9-20, he points out the rebellion of the Ephraimites. Ephraim was one of the two sons born to Joseph in Egypt. Their grandfather, Jacob, adopted them as their own and blessed each of them.

“May the God before whom my grandfather Abraham
    and my father, Isaac, walked—
the God who has been my shepherd
    all my life, to this very day,
the Angel who has redeemed me from all harm—
    may he bless these boys.
May they preserve my name
    and the names of Abraham and Isaac.
And may their descendants multiply greatly
    throughout the earth.” – Genesis 48:15-16 NLT

But Jacob gave a special blessing to the younger son, Ephraim.

“Manasseh will also become a great people, but his younger brother will become even greater. And his descendants will become a multitude of nations.” – Genesis 48:19 NLT

God did bless the tribe of Ephraim, providing them with an inheritance of land in Canaan just like all the other tribes. Eventually, when King Solomon died, the ten northern tribes split away from the tribes and Judah and Benjamin, creating the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. In time, the northern kingdom became known as Ephraim, fulfilling Jacob's blessing. Under the leadership of Jeroboam, the newly formed northern kingdom established its own religious system, erecting temples to its false gods and forbidding the members of the ten tribes from traveling to Jerusalem to worship in the Temple. This pattern of idolatry and rebellion would continue until God sent the Assyrians to judge His people for their rebellion. The northern kingdom (Ephraim) fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Asaph repeatedly uses the name Ephraim long before the northern kingdom was formed and fell.

The warriors of Ephraim, though armed with bows,
    turned their backs and fled on the day of battle.
They did not keep God’s covenant
    and refused to live by his instructions.
They forgot what he had done—
    the great wonders he had shown them… – Psalm 78:9-11 NLT

When the Ephraimites were allotted land in Canaan, they failed to obey God’s command and eradicate the pagan people groups that lived there.

The tribe of Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, so the Canaanites continued to live there among them. – Judges 1:29 NLT

They did not drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, however, so the people of Gezer live as slaves among the people of Ephraim to this day. – Judges 16:10 NLT

Asaph blames their failure to keep God’s covenant on their refusal to remember all the great wonders he had shown them during their journey from Egypt to Canaan. He recalls the miracle of the Red Sea, where God opened a path for them to escape the Egyptian army. He reminds them of the pillar of cloud and pillar of smoke that led them all during their 40-year trek through the wilderness. He points out God’s provision of water from a rock so that their thirst could be quenched and their grumbling would cease. Yet, despite God’s gracious acts of kindness and provision, “they kept on sinning against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They stubbornly tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved” (Psalm 78:17-18 NLT).

Through the medium of song, Asaph reminds his audience of what happened next. God became angry with His people’s display of ungratefulness and unfaithfulness.

Yes, his anger rose against Israel,
for they did not believe God
    or trust him to care for them. – Psalm 78:21-22 NLT

But rather than punish them, God miraculously provided manna and quail to fill their rumbling stomachs and stop their grumbling hearts. However, God didn’t let them off without a painful lesson in obedience. He fed them, but He also “killed their strongest men. He struck down the finest of Israel’s young men” (Psalm 78:31 NLT). But His wrath was not capricious or without effect, because it got their attention.

When God began killing them,
    they finally sought him.
    They repented and took God seriously.
Then they remembered that God was their rock,
    that God Most High was their redeemer. – Psalm 78:34-35 NLT

One of the things Asaph learned from his survey of Israel’s past was the consistency of their rebellion and the constancy of God’s grace and forgiveness. Asaph accuses them of giving God “lip service” (vs 36) and even lying to His face. Yet, “Yet he was merciful and forgave their sins and did not destroy them all” (Psalm 78:38 NLT). Their holy and righteous God “held back his anger and did not unleash his fury” (Psalm 78:38 NLT).

In verses 42-53, Asaph recounts the miracles God performed as part of their deliverance from captivity in Egypt. He recalls the ten plagues and the miracle of the Red Sea crossing. He reminds them of their God-ordained victories over Canaan’s occupants so the land could be their inheritance. But despite all God’s actions, the Israelites “kept testing and rebelling against God Most High” (Psalm 78:56 NLT).

Verses 56-64 outline Israel’s continued rebellion and stubborn refusal to repent of their sins. No matter how many times God poured out His grace and mercy, they thumbed their noses in His face by worshiping false gods in His place. So, God ultimately allowed the Philistines to capture the Ark of the Covenant at Shiloh (1 Samuel 4:4-11). On that fateful day, many Israelites, including the priests Hophni and Phinehas, were killed.

This demoralizing defeat at the hands of their enemies did little to alter Israel’s behavior, but it was followed by yet another gracious act of mercy from Yahweh. He eventually turned the tables, restored the ark to Israel, and led David to establish Jerusalem as the place where a temple to God’s glory would be constructed. His son Solomon would erect this earthly dwelling place for Yahweh and conduct an elaborate ceremony to commemorate its opening.

But Asaph ends his psalm by rejoicing over God’s choice of the tribe of Judah and David to serve as “the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants—God’s own people, Israel” (Psalm 78:71 NLT). Despite Israel’s track record of apostasy and unfaithfulness, Yahweh remained committed to His covenant promises, pouring out His mercy and grace on His chosen people.

“If Israel’s record is her shame, God’s persistent goodness emerges as her hope (and ours) for the unfinished story.” – Derek Kidner, Psalms 73-150, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series

Father, I am always amazed at Your faithfulness, patience, mercy, grace, and love in the face of mankind’s repeated rejections of You. Even Your chosen people have a lousy track record of faithfulness, providing You with ample reason to renege on Your covenant promises. But You are a covenant-keeping God who refuses to give up on Your people even when they give up on You. What a powerful reminder this psalm provides to those of us who call ourselves Your children but who tend to follow the example of the Israelites. We are no more deserving of Your grace, mercy, and love than they were. But their history is a vivid and much-needed reminder that Your grace is unearned and Your mercy is unmerited. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Our Promise-Keeping God

Of Solomon.

1 Give the king your justice, O God,
    and your righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge your people with righteousness,
    and your poor with justice!
3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
    and the hills, in righteousness!
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
    give deliverance to the children of the needy,
    and crush the oppressor!

5 May they fear you while the sun endures,
    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
    like showers that water the earth!
7 In his days may the righteous flourish,
    and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

8 May he have dominion from sea to sea,
    and from the River to the ends of the earth!
9 May desert tribes bow down before him,
    and his enemies lick the dust!
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
    render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
    bring gifts!
11 May all kings fall down before him,
    all nations serve him!

12 For he delivers the needy when he calls,
    the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy,
    and saves the lives of the needy.
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
    and precious is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live;
    may gold of Sheba be given to him!
May prayer be made for him continually,
    and blessings invoked for him all the day!
16 May there be abundance of grain in the land;
    on the tops of the mountains may it wave;
    may its fruit be like Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
    like the grass of the field!
17 May his name endure forever,
    his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
    all nations call him blessed!

18 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
    who alone does wondrous things.
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!

20 The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended. – Psalm 72:1-19 ESV

It is unclear whether this psalm was written for or by Solomon. The preposition in the title could be translated either way, leaving room for both interpretations. But what makes this psalm even more confusing is the final verse, which seems to indicate that David was its author. However, most scholars believe this verse was a later addition and was intended to serve as a point of separation between Books 1 and 2 of the Psalter and Psalms 73-83, which are all attributed to Asaph.

If this psalm was written by Solomon, it seems odd that he would communicate his prayer in the third person. The entire psalm is a petition for God to bless the king with wisdom and discernment so that he might rule justly and fairly.

O God, grant the king the ability to make just decisions.
Grant the king’s son the ability to make fair decisions.
Then he will judge your people fairly,
and your oppressed ones equitably. – Psalm 72:1-2 NLT

What purpose would it serve for Solomon to pray anonymously and from the perspective of a loyal subject of the king? It makes more sense to see this as a prayer written on behalf of the king, asking the LORD to pour out His favor in the form of prosperity for the nation and justice for its people.

The mountains will bring news of peace to the people,
and the hills will announce justice.
He will defend the oppressed among the people;
he will deliver the children of the poor
and crush the oppressor. – Psalm 72:3-4 NLT

According to Nathan, the prophet, Solomon was God’s appointed replacement for David. God had promised to bless David with a descendant who would rule in his place and provide him with an unending dynasty.

“The Lord declares to you that he himself will build a dynastic house for you. When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for my name, and I will make his dynasty permanent. I will become his father and he will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings. But my loyal love will not be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.  Your house and your kingdom will stand before me permanently; your dynasty will be permanent.” – 2 Samuel 7:11-16 NLT

In his old age, David faced a potential coup from one of his own sons that threatened to disrupt God’s plans for Solomon.

Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith, was promoting himself, boasting, “I will be king!” He managed to acquire chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.  (Now his father had never corrected him by saying, “Why do you do such things?” He was also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom.) He collaborated with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported him. – 1 Kings 1:5-7 NLT

David ended Adonijah’s ambitions by declaring Solomon his rightful heir and replacement.

King David said, “Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king, and he told them, “Take your master’s servants with you, put my son Solomon on my mule, and lead him down to Gihon. There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ Then follow him up as he comes and sits on my throne. He will be king in my place; I have decreed that he will be ruler over Israel and Judah.” – 1 Kings 1:32-35 NLT

In Psalm 72, the author petitions God to pour out His blessings on Solomon so that the kingdom of Israel might prosper under his leadership.

During his days the godly will flourish;
peace will prevail as long as the moon remains in the sky.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. – Psalm 72:7-8 NLT

He describes a divinely blessed reign marked by peace, justice, and righteousness. This idealic vision of a God-ordained dynasty under the leadership of Solomon points to an even greater ruler to come. Many scholars believe Psalm 72 contains Messianic references, pointing to Jesus’ millennial reign. What the psalmist describes is a virtual utopia in which Israel is free from the threats of war and the king is treated with honor and respect by all the nations of the earth.

While Solomon’s reign was marked by peace and prosperity, and the kingdom enjoyed unprecedented expansion, it did not end well. Because of his disobedience, Solomon’s kingdom was divided after his death. As punishment for Solomon’s idolatry, God split Israel into two kingdoms, leaving Solomon’s heir with authority over two of the 12 tribes. The kingdom would remain in this divided state for centuries, with the two nations warring against one another. The northern kingdom of Israel would even set up their own worship sites where they bowed down to their false gods.

Yet, God had promised to establish a dynasty and an everlasting kingdom for David. That promise will be fulfilled in the second coming of Jesus, when He sets up His millennial kingdom in Jerusalem and rules as the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Book of Revelation describes this future fulfullment of God’s promise.

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.

Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. – Revelation 20:1-4 NLT

The prayer of Psalm 72 will be fulfilled, but not until Jesus returns. As a descendant of David, He will rule from the throne of His ancestor in the city of Jerusalem and mete out justice and righteousness on the nations of the earth. The promise God made to David will be fulfilled, and the prayers of the psalmist will be answered in full because God is faithful.

Father, You are faithful and Your promises never fall short. You do what You say You will do – each and every time. Help me to trust You more. Give me the strength to believe even when things don't appear to be going the way I think they should go. You have a plan and You are working that plan to perfection. I have no reason to fear or doubt because Your promises always come to fruition. You will fulfill every promise You made to David because You are trusworthy. Thank You for that reminder today. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Final Words of a Godly Man

22 And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and they anointed him as prince for the Lord, and Zadok as priest.

23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king in place of David his father. And he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the leaders and the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. 25 And the Lord made Solomon very great in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

26 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 28 Then he died at a good age, full of days, riches, and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his place. 29 Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the Chronicles of Samuel the seer, and in the Chronicles of Nathan the prophet, and in the Chronicles of Gad the seer, 30 with accounts of all his rule and his might and of the circumstances that came upon him and upon Israel and upon all the kingdoms of the countries. – 1 Chronicles 29:22-30 ESV

Solomon was crowned the next king of Israel for the second time. The Book of 1 Kings records the first occasion when David had Solomon crowned king. This was a hastily prepared coronation designed to thwart the plan of Adonijah, David’s eldest living son, who was attempting to stage a coup and take over the kingdom. 

About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, “I will make myself king.” So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him.… Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king. But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah. – 1 Kings 2:5, 7-8 NLT

David took quick action and ordered Zadok the priest to officially anoint Absalom as his successor.

Then King David ordered, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came into the king’s presence, the king said to them, “Take Solomon and my officials down to Gihon Spring. Solomon is to ride on my own mule. There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ Then escort him back here, and he will sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” – 1 Kings 2:32-35 NLT

At that point, Solomon became David’s co-regent, ruling by his side over the kingdom of Israel. David was still alive and would serve as the acting king until his death but his son would serve as the face of the crown, representing David in any public events. During this brief period of shared leadership, David was able to pass on words of wisdom to his son. He would provide Solomon with two sets of instructions, one that was spiritual in nature, while the other was personal.

The first thing David did was pass on the promise he had received from God. When he had first expressed his desire to build a house for the Lord, he was informed by God that his son would have that privilege.

“For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:12-16 NLT

David knew that the key to his success as a king had been due to the hand of God, and he wanted Solomon to understand that his reign would need to be dependent upon the Lord as well. So, he passed along what God had told him and added a few vital words of encouragement and warning:

Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn… – 1 Kings 2:2-3 ESV

Where had David gotten this bit of information? How could he be so sure that God would prosper Solomon if he would be obedient? Long before the people of Israel voiced their desire for a king (1 Samuel 8:5-7), God preempted their request with a series of commands concerning the requirements of any man who served in that role over His chosen people.

And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel. – Deuteronomy 17:18-20 ESV

God had instructed that each and every king of Israel was to live by His law. The king was to keep a copy of the law on hand and was to have it read to him every day of his reign. But it wasn’t enough to be familiar with the content of the law, the king was to keep it – every word, statute, and commandment. There was to be no veering to the left or right. No cherry-picking or selective obedience. The health and longevity of the king’s reign would be directly tied to his obedience to the law.

So David made sure Solomon was well aware of God’s expectations. In fact, David tied Solomon’s manhood to his ability to keep God’s law. The Book of 1 Kings records David’s final words to his young son.

“I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go.” – 1 Kings 2:2-3 NLT

David encouraged his son to act like a man and be strong, and he made it clear that the proof of Solomon’s manhood would be found in his obedience to God. But David knew what God knew. He realized his son would sin Solomon would sin and have times of disobedience, just as he had. But God had promised to deal with Solomon in a loving manner, like a father to his son.

“If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul…” – 2 Samuel 7:14-15 NLT

Yet, David knew that obedience was preferable to the loving discipline of God. It was far better to obey than to learn the difficult lessons that come as a result of God’s loving hand of discipline. David had lost three sons due to his own sins. He had watched two of his sons attempt to take his kingdom from him. He had seen innocent people die because of his disobedience. He knew that living in submission and obedience to the will of God was far better in the long run and it was the true mark of a godly man.

He also knew that obeying the Lord was going to take real strength. For Solomon to obey God's commands was going to take faith, trust, and a willingness to die to his own self-centered desires and wishes. Disobedience is the way of cowards.

David’s words to Solomon are very similar to those Joshua spoke to the people of Israel as he prepared for his own death.

“Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day.” – Joshua 23:7-8 ESV

Be strong. Obey. Don’t veer to the left or right. Stay the course. Cling to the Lord your God. Joshua knew what the people were going to have to do if they were to be successful in their attempt to possess the land. David knew what Solomon was going to need to do if he was going to be successful in leading the people of Israel. Solomon’s accomplishments as king would not be tied to his own leadership skills, the strength of his military, the combined intelligence of his cabinet, or the size of his kingdom. It would be directly tied to his willingness to obey God. Nothing more. Nothing less.

In his letter to the believers in Corinth, Paul gave a similar charge. He encouraged them to, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV). Living the Christian life is anything but easy. Following the will of God is far more difficult than giving in to your own will. It isn’t easy to stand firm in the faith you have in the gospel of Jesus Christ when everything around you seems to be caving in and the waves of doubts confront you.

Solomon was going to have days of doubt. He would experience moments of despair and end up turning to money, materialism, human wisdom, sexual pleasure, food, and even science, in an attempt to find meaning in life. Later in life, he would chronicle his thoughts in the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon would surround himself with hundreds of wives and concubines, whose false gods would lead him to turn his back on Yahweh. Solomon would start out strong, heeding his father’s advice and obeying the Lord’s commands, but his reign would end poorly. He would begin as a godly man, but not end that way.

And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.” – 1 Kings 11:9-11 ESV

Hundreds of wives and concubines didn’t make Solomon a man. A mighty kingdom and a massive army didn’t make Solomon a man. A reputation for wisdom and wealth didn’t make Solomon a man. A true man is a godly man, a man who loves, fears, and obeys his God. A godly man is a man who knows his help is from the Lord, and who realizes that he is nothing apart from the presence and power of God in his life. Faith in God requires real strength. Disobedience is easy. This is why Paul calls us to “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV).

David anointed Solomon the next king of Israel and “the Lord exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and he gave Solomon greater royal splendor than any king in Israel before him” (1 Chronicles 29:25 NLT). Then after 40 years of ruling over the nation of Israel, David “died at a ripe old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor” (1 Chronicles 29:28 NLT). With his death, the baton was passed to his son and a new era began in Israel. The man after God’s own heart had imparted his wisdom, wealth, and kingdom to his son, along with a desire that he live in willing submission and obedience to the one true King, God Almighty.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

All for the Glory of God

1 And David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the Lord God. 2 So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble. 3 Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: 4 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house, 5 and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord?”

6 Then the leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. 7 They gave for the service of the house of God 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze and 100,000 talents of iron. 8 And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

10 Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

14 “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. 15 For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. 16 O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. 18 O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. 19 Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.”

20 Then David said to all the assembly, “Bless the Lord your God.” And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the Lord and to the king. 21 And they offered sacrifices to the Lord, and on the next day offered burnt offerings to the Lord, 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 22 And they ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great gladness. – 1 Chronicles 29:1-22 ESV

The chronicler has come to the end of the first half of his book and the final days of David’s life and reign as king of Israel. The author has dedicated a large percentage of the closing portion of his narrative to recording David’s preparations for the construction of the Temple. The elderly king has spent the closing days of his life and much of his personal fortune to ensure that his son accomplishes the task of building a house suitable for God.

Part of the motivation behind David’s obsession with the Temple was his awareness of Solomon’s young age and lack of experience. He freely admitted to the gathered assembly that his son might not be up to the task.

“My son Solomon, whom God has clearly chosen as the next king of Israel, is still young and inexperienced. The work ahead of him is enormous, for the Temple he will build is not for mere mortals—it is for the Lord God himself!” – 1 Chronicles 29:1 NLT

This must have been difficult for Solomon to hear, but it was true. David feared that his son might be overwhelmed by the pressures of serving as king. David knew that his son would face temptations and distractions. The authority and affluence that came with the crown could cause his son to lose sight of his primary role as shepherd to the people of Israel. Without a healthy reliance upon Yahweh, Solomon could easily fall prey to the excesses that come with power and privilege.

Knowing that his days were numbered and he would not be around to provide Solomon with counsel and fatherly support, David asked God to protect his young son.

“Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations.” – 1 Chronicles 29:19 NLT

David knew from personal experience that wealth and power were gifts from God and were to be treated with proper reverence and appreciation.

“Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.” – 1 Chronicles 29:12 NLT

Solomon was about to inherit the crown and the kingdom but he needed to understand that he had done nothing to earn or deserve it. He was not even the firstborn son, so his selection as king went against normal protocol. His anointing as king was not the result of personal achievement or man’s initiative, but the sovereign will of God.

In his prayer before the assembly, David acknowledged the glory and greatness of God.

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.” – 1 Chronicles 29:11 NLT

David’s powerful closing prayer served as a reminder to Solomon and the assembled leaders of Israel that they owed God their undivided allegiance and obedience. Their very existence as a people was the result of God’s gracious will. They were the descendants of Abram, a pagan from the land of Ur whom God had chosen to be the patriarch of a “great nation” that would become a blessing to the entire world.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” – Genesis 12:1-3 NLT

God had kept that promise, creating from this elderly man and his barren wife a nation that now occupied the land of Canaan and enjoyed unprecedented power, prosperity, and peace. But they were about to begin a new chapter in their history as Solomon took the throne as the third king of Israel. They were on the cusp of a new era that would come with new opportunities to see God work among them.

So, as David wrapped up his address to the leaders of Israel, he took one last opportunity to model his devotion to God by donating a sizeable portion of his personal wealth to the future Temple.

“And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction. This is in addition to the building materials I have already collected for his holy Temple. I am donating more than 112 tons of gold from Ophir and 262 tons of refined silver to be used for overlaying the walls of the buildings and for the other gold and silver work to be done by the craftsmen.” – 1 Chronicles 29:3-5 NLT

This was not money from the royal treasury. In other words, David was not using tax dollars to fund the construction of the Temple; he was putting his money where his mouth was. In his determination to see that the Temple was of the highest quality, he sacrificed greatly and willingly, and then he encouraged the leaders of Israel to do the same thing.

“Now then, who will follow my example and give offerings to the Lord today?” – 1 Chronicles 29:5 NLT

The people responded with enthusiasm, providing “about 188 tons of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron” (1 Chronicles 29:7 NLT), along with an abundance of precious stones. This remarkable expression of generosity was completely uncoerced and spontaneous and left a powerful impression on all those who participated.

The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy. – 1 Chronicles 29:9 NLT

This section of the closing chapter of 1 Chronicles must have had a powerful impact on the original audience who read of the generosity of David and the people of Israel. Those returned exiles were living in a far different Jerusalem. Their city was not the opulent and well-appointed capital that David had built. It was a shadow of its former glory, having been destroyed by the Babylonians 70 years earlier. The remnant of Jews who returned from exile in Babylon discovered an abandoned and disheveled city with broken-down walls, no gates, empty houses, and a totally destroyed Temple.

The Book of Haggai reveals that the first thing the people did was to build houses for themselves. It only makes sense that they would need proper shelter as they began their reoccupation of the city, but God ended up indicting them for their oversight of His Temple. They had displayed wrong priorities.

“Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!” - Haggai 1:4-6 NLT

Their failure to make the Temple their highest priority had cost them dearly. God had withheld His blessings because they had withheld their reverence for His glory. But He gave them a second chance, declaring, “Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord” (Haggai 1:8 NLT).

The people obeyed and the Temple was built. But even when the final stone was laid and the doors of the Temple were opened for business, the final product was a far cry from the Temple Solomon built. The prophet Haggai delivered a message from God to Zerubbabel the governor, reminding him that it was the glory of God, not the glory of the Temple that should be the source of their hope.

“Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.” – Haggai 2:3-5 NLT

David and his leaders donated staggering sums to see that the original Temple would be built. But even David knew that their gifts were nothing when compared with the greatness and glory of God.

“O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!” – 1 Chronicles 29:13-14 NLT

The size and the sumptuousness of the Temple was not the point. The grandeur of the building was not what set it apart; it was the presence and power of God. The remnant of Israelites were not to be embarrassed by their less-than-grand Temple. Its diminished state did nothing to diminish the power of their faithful, ever-present God. David, Solomon, Haggai, Zerubbabel, and all the people of Israel from all generations were to understand that it was God alone who deserved their worship, honor, praise, and glory. So, when David finished his prayer of praise for the generosity of his people, he declared, “Give praise to the Lord your God!” (1 Chronicles 29:20 NLT).

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

God Chose, Now It's Your Turn

1 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. 2 Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers 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 I made preparations for building. 3 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.’ 4 Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father’s house, and among my father’s sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 5 And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 6 He said to me, ‘It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues strong in keeping my commandments and my rules, as he is today.’ 8 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.

9 “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. 10 Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”

11 Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat; 12 and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the Lord, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts; 13 for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, and all the work of the service in the house of the Lord; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the Lord, 14 the weight of gold for all golden vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service, 15 the weight of the golden lampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand in the service, 16 the weight of gold for each table for the showbread, the silver for the silver tables, 17 and pure gold for the forks, the basins and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each; 18 for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 19 “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.”

20 Then David said to Solomon his son, “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. 21 And behold the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be every willing man who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command.” – 1 Chronicles 28:1-21 ESV

Having completed all the plans and preparations for the building of the Temple, David assembled all those who served in any capacity within his government – “the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions, the other generals and captains, the overseers of the royal property and livestock, the palace officials, the mighty men, and all the other brave warriors in the kingdom” (1 Chronicles 28:1 NLT). Solomon, who served as David’s co-regent, was among this throng of dignitaries and faithful servants of the king. As David’s heir and the God-appointed successor to the throne of Israel, Solomon would soon be inheriting all that his father possessed, including his great wealth, power, and reputation. But David’s greatest concern was not the fate of his legacy but the fear of his son and the people of Israel becoming unfaithful to God. 

He had taken great pains to prepare for the building of the Temple but he was less interested in the construction of a grand architectural specimen than the ongoing presence of God it was intended to house. David knew from experience how important the presence of God had been in his life. He revealed to the gathered assembly how God had rejected his offer “to build a Temple where the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently” (1 Chronicles 28:2 NLT). David knew that the Shekinah glory of God’s presence dwelled over the Mercy Seat that served as the lid to the Ark of the Covenant. He was aware of the instructions that God had given to Moses concerning this vital piece of sacred furniture that sat within the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle.

“…you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.” – Exodus 25:21-22 ESV

David’s purpose for building the Temple in his capital city of Jerusalem was to ensure that God’s presence was always near. David was not attempting to relegate that omnipresent God to a single location. Nor was he trying to treat the Ark like some kind of magic talisman that would guarantee his son’s success and the kingdom’s longevity. He simply desired to construct a house for God that would be worthy of His glory and the focal point of the peoples’ worship.

Throughout his speech to the gathered assembly, David emphasized God’s sovereign role in his life. He could look back and see God’s hand orchestrating every detail of his rise from lowly shepherd to the throne of Israel. He had not earned or deserved his kingship. It had been the handiwork of his ever-present, all-powerful God.

“…the Lord, the God of Israel, has chosen me from among all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever.” – 1 Chronicles 28:4 NLT

“…he has chosen the tribe of Judah to rule, and from among the families of Judah he chose my father’s family.” – 1 Chronicles 28:4 NLT

“…from among my father’s sons the Lord was pleased to make me king over all Israel.” – 1 Chronicles 28:4 NLT

“…from among my sons…he chose Solomon to succeed me on the throne of Israel and to rule over the Lord’s kingdom.” – 1 Chronicles 28:5 NLT

David wanted everyone to know that this moment had been God-ordained. His presence before them as their king had been the sovereign work of God, not the result of his own ambition or self-effort. For David, it was important that the assembled dignitaries recognize God’s hand in all that had happened in their nation over the last four decades. David knew his days were numbered and he wanted the leaders of the nation to carry on his commitment of faithfulness to Yahweh. He knew his young son would need wise counsel and a constant reminder to keep God first. He reminded them that God had placed binding conditions on His promise to perpetuate David’s dynasty through Solomon.

“Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards, for I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father. And if he continues to obey my commands and regulations as he does now, I will make his kingdom last forever.” – 1 Chronicles 28:6-7 NLT

The Temple would not be enough to guarantee God’s presence or the kingdom’s longevity; Solomon would need to obey the commands of God. But the king’s faithfulness would be impossible without the people’s full participation and support. It’s difficult to lead when no one is willing to follow.

So, David issued a challenge to the leadership of Israel intended to emphasize their responsibility to model faithfulness and obedience for the rest of the nation.

“So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel—the Lord’s assembly—I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance.” – 1 Chronicles 28:8 NLT

They could not pass the buck and place the burden of responsibility on Solomon alone. The future of the kingdom was in their hands. Their faithfulness would be vital to ensuring God’s ongoing presence and His provision for the nation’s needs. David Guzik provides a simple summation of David’s charge.

They were exhorted to be careful, in the sense that they had to regard this responsibility as important and worthy of attention.

They were exhorted to seek out the commandments of God, searching the Scriptures diligently.

They were exhorted to seek out all the commandments, and not compromise by focusing on a few favored commandments.

– David Guzik, 1 Chronicles: The Enduring Word Bible Commentary

As far as David was concerned, this was to be a community affair; everyone had a part to play. But David also knew that God was going to hold Solomon to a higher standard. As king, his son would need to exemplify what it means to “observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God” (1 Chronicles 28:8 ESV). There is an old adage that states, “As the king goes, so goes the nation.” This would be true of Solomon and every other king who came after him. Their faithfulness to God would prove to be contagious. However, if they proved to be unfaithful, the people would follow their lead.

David knew that his young son would have his work cut out for him. While David had taken steps to leave his son all the resources and manpower to build the Temple, he could not leave behind his own faithfulness. Solomon would have to develop his own relationship with and reliance upon Yahweh. David had demonstrated his own dependence upon God but now Solomon would need to develop his own personal relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This led David to issue a charge to Solomon in the presence of Israel’s leaders.

“…learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.” – 1 Chronicles 28:9-10 NLT

It all began with Solomon’s personal relationship with Yahweh. He would need to cultivate and maintain his reliance upon God, refusing to compromise his convictions or alter his allegiance in any way. David greatly desired that the Temple be built but he knew that it would prove futile if his son failed to remain faithful to God.

He followed up this charge with some last-minute instructions concerning the Temple, then he issued one final word of encouragement to his heir-apparent.

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly. The various divisions of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple of God. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the officials and the entire nation are at your command.” – 1 Chronicles 29:20-21 NLT

Solomon had a choice to make. The kingdom was his. So was the responsibility to build the Temple. His future was set. But as he prepared to begin his reign he would need to choose what kind of king he would be. Would he be faithful or faithless? Would he be obedient or prove to be obstinate and obsessed with doing his own will? David had done all he could do, now it was up to Solomon to choose. He faced the same choice as the people of Israel when they heard the final words of Joshua as he prepared to die and leave them with the task of completing the conquest of Canaan.

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:14-15 ESV

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Our Covenant-Keeping God

1 This is the number of the people of Israel, the heads of fathers’ houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering 24,000:

2 Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division in the first month; in his division were 24,000. 3 He was a descendant of Perez and was chief of all the commanders. He served for the first month. 4 Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division of the second month; in his division were 24,000. 5 The third commander, for the third month, was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the chief priest; in his division were 24,000. 6 This is the Benaiah who was a mighty man of the thirty and in command of the thirty; Ammizabad his son was in charge of his division. 7 Asahel the brother of Joab was fourth, for the fourth month, and his son Zebadiah after him; in his division were 24,000. 8 The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhuth the Izrahite; in his division were 24,000. 9 Sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were 24,000. 10 Seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim; in his division were 24,000. 11 Eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites; in his division were 24,000. 12 Ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjaminite; in his division were 24,000. 13 Tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai of Netophah, of the Zerahites; in his division were 24,000. 14 Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah of Pirathon, of the sons of Ephraim; in his division were 24,000. 15 Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were 24,000.

16 Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites, Eliezer the son of Zichri was chief officer; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah; 17 for Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; 18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David's brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel; 20 for the Ephraimites, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. 23 David did not count those below twenty years of age, for the Lord had promised to make Israel as many as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but did not finish. Yet wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered in the chronicles of King David.

25 Over the king’s treasuries was Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah; 26 and over those who did the work of the field for tilling the soil was Ezri the son of Chelub; 27 and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. 28 Over the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite; and over the stores of oil was Joash. 29 Over the herds that pastured in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai. 30 Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. 31 All these were stewards of King David’s property.

32 Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, being a man of understanding and a scribe. He and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni attended the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel was the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend. 34 Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king’s army. – 1 Chronicles 27:1-34 ESV

As David neared the end of his life and his lengthy 40-year reign, he spent a great deal of time, energy, and financial resources getting his house in order. Along with his detailed preparations for the future construction of the Temple, he organized the Levites so that they would be ready to serve in this new house of God when the time came. He recruited musicians and singers to serve alongside the Levitical priests, providing worshipful music that would inspire the people of Israel in their adoration of Yahweh.

David knew that his reign was coming to an end and that his son, Solomon would serve as Israel’s next king. In fact, David had already placed Solomon on the throne as his co-regent. This decision was in direct response to an attempted coup by one of his other sons. To forestall Adonijah’s efforts to steal the throne from his half-brother Solomon, David hastily organized Solomon’s coronation and had Zadok the priest anoint him with oil and announce him as king.

Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” – 1 Kings 1:39 ESV

All that David did in the closing days of his life was in keeping with his understanding of God’s covenant promises. He was operating on the basis of God’s word and getting everything in order so that the full transition of power to Solomon would be as seamless and trouble-free as possible. David recalled the words of God and did everything in his power as king to ensure that Solomon’s future as king would be built on a solid foundation.

“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” – 2 Samuel 7:12-16 ESV

So, in chapter 27, the chronicler records David’s efforts to organize his army, governmental administrators, tribal leadership, and all those who served as counselors and advisors to the king. While David fully trusted that God could fulfill His covenant promises without any additional help, he was committed to making Solomon’s path to power an easy one. David conscientiously made all the necessary preparations - down to the last detail - so that he could die knowing his son would be well-established and well on his way to a lengthy and successful reign.

As David’s death date approached, he called his son to his side and provided him with one last piece of fatherly advice.

“I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’” – 1 Kings 2:2-4 NLT

In 1 Chronicles 27, the author reminds his readers that David was almost obsessed with his end-of-life preparations. He left no stone unturned and no detail unattended. From the construction materials for the Temple to the priests who would serve within its wall, David went out of his way to guarantee his dream of building a house for God would be fulfilled. But he knew that the Temple would need to dwell in a nation where its safety and security could be maintained by a stable government and strong military presence. That government would need reliable men who could serve in the highest offices within the royal administration. There would also need to be trustworthy officials to serve within each of the tribes, administering justice and providing oversight to the far-flung reaches of the kingdom.

David organized his army into divisions of 12 with each one serving on a rotational basis, ensuring that the kingdom was well-prepared for any threat that may arise.

This is the list of Israelite generals and captains, and their officers, who served the king by supervising the army divisions that were on duty each month of the year. Each division served for one month and had 24,000 troops. – 1 Chronicles 27:1 NLT

David was the warrior-king who understood the role of the military in the life of the nation. He wanted to leave his son with a well-trained fighting force that could effectively guard the kingdom from outside attacks or any possible threat of a coup from within. David knew from personal experience just how quickly a kingdom could fall so he intended to leave his son with an army equipped and organized to guarantee the peace and protection of the nation for years to come.

Again, David was painstaking in his efforts to secure Solomon’s future. He even took the time to deal with the appointment of civil servants within the various tribes. He knew that the success of any king was dependent upon the loyalty of the leadership at the local level. The support of the tribes would be key to Solomon’s longevity as king, so David took steps to assign men who could provide faithful leadership to their tribe and clan but who would also support Solomon as he attempted to lead the unified nation. This serves as evidence that David was moving the nation away “from the traditional tribal system towards a centralized bureaucracy” (Martin J. Selman, 1 Chronicles, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries). Israel was no longer a loosely organized confederation of 12 tribes, but a single nation operating under the rule of a king who served as God’s anointed leader.

While the modern reader may find all these details to be of little interest, the chronicler’s original audience was expected to draw encouragement from David’s zeal and determination. All of these preparations were made at the end of his life and he would personally experience no benefit from them. He would never see the completed Temple or worship within its walls. His efforts were not motivated by selfishness or self-centeredness. David was playing the long game and focusing his attention on the promises of God. His reign would end but his dynasty would be long-lasting because God had said it would be so.

The returned exiles who were living in the land of promise needed to be reminded that the promises God made to David remained in effect. Nothing had changed. Their God was still faithful and His word was trustworthy and true - despite the less-than-ideal circumstances in which they found themselves. They were back in the land of promise. They had rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, restored the Temple, reinstated the sacrificial system, and begun the slow process of renewing the kingdom that had been destroyed by the Babylonians 70 years earlier. But they had no king. Their nation was in disarray. Their hopes for the future were overshadowed by the reality of their current situation. But, like David, they needed to trust the promises of God and make preparations for the future. They had work to do and while they might not live to see the fulfillment of God’s promises, they must believe that He was faithful and true. He was the covenant-keeping God who was always good for His word.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Isaiah 29:11 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A Privilege and Honor to Serve

1 As for the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. 2 And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. 4 And Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth, for God blessed him. 6 Also to his son Shemaiah were sons born who were rulers in their fathers' houses, for they were men of great ability. 7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad, whose brothers were able men, Elihu and Semachiah. 8 All these were of the sons of Obed-edom with their sons and brothers, able men qualified for the service; sixty-two of Obed-edom. 9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, able men, eighteen. 10 And Hosah, of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him chief), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.

12 These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their chief men, had duties, just as their brothers did, ministering in the house of the Lord. 13 And they cast lots by fathers' houses, small and great alike, for their gates. 14 The lot for the east fell to Shelemiah. They cast lots also for his son Zechariah, a shrewd counselor, and his lot came out for the north. 15 Obed-edom's came out for the south, and to his sons was allotted the gatehouse. 16 For Shuppim and Hosah it came out for the west, at the gate of Shallecheth on the road that goes up. Watch corresponded to watch. 17 On the east there were six each day, on the north four each day, on the south four each day, as well as two and two at the gatehouse. 18 And for the colonnade on the west there were four at the road and two at the colonnade. 19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and the sons of Merari.

20 And of the Levites, Ahijah had charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated gifts. 21 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers' houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.

22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham, and Joel his brother, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the Lord. 23 Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites— 24 and Shebuel the son of Gershom, son of Moses, was chief officer in charge of the treasuries. 25 His brothers: from Eliezer were his son Rehabiah, and his son Jeshaiah, and his son Joram, and his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth. 26 This Shelomoth and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries of the dedicated gifts that David the king and the heads of the fathers' houses and the officers of the thousands and the hundreds and the commanders of the army had dedicated. 27 From spoil won in battles they dedicated gifts for the maintenance of the house of the Lord. 28 Also all that Samuel the seer and Saul the son of Kish and Abner the son of Ner and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated—all dedicated gifts were in the care of Shelomoth and his brothers.

29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were appointed to external duties for Israel, as officers and judges. 30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, 1,700 men of ability, had the oversight of Israel westward of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and for the service of the king. 31 Of the Hebronites, Jerijah was chief of the Hebronites of whatever genealogy or fathers' houses. (In the fortieth year of David's reign search was made and men of great ability among them were found at Jazer in Gilead.) 32 King David appointed him and his brothers, 2,700 men of ability, heads of fathers' houses, to have the oversight of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of the Manassites for everything pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king. – 1 Chronicles 26:1-32 ESV

While reading these closing chapters of the book of 1 Chronicles, one must remember that all of this was being done by David, a man who dreamed of building a house for the Lord but had been denied that privilege by God Himself. Instead, David's son, Solomon, would construct the Temple. But rather than pout, take his toys, and go home, David decided he would do the next best thing; he began gathering all the materials and establishing the organizational backbone that would make the Temple possible. Here he is, in the closing days of his administration and life, spending the vast majority of his time and wealth to ensure that everything needed to construct the temple was ready and available. He even put in place all the administrative and organizational aspects of building and maintaining the Temple – long before construction had even begun.

The amount of detail in these chapters is staggering. It can make for a difficult and somewhat boring read. But it reveals David's passion for God. Even though he would never see the completed temple or have the privilege of worshiping in it, he made sure that it would be built and would be worthy of the One who occupied it. David's passion for God is unparalleled. Having been denied by God the privilege of building the Temple, David could have gone about his life and let the weighty responsibility of this massive building project fall on the young shoulders of his son Solomon. But David was not going to risk taking his dream to the grave with him, never knowing if it ever got completed. He was determined to see that the Temple was built and his God honored.

He worked diligently and determinedly to make sure every aspect of its construction and ongoing maintenance was covered. His zeal for God's house reminds me of how Jesus reacted when He found the money changers operating inside the Temple when He arrived in Jerusalem for Passover. He became angry and physically threw them out of the place. He was not going to allow His Father's house to be defiled in such a way. Like Jesus, David had a passion for the things of God. You might even say he was obsessed. He was consumed with ensuring that the Temple would be a fitting dwelling place for God because God was worthy of it. David was determined to see that God got what He deserved, even if he never got to see it himself. That is dedication.

Dr. Thomas L. Constable puts it this way, "His preoccupation with God's promises and his preparations for their fulfillment served as a good example for Chronicles' original readers. David's zeal for the house of the Lord reflected his zeal for the reputation of the Lord. He truly put God's glory before his own personal ambitions."

Could the same be said of me? Do I put God's glory above my own personal ambitions? Is making God great and making Him known more important to me than anything else? Sadly, the answer is most often, "No." But these closing chapters of 1 Chronicles remind me to make God number one in my life, to give Him the glory He deserves. Am I willing to recognize His greatness and tell others about it? Am I prepared to make the reputation of God more important than my own?

For David to hire 24-hour guards to station at the gates of the temple and to employ the finest musicians and singers, would have cost him a great deal of money. It should not be overlooked that he did all this before the Temple had even been built. He would not even live long enough to see the Temple completed. There must have been some in his administration who looked at all his efforts and exorbitant expenses and questioned his sanity and wisdom. They wondered why he would waste so much time, money, and effort for the construction of a house that God had not even allowed him to build. But David loved His God and wanted to please Him; he wasn't concerned about what men thought about it all.

The apostle Paul shared David’s disregard for the approval of men.

…but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. – 1 Thessalonians 2:4 ESV

Paul lived his life in such a way that he could lay his head on the pillow at night, knowing that he had done what God had called him to do. He had been obedient and faithful. Rather than seek glory or the praise of men, he sought to bring pleasure and praise to God through the way he conducted his life.

We had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. – 1 Thessalonians 2:2 ESV

His life was not easy. Pleasing God did not come without its fair share of troubles and conflicts. There was always the not-so-subtle temptation to listen to the words of men and to seek their approval. Popularity and acceptance are strong urges in every human being. We want to be wanted. We desire to be accepted. But as children of God, our greatest desire must be to please God – not in an attempt to earn His favor or stay in His good graces. We can do nothing to make God love us more or force Him to love us any less. His great love for us has already been expressed in His Son's death on the cross in our place. But our desire to please Him must flow from grateful hearts for all He has done for us. Pleasing men is a futile game to play because they are fickle and their adoration and acceptance will come and go. But God's love for us is everlasting and unfailing. He deserves our willing desire to live obediently in response to His Word and in submission to His Spirit, not to please men, but to please Him.

One final thought: The men mentioned in this chapter were assigned the duty of serving as gatekeepers for the yet-to-be-constructed Temple. They were being hired for a seemingly menial job at a sacred site that didn’t even exist. They must have been jealous when they heard of David’s recruitment of other men to serve as the caretakers of the Temple treasury. He also handed out more cush-sounding assignments that included administrative responsibilities as officials and judges. Yet those chosen to serve as gatekeepers did not look down on their roles or consider their positions as inferior. They were honored to serve the king and their God as the protectors of the Temple.

Psalm 84 reflects the attitude of all those who were privileged to serve in any capacity within the Temple of the Lord. Written by the descendants of Korah, one of the sons of Levi, this Psalm gives a glimpse into the hearts of all those whom David chose to honor God with their lives.

A single day in your courts
    is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
    than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
    He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
    from those who do what is right.
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
    what joy for those who trust in you. – Psalm 84:10-12 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Worthy of Our Praise

1 David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was: 2 Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king. 3 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord. 4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. 5 All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer, according to the promise of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 They were all under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the order of the king. 7 The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all who were skillful, was 288. 8 And they cast lots for their duties, small and great, teacher and pupil alike.

9 The first lot fell for Asaph to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, to him and his brothers and his sons, twelve; 10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 14 the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 18 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 20 to the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 21 to the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 22 to the fifteenth, to Jeremoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 23 to the sixteenth, to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 24 to the seventeenth, to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 25 to the eighteenth, to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 26 to the nineteenth, to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 27 to the twentieth, to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 28 to the twenty-first, to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 29 to the twenty-second, to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 30 to the twenty-third, to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve; 31 to the twenty-fourth, to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his brothers, twelve. – 1 Chronicles 25:1-31 ESV

David had a strong attention to detail. In his effort to make preparations for the future Temple, he left no matter unattended, carefully covering all his bases so that everything about the house of God was taken care of. As this chapter reveals, he even included the appointment of men who would ensure that the worship of God was accompanied by music. This was not a feature of the Tabernacle and does not seem to have been ordained by God but David, who was a musician himself, understood the power of musical instruments to enhance one’s worship of God.

This was not music for music’s sake but was intended to accompany those who prophesied in the name of the Lord.

David …appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. – 1 Chronicles 25:1 NLT

David appointed various men “who proclaimed God’s messages by the king’s orders” (1 Chronicles 25:2 NLT). This included Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, who was the king’s seer. As these men prophesied, they were to be accompanied by their sons who provided “music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God” (1 Chronicles 25:6 ESV). Those who were chosen for this special service were accomplished musicians.

They and their families were all trained in making music before the Lord, and each of them—288 in all—was an accomplished musician. – 1 Chronicles 25:7 NLT

The Temple David had dreamed of building would be more than just a place to offer sacrifices; it would feature the perpetual worship of God. He would be the solitary focus within its walls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The men listed in this chapter were worship leaders responsible for speaking the truth of God set to music. In essence, they formed a temple choir to praise God through music and song.  Music, always near and dear to David's heart, would play a significant role in the new Temple that Solomon would construct.

The Temple is most often associated with the sacrificial system and the Holy of Holies, that innermost room where the presence of God dwelt above the Mercy Seat. But as this passage indicates, there was so much more to Temple worship than animal sacrifices. The building was an incredible sight to behold with its magnificent gold overlays, tapestries, pillars, and ornate furnishings. But it was to be a feast for the ears as much as it was for the eyes. Music would fill the structure through the artful blending of musical instruments and human voices, and the music was to accompany the prophesying of God’s truth.

Visiting the completed Temple would have been a sensory overload – filled with sights and sounds designed to praise and bring glory to God. He was the focus. Walking into the temple would have left little doubt that God was the center of attention. The sacrifices were for Him, but so was the music. The entire structure was designed with Him in mind.

Consider the difference between then and now. Today, so much of what takes place within the typical "house of God" is about the worshipers and not the One being worshiped. Our churches are built with our comfort in mind and intended to accommodate our needs. In many ways, even the music is designed to entertain and encourage us. The sermons are written and delivered for our benefit. Rather than lifting up the name of God and celebrating the Word of God, many messages delivered from pulpits across our country have become little more than positive motivational speeches or Ted Talks filled with tips on living a better life. While the buildings themselves may be impressive architecturally, they do little to lift up and glorify God. Sadly to say, they have become man-centered, rather than God-honoring.

Yet David was not interested in building a place where men could feel encouraged and entertained. He wanted to create a house suitable for his God, where everything pointed to the glory and majesty of God. It was to be magnificent in every detail because David's God was transcendent and majestic. From the smallest brick laid to the highest note played, everything about the Temple was to be about God because He alone was worthy.

Psalm 150 declares the purpose behind David’s efforts to equip God’s house with a living sound system that would fill its corridors and rooms with music and messages that reflect God’s truth and worthiness.

Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;
    praise him with the lyre and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
    praise him with strings and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
    praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

Praise the Lord! – Psalm 150:3-6 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

All for the Glory of God

1 The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests. 3 With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service. 4 Since more chief men were found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar, they organized them under sixteen heads of fathers' houses of the sons of Eleazar, and eight of the sons of Ithamar. 5 They divided them by lot, all alike, for there were sacred officers and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar. 6 And the scribe Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the princes and Zadok the priest and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites, one father's house being chosen for Eleazar and one chosen for Ithamar.

7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, 8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, 9 the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, 10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, 11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, 12 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, 13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, 14 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, 15 the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez, 16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel, 17 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul, 18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. 19 These had as their appointed duty in their service to come into the house of the Lord according to the procedure established for them by Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.

20 And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. 21 Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief. 22 Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. 23 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. 24 The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir. 25 The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. 26 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Jaaziah: Beno. 27 The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. 28 Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. 29 Of Kish, the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel. 30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers' houses. 31 These also, the head of each father's house and his younger brother alike, cast lots, just as their brothers the sons of Aaron, in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites. – 1 Chronicles 24:1-31 ESV

It is amazing to consider the amount of time, energy, and thoughtful consideration David put into the preparations for a building he would never see. As David entered the twilight of his life, he did not embrace a retirement mentality but worked feverishly to ensure that his son Solomon was set up for success. David was determined to leave behind a solidified and secure kingdom that was both financially and politically stable. He had fought long and hard against Israel’s enemies so that the nation was entering a season of relative peace and prosperity. But, for David, that was not enough. As his time on earth ran out, he made the most of every moment to secure all the funding and materials so that the magnificent Temple he had hoped to build would be brought to fruition by his son Solomon.

As important as the building itself was to David, he knew it would remain incomplete and inoperative without the Levites to oversee its operation. He knew that God had ordained the tribe as Levi to serve as caretakers of the Tabernacle and overseers of the sacrificial system. Without their support and participation, the Tabernacle would be nothing more than an elaborately built, ornately decorated, and completely empty warehouse. It would be a marvel to behold but would lack the one thing that would truly set it apart from every other temple in the world: The presence of God.

In this chapter, the chronicler records David’s efforts to reorganize the Levitical priesthood so that there were enough priests to serve at both the Tabernacle in Gibeon and the Temple in Jerusalem. The previous chapter outlined David’s plans to expand the number of Levites from the clans of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. These men were to serve as assistants to the Levitical priests, who were all descendants of the original high priest, Aaron. To ensure that there would be enough Levites to care for both the Temple and the Tabernacle, David lowered the age of requirement for service from 30 to 20. The Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites had very specific responsibilities.

In accordance with David’s final instructions, all the Levites twenty years old or older were registered for service. The work of the Levites was to assist the priests, the descendants of Aaron, as they served at the house of the Lord. They also took care of the courtyards and side rooms, helped perform the ceremonies of purification, and served in many other ways in the house of God. They were in charge of the sacred bread that was set out on the table, the choice flour for the grain offerings, the wafers made without yeast, the cakes cooked in olive oil, and the other mixed breads. They were also responsible to check all the weights and measures. And each morning and evening they stood before the Lord to sing songs of thanks and praise to him. They assisted with the burnt offerings that were presented to the Lord on Sabbath days, at new moon celebrations, and at all the appointed festivals. The required number of Levites served in the Lord’s presence at all times, following all the procedures they had been given. – 1 Chronicles 23:27-31 NLT

But the descendants of Aaron would serve in the most vital capacity. They alone were ordained by God to serve as priests and offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. The Book of Exodus records God’s commissioning of Aaron and his sons for service in the Tabernacle.

“I will meet the people of Israel there, in the place made holy by my glorious presence. Yes, I will consecrate the Tabernacle and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. Then I will live among the people of Israel and be their God, and they will know that I am the Lord their God. I am the one who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live among them. I am the Lord their God.” – Exodus 29:43-46 NLT

Chapter 24 of 1 Chronicles opens with a rather foreboding statement.

This is how Aaron’s descendants, the priests, were divided into groups for service. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons. So only Eleazar and Ithamar were left to carry on as priests. – 1 Chronicles 24:1-2 NLT

This story would have been familiar to his audience. Even though they had spent the last 70 years as captives in Babylon, they would have known the fate of Nadab and Abihu.

Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the Lord by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. So fire blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the Lord. - Leviticus 10:1-2 NLT

Immediately after the dedication of the newly constructed Tabernacle and the elaborate commissioning ceremony to purify the structure and the priests who would serve in it, Nadab and Abihu decided to do things their way. They offered unauthorized sacrifices that violated the commands of God. When God had destroyed them with fire, Moses told their father Aaron, “This is what the Lord meant when he said, ‘I will display my holiness through those who come near me. I will display my glory before all the people’” (Leviticus 10:3 NLT).

Nadab and Abihu were quickly replaced as priests by their brothers, Eleazar and Ithamar. It was from the descendants of these two men that David recruited additional priests to serve within the future Temple.

With the help of Zadok, who was a descendant of Eleazar, and of Ahimelech, who was a descendant of Ithamar, David divided Aaron’s descendants into groups according to their various duties. Eleazar’s descendants were divided into sixteen groups and Ithamar’s into eight, for there were more family leaders among the descendants of Eleazar. – 1 Chronicles 24:3-4 NLT

All of this detailed recounting of David’s preparations for the future Temple can come across as unnecessary and uninteresting to the modern reader. But for the newly returned exiles, it served as a much-needed reminder of the Temple’s role in the lives of the people of Israel. David had spared no expense for its construction and had gone out of his way to ensure that it was properly staffed by qualified Levites.

Having returned from the extended stay in Babylon, the remnant of Israelites had restored the walls of Jerusalem and rebuilt the Temple that the Babylonians had destroyed. The new structure was far from spectacular and lacked the opulence of the original Temple constructed by Solomon. But even in its less-than-ideal state, it remained the house of God and was to be treated with the utmost dignity and honor. The Israelites were expected to maintain every law God had given regarding its care and the observance of the sacrificial system that would take place within its walls. This story would have served as a powerful reminder that the Levites were the only authorized agents to serve as God’s mediators and messengers. There were to be no shortcuts taken or alterations made to God’s plan. Nadab and Abihu had chosen to do things their own way and suffered the consequences.

David had painstakingly prepared for the Temple’s construction so his son could successfully oversee its transformation from dream to reality. He also ensured that the future Temple would be properly manned by those men whom God had set aside for its care. His devotion to God can be seen in his determination to create a house fit for God’s glorious presence and properly staffed by those who could assist in the shepherding of God's people. David would never live to see the Temple, but he did everything in his power to ensure that it would be built and glorify his gracious and loving God.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

No Stone Left Unturned

1 When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

2 David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. 3 The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and the total was 38,000 men. 4 “Twenty-four thousand of these,” David said, “shall have charge of the work in the house of the Lord, 6,000 shall be officers and judges, 5 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the Lord with the instruments that I have made for praise.” 6 And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7 The sons of Gershon were Ladan and Shimei. 8 The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three. 9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers' houses of Ladan. 10 And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11 Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, therefore they became counted as a single father's house.

12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to dedicate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the Lord and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his name forever. 14 But the sons of Moses the man of God were named among the tribe of Levi. 15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. 16 The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. 17 The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. 18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. 19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second.

21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. 22 Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters; their kinsmen, the sons of Kish, married them. 23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the sons of Levi by their fathers' houses, the heads of fathers' houses as they were listed according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 25 For David said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service.” 27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. 28 For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God. 29 Their duty was also to assist with the showbread, the flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baked offering, the offering mixed with oil, and all measures of quantity or size. 30 And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the Lord, and likewise at evening, 31 and whenever burnt offerings were offered to the Lord on Sabbaths, new moons, and feast days, according to the number required of them, regularly before the Lord. 32 Thus they were to keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary, and to attend the sons of Aaron, their brothers, for the service of the house of the Lord. – 1 Chronicles 23:1-32 ESV

This chapter continues to record David’s preparations for Solomon’s ascension to the throne as well as the future construction and care of the Temple his son would build. David has grown old and knows that his days are numbered, so he is making the most of his remaining time as king to prepare the way for his son’s reign. But the transfer of power would not be as simple and trouble-free as verse 1 seems to indicate. The opening verse of this chapter severely truncates the story of Solomon’s ascension to the throne. In a single verse, the chronicler records the transfer of power from David to Solomon, while the author of the Book of First Kings takes two chapters to cover this same event. According to 1 Kings 1, there was an internal struggle over who would replace David as king.

David had a son named Adonijah who was officially the second-oldest of all his sons. When David’s firstborn son, Absalom, staged a coup and took over the kingdom, he was eventually killed by Joab, David’s military commander. His death paved the way for Adonijah to become the logical heir to David’s kingdom. But God had other plans. It seems that Adonijah had copied a page out of Absalom’s playbook and attempted to stage a coup. This young man mirrored the actions of his older step-brother and tried to establish himself as the next king of Israel.

About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, “I will make myself king.” So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.– 1 Kings 1:5-6 NLT

Adonijah was a spoiled and compulsive young man who felt he rightfully deserved to be the heir to David’s throne. But God had ordained that Solomon would be the next king of Israel. He had clearly communicated this message to David.

“…you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign. He is the one who will build a Temple to honor my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will secure the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’” – 1 Chronicles 22:9-10 NLT

At some point, David shared this news with Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba. When she received news that Adonijah had declared himself to be the next king of Israel, she confronted David.

“My lord, you made a vow before the Lord your God when you said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne.’ But instead, Adonijah has made himself king, and my lord the king does not even know about it.” – 1 Kings 1:17-18 NLT

The elderly David was completely oblivious to what was going on in his own family. He was unaware of his son’s coup attempt and the risk it posed to all his plans for Solomon and the future Temple. But God intervened and used Solomon’s distraught mother to bring this matter to David’s attention. Even Nathan the prophet got into the act, asking David if he had sanctioned Adonijan’s claim to the throne. This entire scenario happened virtually overnight, leaving David’s plans for Solomon and the future Temple in a state of confusion. He was forced to act quickly and put the matter of his successor to rest. He assured Bathsheba that her son was the designated heir to the throne.

“As surely as the Lord lives, who has rescued me from every danger, your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne this very day, just as I vowed to you before the Lord, the God of Israel.” – 1 Kings 1:29-30 NLT

David wasted no time, ordering a hastily prepared coronation service for Solomon. Normally, this event would have taken place after David’s death, but Adonijah’s actions necessitated a change in plans.

So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the king’s bodyguard took Solomon down to Gihon Spring, with Solomon riding on King David’s own mule. There Zadok the priest took the flask of olive oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon with the oil. Then they sounded the ram’s horn and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” – 1 Kings 1:38-39 NLT

Solomon would serve as David’s co-regent until his death. By anointing Solomon as his official replacement and allowing him the privilege of sitting on the throne of Israel, David had ended any and all speculation regarding the next king of Israel. He had also ensured that Solomon would be in place and prepared to carry out the construction of the Temple.

So Solomon took the throne of the Lord in place of his father, David, and he succeeded in everything, and all Israel obeyed him. All the officials, the warriors, and the sons of King David pledged their loyalty to King Solomon. And the Lord exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and he gave Solomon greater royal splendor than any king in Israel before him.– 1 Chronicles 29:23-25 NLT

But before David died, he had one last mission to accomplish, and that is what the rest of chapter 23 covers. Knowing that Solomon was still a young man and that the construction of the Temple was going to be a massive undertaking, David had gathered all the materials necessary to make it happen.

“My son Solomon, whom God has clearly chosen as the next king of Israel, is still young and inexperienced. The work ahead of him is enormous, for the Temple he will build is not for mere mortals—it is for the Lord God himself! Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building the Temple of my God. Now there is enough gold, silver, bronze, iron, and wood, as well as great quantities of onyx, other precious stones, costly jewels, and all kinds of fine stone and marble.” – 1 Chronicles 29:1-2 NLT

But David knew that a well-crafted and finely appointed building would not be enough. The house of God would require oversight by the priests of God. At this point in time, the Tabernacle was still in operation in Gibeon and under the care of the Levitical priesthood. But when the Temple was completed in Jerusalem, the entire sacrificial system would need to be transferred to this new location. For this to happen, David appointed a second team of Levitical priests to serve at the Temple complex.

“From all the Levites, 24,000 will supervise the work at the Temple of the Lord. Another 6,000 will serve as officials and judges. Another 4,000 will work as gatekeepers, and 4,000 will praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have made.”– 1 Chronicles 23:4-5 NLT

David had always intended the Temple to be the new dwelling place of God on earth. It was to replace the Tabernacle and serve as the primary place of worship and sacrifice for the people of Israel. The design of the Temple mirrored that of the Tabernacle but on a much grander scale. David knew that this new house of God would need to be holy and set apart just as the Tabernacle was. It would require the oversight and care of the Levites, the tribe that God had set apart for this duty. In all his preparations, David painstakingly adhered to the Mosaic law, ensuring that every detail of the Temple was in keeping with God’s commands.

Like Moses before him, David made sure that each of the clans of Levi was assigned duties that reflected their God-ordained roles. The Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites were each given duties to perform in the future Temple. In a sense, David created two teams of Levites to care for the two sacred houses of God.

And so, under the supervision of the priests, the Levites watched over the Tabernacle and the Temple and faithfully carried out their duties of service at the house of the Lord. – 1 Chronicles 23:32 NLT

During the construction phase of the Temple, both sanctuaries would require oversight by the Levites. However, once the Temple was complete, the primary emphasis would shift to the new location in Jerusalem. Before his death, David designated Solomon to be his co-regent and the future king of Israel. But he also reorganized the Levites so that they could adequately care for the Tabernacle and the Temple. He left nothing to chance. Every detail was covered and every contingency was considered. With all the planning for the Temple completed and the future reign of Solomon firmly established, David would rest easy and live out the remaining days of his life with the assurance that his legacy would continue and his dream of building a house for God would come to fruition.

“The Lord, the God of Israel, has given us peace, and he will always live in Jerusalem. Now the Levites will no longer need to carry the Tabernacle and its furnishings from place to place.” In accordance with David’s final instructions, all the Levites twenty years old or older were registered for service. – 1 Chronicles 23:25-27 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Sole Secret to Success

1 Then David said, “Here shall be the house of the Lord God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

2 David commanded to gather together the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. 3 David also provided great quantities of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, 4 and cedar timbers without number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. 5 For David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.

6 Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. 8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’

11 “Now, my son, the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has spoken concerning you. 12 Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. 14 With great pains I have provided for the house of the Lord 100,000 talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone, too, I have provided. To these you must add. 15 You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working 16 gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work! The Lord be with you!”

17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 “Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the Lord and his people. 19 Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the Lord.” – 1 Chronicles 22:1--19 ESV

David's days were coming to an end. He was growing old and his reign as the king of Israel was just about over. His reign as king had been a roller coaster experience filled with wars, domestic disputes, and enough ups and downs to leave his head spinning. But as he contemplated the end of his life and reign, one thing was on his mind: The construction of the temple he had longed to build for God.

David had dreamed of building a house suitable for God but had been denied the privilege. Instead, God had promised to build a house for him – “a dynasty of kings!” (2 Samuel 7:11 NLT). And somewhere along the way, God had shared with David the reason his dream of building the Temple had been dashed. God informed David, “You have killed many men in the battles you have fought. And since you have shed so much blood in my sight, you will not be the one to build a Temple to honor my name” (1 Chronicles 22:8 NLT). This was not a divine indictment of David’s many wars and battles against the enemies of Israel; those conflicts were God-ordained and came with David’s role as the anointed king of Israel.

God was indicating that the Temple would be built during a time of peace, not war. David’s role had been to establish the kingdom by subduing Israel’s enemies and solidifying the unity of the 12 tribes under a common banner. He had successfully accomplished that mission but it would be his son who would build the temple during a time of unprecedented peace.

“…you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.” – 1 Chronicles 22:9 NLT

In Hebrew, Solomon’s name (šᵊlōmô) means “peace” and he would reign during a period of divinely ordained tranquility and stability. There would be no wars to wage or conflicts to distract Solomon’s attention. His time and resources could be dedicated to his primary responsibility of building a house for God.

This was in fulfillment of a promise that God had made to David.

“For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:12-13 NLT

Having been assured by God that his dream would eventually be fulfilled through his son, David went about making preparations for the construction of God’s house. Even though God had denied David the right to construct the temple himself, David was still excited about the prospect of his son, Solomon, making this life-long dream a reality. So, he began the process of buying the land, collecting the materials, and providing much of what was necessary for the process of construction to begin once he was gone and Solomon had ascended to the throne in his place.

David was a pragmatic man who knew that his young son would need all the help he could get to accomplish this massive building project.

“My son Solomon is still young and inexperienced. And since the Temple to be built for the Lord must be a magnificent structure, famous and glorious throughout the world, I will begin making preparations for it now.” – 1 Chronicles 22:5 NLT

David was taking no chances. To ensure that his dream was fulfilled according to his wishes, he used his authority, connections, and the royal treasury to set Solomon up for success.

David gave orders to call together the foreigners living in Israel, and he assigned them the task of preparing finished stone for building the Temple of God. David provided large amounts of iron for the nails that would be needed for the doors in the gates and for the clamps, and he gave more bronze than could be weighed. He also provided innumerable cedar logs, for the men of Tyre and Sidon had brought vast amounts of cedar to David. – 1 Chronicles 22:2-4 NLT

But David knew that Solomon would need more than a good location and the proper construction materials. He could provide Solomon with all the physical elements required to build a magnificent Temple but that would not be enough. There would be a spiritual dimension to Solomon’s efforts that would spell the difference between success and failure. He knew from first-hand experience that Solomon was going to need to be obedient to God, and not just in completing the construction of the Temple.

God had told David, “I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do” (2 Samuel 7:14 NLT). This promise would have been frightening as well as assuring. As a father, David wanted his son to avoid the discipline of God at all costs. He knew from personal experience that God’s punishment, while always lovingly administered, was difficult nonetheless.

Building the temple would be useless and pointless if the one constructing it was disobedient to God. In his role as king, David had learned the importance of faithful obedience to God. So he passed along what he had learned to his young son, Solomon:

"Now, my son, may the LORD be with you and give you success as you follow his instructions in building the Temple of the LORD your God. And may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, that you may obey the law of the LORD your God as you rule over Israel. For if you carefully obey the laws and regulations that the LORD gave to Israel through Moses, you will be successful. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!" – 1 Chronicles 22:11-13 NLT

David told Solomon that his success in building the temple would be tied to his faithful adherence to the instructions given by God. This would not be Solomon's temple but God's. He was to listen to God and do exactly what he was told. David prayed that God would give his son wisdom and understanding and that Solomon would obey God's law for the entirety of his reign. He knew that obedience would be the key to Solomon’s successful completion of the Temple and his kingship as well. So, he encouraged Solomon to be strong and courageous and to not allow fear or a sense of defeat to mark his reign.

"The LORD your God is with you," he declared. "He has given you peace with the surrounding nations. He has handed them over to me, and they are now subject to the LORD and his people. Now seek the LORD your God with all your heart. Build the sanctuary of the LORD God so that you can bring the Ark of the LORD's covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the LORD's name." – 1 Chronicles 22:18-19 NLT

David was preparing to hand over the reins of a powerful kingdom that was enjoying a time of unprecedented peace. The royal treasuries were filled with plunder from his many successful military campaigns. He was bequeathing to Solomon a beautiful royal palace and a well-fortified city in which to live, along with a well-respected name and legacy of leadership that would be difficult to match.

But the most important thing David could leave his son was his encouragement to obey God faithfully. He recognized that this had been the secret to his own success, and he wanted Solomon to be a man after God's own heart just as he had been.

David understood that the best way to recognize a man after God's own heart is through his life of faithful, consistent obedience. There had been days when David disobeyed and failed to follow God's plan, but he always returned to God, having recognized his sin, taken responsibility for it, and repented of it. He wanted Solomon to understand that the Temple would be useless and impractical if the God for whom it was built never took up residence in it, and disobedience would be the quickest way to guarantee God’s absence.

David had left Solomon far from empty-handed.

“I have worked hard to provide materials for building the Temple of the Lord—nearly 4,000 tons of gold, 40,000 tons of silver, and so much iron and bronze that it cannot be weighed. I have also gathered timber and stone for the walls…” – 1 Chronicles 22:14 NLT

There were ample stones and timber to build a magnificent edifice for God. Solomon would have no lack of resources or skilled craftsmen to accomplish this massive building project. But David knew that Solomon’s greatest need was internal, not external. David could provide all the manpower and materials necessary to bring his vision to life, but only Solomon could bring a heart that was wholly dependent upon the Lord. So along with all the timber, stones, gold, and silver, David left his son some sound fatherly advice.

Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the Lord’s name.” – 1 Chronicles 22:19 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Well Worth the Wait

7 Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, 8 and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 9 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, 10 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. 11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’” 15 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. – 1 Chronicles 17:7-15 ESV

Once again, the chronicler borrows from the writings of the prophet Samuel, copying virtually verbatim, the words found in 2 Samuel 7:4-17. In verse 1 of that same chapter, Samuel provides an important detail that sheds light on where this event takes place on the timeline of David’s life.

Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies… – 2 Samuel 7:1 ESV

The chronicler chose to place this watershed moment at this point in the narrative, not because it fits in chronologically, but because it laid the foundation for the rest of the book. It helps explain the future reign of Solomon and explains why God remained committed to the kingdom of Israel, even though the majority of their kings failed to remain faithful to Him.

The covenant outlined in this chapter, known as the Davidic Covenant, was actually a type of treaty, commonly referred to as a grant treaty. In this form of treaty, the sovereign makes a commitment to his servant that is typically unconditional. In the case of chapter 17 of 1 Chronicles, God the King is making a promise or covenant with His servant, David, and it is not contingent upon David’s actions or require him to hold up his end of the bargain. It is what is known as a unilateral covenant, not a bilateral one. God is promising to do something for David that has no basis in David’s obedience or faithfulness. A close examination of God’s words reveals the one-sided aspect of this treaty. Eleven different times God states His intention to act unilaterally and with no expectation of reciprocation on David’s part.

“I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth…”  – vs 8

“I will appoint a place for my people Israel…” – vs 9

“[I] will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more.” – vs 9

“I will subdue all your enemies” – vs 10

“I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house…” – vs 10

“I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons” – vs 11

“I will establish his kingdom” – vs 11

“I will establish his throne forever.” – vs 12

“I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son… – vs 13

“I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you…” – vs 13

“I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever…” – vs 14

This covenant was dependent solely on God and required nothing of David. It provides a vivid picture of God’s faithfulness and love but says nothing of David’s worthiness or obedience. David had done nothing to earn or deserve this covenant from God. Even his desire to build a house for God had been flatly rejected. God never asked David to build Him a Temple because He didn’t need one. While David’s heart was in the right place, his intentions were misguided. He desired to make God’s name great by constructing a Temple worthy of His glory. But why had David waited so long to come up with a plan to upgrade God’s dwelling place? He had enjoyed years living in the luxury of his royal palace while the Ark of the Covenant sat in a tent.

Again, verse 1 of 1 Samuel 7 sheds some light on this situation. Samuel indicates that “the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies” (2 Samuel 7:1 ESV). This would seem to indicate that Israel was enjoying an extended period of national peace. This would not have been the case early in David’s reign because he faced constant threats from the Philistines. So, it would seem that the ratification of this covenant came much later in David’s life. That would mean his decision to build a house for God came near the end of his reign.

It seems David’s change of heart was motivated more by embarrassment than a divinely inspired epiphany. He came to the sudden realization that he had prioritized his own needs over those of God. This led him to confess, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!” (2 Samuel 7:2 NLT).

But God had other plans of which David and Nathan the prophet were both ignorant. When David first ran his idea by Nathan, the prophet had given him the go-ahead. It sounded like a great idea to him and he gave his hearty approval, even suggesting that God was fully behind the project. But Nathan soon discovered that God had something else in mind. His plans for David did not include the construction of a temple. In fact, God turned the tables and informed David that it was He who would do the house-building.

“I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house.” – 1 Chronicles 17:10 ESV

God didn’t need David to build Him a house. But David needed God’s help in building a kingdom. Basking in the peace and prosperity that marked the latter days of his reign, David decided it was time to shift his focus from warfare to worship. He was convicted over his neglect of the ark and wanted to do something to remedy the problem. He dreamed of erecting a magnificent building that would reflect the glory of God. But God had never commissioned David to be a construction manager. He reminds David of his primary role as king: “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel” (1 Chronicles 17:7 ESV). He was to lead and care for the people of God.

It was God who would do the building and it was not a temple or a palace He had in mind. God promised to give David a legacy that would last long after his death. His son, Solomon, would follow him as king, and his reign would be marked by unprecedented peace and prosperity. It would be Solomon who would build a magnificent temple for God. The son would fulfill the father’s dream.

Yet, the sad reality is that Solomon’s reign would not end well. He would prove to be disobedient to God, having married hundreds of foreign wives and worshiping their false gods. As a result, God would split the kingdom in half. While descendants of David would continue to rule over Judah from his throne in Jerusalem, another line of kings would reign over the northern kingdom of Israel. Then the time would come when both kingdoms would end up in captivity, the direct result of their stubborn disobedience and unfaithfulness to God. From that point forward, no kings would rule over Israel or Judah.

The chronicler recorded this covenant agreement so that the remnant of Israelites who had returned from captivity in Babylon would be reminded of their history but, more importantly, that they would trust the promise of God. As they heard the words of this covenant, they must have wondered when it would be fulfilled. What did God mean when He told David, “I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever” (1 Chronicles 17:14 NLT)? There was no throne in Jerusalem and, even if there was, there was no king to sit on it. There was no descendant of David to rule and reign over God’s chosen people.

From their perspective, it appeared as if God had broken His end of the agreement. The line of David had ended. The dynasty had come to an abrupt and ignominious end. But what they failed to understand was that God had a plan that included the fulfillment of His covenant promises. Every “I will” statement that God made to David would come about just as He said. A descendant of David would sit on the throne in Jerusalem. The dynasty of David did not end with the Babylonian captivity.

This passage points to Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who will one day return to earth and reclaim the throne of David. Centuries after David received this covenant commitment from God, an angel would appear to a young virgin, telling her, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” (Luke 1:31-33 NLT).

The prophet Isaiah foretold of the coming of this King when he wrote, “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity” (Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT).

Daniel also told of a kingdom to come: “…the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever” (Daniel 2:44 NLT).

The apostle John, in the vision given to him while exiled on the island of Patmos, saw this coming King in all His glory.

“…and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads…the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, ‘You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.’” – Revelation 4:2-4, 10-11 ESV

The Davidic covenant is a watershed moment in the story of David’s life. God was letting David know that his kingdom would be far greater and far more impactful than anything he could ever imagine. God’s plans for David went well beyond his reign or that of his son, and while the descendants of David proved unfaithful and unreliable, God remained committed to His covenant and faithful to fulfill what He has promised. The apostle John concludes his great book of Revelation with the stirring image of Christ’s reign on the throne of David:

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:2-4 ESV

The remnant wanted an immediate solution to their problem. Their expectations were for a king who would lead them to victory and prosperity. They wanted a short-term solution to a long-term problem. But God had bigger plans that involved far more than their finite minds could grasp. They had been set free from captivity, but they were still slaves to sin. They had returned to the land of promise but little did they know that they were waiting for the child of the promise. God was playing the long game. He had King in mind who would fulfill every promise He had made to David and, while the years would pass before His arrival, the wait would be well worth it.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Non-Negotiable Call to Obedience

1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also masons and carpenters to build a house for him. 2 And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

3 And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David fathered more sons and daughters. 4 These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet. – 1 Chronicles 14:1-7 ESV

The chronicler appears to borrow freely from the text of 2 Samuel 5, using much of the same language to convey the early days of David’s reign. But verses 1-2 function as a parenthetical statement that is intended to give further proof of David’s increasing control and power over Israel. Hiram, the king of Tyre, reigned from 980-947 B.C., so that would mean that his gift of cedar trees, carpenters, and masons would have been much later in David’s reign, long after he had established Jerusalem as his capital. But the chronicler includes these verses as evidence that David’s reign was not a flash-in-the-pan event. News of his crowning as king over all of Israel had spread all the way to Tyre. Even the dreaded Philistines heard of David’s unification of the kingdom and planned an appropriate response. But they would not come bearing gifts or offering to construct David a palace.

One statement stands out in these verses: “David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.” (1 Chronicles 15:2 ESV). David fully recognized that this momentous occasion in his life had been God’s doing from beginning to end. Every phase of his life, from his days serving as a shepherd in his father’s house to his anointing by Samuel, had been part of God’s plan. Even the years he spent in exile, attempting to escape the wrath of King Saul, were all part of God’s sovereign will for his life.

David also understood that his ascension to the throne of Israel had not been for his own glory but for the good of the people of Israel. His reign had been ordained by God so that he might rule the people of God justly and righteously. He was God’s hand-picked agent, His earthly representative, chosen to care for and protect His people. David’s comprehension of his divine role is reflected in one of his many psalms. Take note of the many references to God and His role in the affairs of David’s life.

How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord!
    He shouts with joy because you give him victory.
For you have given him his heart’s desire;
    you have withheld nothing he requested. Interlude

You welcomed him back with success and prosperity.
    You placed a crown of finest gold on his head.
He asked you to preserve his life,
    and you granted his request.
    The days of his life stretch on forever.
Your victory brings him great honor,
    and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.
You have endowed him with eternal blessings
    and given him the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord.
    The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling. – Psalm 21:1-7 NLT

Yet, even with David’s awareness of his God-ordained role and his complete dependence upon God’s good favor for his reign to be successful, David was still capable of disobeying the very One who made his kingship possible. Verse 3 provides a stark reminder that David had a dark side, and it is not something to overlook or ignore. The author could have left it out but, under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, this unattractive aspect of David’s life was included.

It simply states, “And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David fathered more sons and daughters.” (1 Chronicles 15:3 ESVS). It would be easy to read this as just another indication of David’s growing power and significance. If it were any other king of any other nation, that would be an accurate interpretation. But David was NOT just another king and Israel was far from just another nation. David was God’s hand-picked ruler over His chosen people and, as such, He answered to a higher authority and was held to a higher standard. When the people of Israel first demanded a king like all the other nations, God agreed to their demand but warned them. 

“The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.

“When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel. ”– Deuteronomy 17:17-20 NLT

God’s king was not to be like all the other kings; he was to operate according to a different set of standards. What was acceptable and appropriate for the kings of other nations was off-limits for God’s sovereign ruler. Other kings might be able to use their power and authority to justify all kinds of self-satisfying, self-promoting actions, but not the King of Israel. Yet, David continued to multiply wives for himself, in direct violation of God’s command.

David wasn’t free to approach God’s commands cafeteria-style, choosing those that seemed most attractive and ignoring the ones he didn’t like. He was to obey them ALL. That included God’s commands regarding polygamy because God knew that the king’s failure to observe that command would produce unfaithfulness and result in idolatry. God expected His king to be law-abiding and an example of faithfulness to the rest of the nation.

One of the things David failed to recognize was that his reign was setting the standard for his successors. What he did, they would do. Future generations of Israelite kings would follow his lead and many would take his small acts of disobedience and magnify them. What David did in moderation, his heirs would do to excess.

Even David’s construction of a royal palace, with the aid of King Hiram, would set a precedence for future kings of Israel. Years later, God would have strong words for one of David’s successors who placed greater value on his royal residence than he did on his God-given responsibility to rule with justice and righteousness.

And the Lord says, “What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim,
    who builds his palace with forced labor.
He builds injustice into its walls,
    for he makes his neighbors work for nothing.
    He does not pay them for their labor.
He says, ‘I will build a magnificent palace
    with huge rooms and many windows.
I will panel it throughout with fragrant cedar
    and paint it a lovely red.’
But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king!
    Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink.
But he was just and right in all his dealings.
    That is why God blessed him.
He gave justice and help to the poor and needy,
    and everything went well for him.
Isn’t that what it means to know me?”
    says the Lord.
“But you! You have eyes only for greed and dishonesty!
    You murder the innocent,
    oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly.” – Jeremiah 22:13-17 NLT

David’s reign was in its early stages, and every step he took and each decision he made would prove to be critical. His choices would have long-term ramifications. Even reading the list of sons born to him by his growing harem of wives indicates that David’s actions had future implications. There, nestled discretely in the list of sons is the name of Solomon, the very one who would follow David as king of Israel. Born to Bathsheba, Solomon would prove to be his father’s son in more ways than one. A glimpse at the latter days of Solomon’s reign provides sobering proof of sin’s long-term effects.

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. – 1 Kings 11:1-4 ESV

As the old saying goes, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Solomon inherited many of his father’s characteristics, both good and bad. But it was his father’s love of women and blatant disregard for God’s prohibition against polygamy that would bring his reign to an abrupt and ignominious end.

David was God’s king but he didn’t always rule God’s way. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am God’s son and heir, but that doesn’t mean I always live up to my position. Obedience is the true mark of sonship. Fearing God begins with obeying God. Even Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commandments” (John 14:15 NLT). The apostle John took it a step further, writing, “And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments” (1 John 2:3 NLT). The greatest proof of David’s love for God would be found in his obedience to the commands of God. The same thing holds true for us today. Love without obedience is hypocrisy. Claiming to love God while continuing to disobey God reflects a love of self, not a love of God.

Now that David had the throne, he would discover that his greatest battles were ahead of him. He would learn the truth behind the maxim, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.” Ruling and reigning is an attractive proposition but it comes with weighty responsibilities, and David would soon learn just how heavy the crown could be.

The chronicler is using these historical anecdotes from David’s life to encourage his readers to value and obey God’s commands. If David, the man after God’s own heart, was held accountable by God, how much more would they be? Disobedience to God’s laws always has consequences and sin has a way of taking on a life of its own, producing long-term ramifications that can linger for generations.

David wasn’t free to approach God’s commands cafeteria-style, choosing those that seemed most attractive and ignoring the ones he didn’t like. He was to obey them ALL. That included God’s commands regarding polygamy because God knew that the king’s failure to observe that command would produce unfaithfulness and result in idolatry. God expected His king to be law-abiding and an example of faithfulness to the rest of the nation. That is why God ordered His king to keep a copy of the law close at hand.

“This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way.” – Deuteronomy 17:20 NLT

David was God’s divinely appointed leader. He had access to the law of God. He was widely recognized as the king of Israel, with a new capital, a good reputation, and a unified nation. But he would still need to be obedient, and so would the returned exiles.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Our Faithful God

1 Benjamin fathered Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, 2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. 3 And Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud, 4 Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5 Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. 6 These are the sons of Ehud (they were heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they were carried into exile to Manahath): 7 Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, that is, Heglam, who fathered Uzza and Ahihud. 8 And Shaharaim fathered sons in the country of Moab after he had sent away Hushim and Baara his wives. 9 He fathered sons by Hodesh his wife: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 10 Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers’ houses. 11 He also fathered sons by Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal. 12 The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod with its towns, 13 and Beriah and Shema (they were heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who caused the inhabitants of Gath to flee); 14 and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth. 15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16 Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were sons of Beriah. 17 Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18 Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. 19 Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21 Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. 22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23 Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25 Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. 26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham. 28 These were the heads of fathers’ houses, according to their generations, chief men. These lived in Jerusalem.

29 Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and the name of his wife was Maacah. 30 His firstborn son: Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31 Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, 32 and Mikloth (he fathered Shimeah). Now these also lived opposite their kinsmen in Jerusalem, with their kinsmen. 33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal; 34 and the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal was the father of Micah. 35 The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. 36 Ahaz fathered Jehoaddah, and Jehoaddah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri fathered Moza. 37 Moza fathered Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 38 Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39 The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 40 The sons of Ulam were men who were mighty warriors, bowmen, having many sons and grandsons, 150. All these were Benjaminites. – 1 Chronicles 8:1-40 ESV

The chronicler touched on the tribe of Benjamin in chapter 7 (1 Chronicles 7:6-12), but here he expands on the genealogy of this small, yet significant tribe. It was from the tribe of Benjamin that the first king of Israel was chosen: King Saul. But his reign proved to be short-lived because he disobeyed God. This led the prophet Samuel to deliver a message from the Lord that outlined the punishment for Saul’s insubordination.

“You have made a foolish choice! You have not obeyed the commandment that the Lord your God gave you. Had you done that, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom will not continue. The Lord has sought out for himself a man who is loyal to him, and the Lord has appointed him to be leader over his people, for you have not obeyed what the Lord commanded you.” – 1 Samuel 13:13-14 NLT

Yet, despite Saul’s failure, the tribe of Benjamin played a vital role in Israel’s history. When the nation was divided in two at the end of Solomon’s reign, the southern kingdom of Judah was formed from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The remaining ten tribes split off to form the northern kingdom of Israel. This division would remain in place until the northern kingdom fell to the Assyrians in 722 B.C. It would not be until 586 B.C. that the southern kingdom of Judah met a similar fate when the Babylonians completed their years-long siege of Jerusalem and destroyed the city and its revered Temple. The entire nation of Judah, including the surrounding tribes of Benjamin, suffered under the hands of the Babylonians.

This genealogical list provides the names of Benjamin’s descendants, reminding the returned exiles that the nation has survived its punishment from God. Like all the other lists found in the opening chapters of 1 Chronicles, this one goes on and on and we know virtually nothing about the vast majority of the individuals listed. Each of their lives and all that they did are contained in a single name written on the pages of Scripture. But they each represent generations of Israelites who lived and walked on this earth, marrying, bearing sons and daughters, contributing to their communities, growing old and, eventually, dying.

Obviously, this list contains the names of some who remained faithful to God, but it also contains the names of those who walked away from Him, serving the false gods of the Canaanites and Ammonites. In the list of names found in chapter 8, we see the influence these false gods had on the people of Israel, as they evidently named their children after the pagan god, Baal.

Baal was the primary god of the Canaanites and Phoenicians. The word baal means “lord” and this god was believed to be “Lord” over fertility, ensuring his worshipers bountiful crops and fruitful wombs. Before the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, God had warned them to refrain from worshiping the false gods of the inhabitants (Deuteronomy 6:14-15). Yet, both the southern and northern kingdoms failed to heed God’s warning. They willingly adopted the gods of the Canaanites, including Baal. Even Solomon, the son of David, succumbed to the temptation to worship false gods.

He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines; his wives had a powerful influence over him. When Solomon became old, his wives shifted his allegiance to other gods; he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been.  Solomon worshiped the Sidonian goddess Astarte and the detestable Ammonite god Milcom.  Solomon did evil in the Lord’s sight; he did not remain loyal to the Lord, as his father David had. – 1 Kings 11:3-6 NLT

In the genealogy of Benjamin are found the names of Baal, Eshbaal, and Merib-baal. These names reflect the heavy influence of Baal worship on the tribe of Judah. Merib-baal was the son of Jonathan, the son of King Saul, and the friend of David. This prince of Israel had given his son a name that would seem to indicate his worship of this false god.

These lists span the time from the arrival of the people of Israel to the Promised Land all the way to their return after their exile in Babylon. Generation after generation of Israelites are contained in these chapters, all compressed into a shortened list to remind the people of Israel of their heritage. The chronicler wants them to know their roots. He wants to assure them that they are still God’s people and can trace their roots all the way back to Adam. While much has happened over the generations, and the people of God have suffered much for their spiritual infidelity, God is not yet done with them. He has promises yet to be fulfilled.

The original readers of 1 Chronicles were living back in the land, having returned from exile in the land of Babylon. But they would have found themselves living in relative poverty. They had no king, no army, no power, and no reason for national pride. They would have been a weakened, feint shadow of their former selves. But God was not done with them yet!

The apostle Paul, writing to the believers living in Philippi, also encourages them to consider that God is not done with them yet.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6 ESV

As with the Israelites who had returned to the land of promise only to find that things were not quite what they had hoped or expected, the Philippian believers found themselves living out their faith in Christ in difficult surroundings. So, Paul encourages them to keep on loving, to be pure and blameless in their conduct, and to be filled with the fruit of righteousness – waiting for the day of Christ. Paul knew that God’s plan was not yet complete. He understood that there was more to come and that present circumstances were poor criteria for judging the faithfulness of God.

Paul himself wrote this letter while sitting in prison, most likely in Rome. He viewed his own situation from a divine perspective, describing it in extremely positive terms:

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,  so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. – Philippians 1:12-13 ESV

He saw God’s hands all over his circumstances and even knew that others had “become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment” (Philippians 1:14 ESV). Paul knew that God was not done yet. He fully believed that there was a perfectly good reason for his imprisonment and he took full advantage of it to write his letter to the Philippians and to share the gospel.

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that is has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest. – Philippians 1:12-13 ESV

Too often, we view our circumstances from a limited, earthly perspective. We fail to see God’s hand in it or understand God’s purpose behind it. The Jews who found themselves living back in the land of promise felt that the future was anything but promising. They were weak, powerless, confused, and without a king to lead them. They failed to recognize that God was in their midst. He had returned them to the land – miraculously. He had kept them alive – mercifully. He had overlooked their sins – patiently. And He would eventually send His own Son in fulfillment of His promise to David. He would send them their Messiah, the descendant of David, who would someday sit on the throne in Jerusalem. But the time was not yet right.

God’s plan was not yet ready to be unveiled. So it was easy for them to focus on their circumstances and lose hope. It was natural for them to question the goodness of God and wonder about the validity of His promises. We too can find ourselves struggling with the same thing today. Which is why Paul’s words are so powerful and appropriate.

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. – Philippians 1:27-28 ESV

The plan of God is far bigger than my current circumstances. My problems and perceived struggles are poor indicators of God’s sovereign will. Just because things get difficult does not mean God is out of control or has fallen out of love with me. He is working behind the scenes in ways I will never fully understand. Paul’s imprisonment was anything but easy. He faced a possible death sentence. And while he hoped for his eventual deliverance and freedom, he was willing to accept death if that was God’s will.

…it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. – Philippians 1:20-21 ESV

The returned exiles to whom the chronicler wrote were wrestling with discouragement, fear, and doubt. They most likely questioned their decision to return to the land. Nothing was going as planned. Their future looked bleak and the prospects for success were dim. But God wanted them to know that His will was greater than their circumstances. Even their past failures and serial unfaithfulness could not stop God from being faithful to His promises. 

Their history was spotty. Their ancestors were far from perfect. Yet, God had preserved the lines of each of Jacob’s sons. Their descendants had survived the exile and had returned to the land of promise. Even the sons of Baal, Eshbaal, and Merib-baal were welcome to enjoy the promises of God in the land of their inheritance. The past sins of their fathers would not prevent them from enjoying the present blessings of God.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Some Things Never Change

33 These are the men who served and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman the singer the son of Joel, son of Samuel, 34 son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah, 35 son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai, 36 son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, 37 son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, 38 son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel; 39 and his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, namely, Asaph the son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, 40 son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malchijah, 41 son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah, 42 son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, 43 son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi. 44 On the left hand were their brothers, the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, 45 son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah, 46 son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, 47 son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi. 48 And their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

49 But Aaron and his sons made offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. 50 These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, 51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, 52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, 53 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son. – 1 Chronicles 6:33-53 ESV

The sons of Levi were responsible for the Tabernacle and the sacrificial system that accompanied it. These same duties were transferred to the Temple upon its completion by Solomon and were based on God’s detailed instructions regarding the various Levitical clans and their roles in the care of His earthly dwelling place. There were three clans within the tribe of Levi that shared the responsibility for the Temple complex and the sacrificial system: The Kohathites, the Gershonites, and the Merarites. Each clan was assigned a different role to play and they could not work outside their God-ordained duties, under penalty of death.

Aaron and his sons, who were Kohathites, were given responsibility for the holy objects within God's house and for overseeing the sacrificial system. During the days when Israel was wandering through the wilderness on their way to the promised land, the Kohathites were responsible for two kinds of service related to the Tabernacle. In Numbers 4, God refers to “the work” to be conducted in the Tabernacle. The Hebrew word is מְלָאכָה (mᵊlā’ḵâ), and it refers to the “business” or “occupation” of these men concerning God’s house. God goes on to describe the actual duties they were instructed to carry out that would require them to enter the inner recesses of the Tabernacle and interface with the holy objects contained within. Their responsibilities would require them to touch “the most holy things” (Numbers 4:4 ESV) to prepare them for transport from one place to another when the Israelites were commanded by God to break camp.

All of the Kohathites from 30 to 50 years old were required to care for “the most holy things” within the Tabernacle. While Kohath was not the eldest son of Levi, he is mentioned first because the role assigned to his family and clan was the most important of all. They were responsible for all of the items located within the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle, and these sacred objects required special attention and handling.

Any time that the Israelites were ordered by God to break camp, the first order of business was to disassemble the Tabernacle, but this required careful planning and laser-focused attention to detail. Any failure to follow God’s instructions could be devastating, even deadly. It all began with the removal of the inner curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. This task was assigned to Aaron, the high priest, and his sons. Only the priests were allowed to enter the sacred spaces and prepare the holy furniture for transport. Once Aaron and his sons had finished the preparatory phase of the operation, the Kohathites could enter the Tabernacle and begin the removal of the sacred objects.

God had designed the Tabernacle to be portable because He knew that it would have to accompany the Israelites all the way from Mount Sinai to Canaan. Because of His omnipotence, He also knew that there would be a 40-year period in which the Israelites wandered through the wilderness because they refused to enter the land the first time they arrived at its borders. For four decades they would be required to transport God’s house from one location to another. His presence was directly tied to the Tabernacle and the maintenance of the Tabernacle’s holiness was essential if He was to remain among His people. So, God provided Moses and the Israelites with strict instructions for protecting the sacredness of His house and preserving the promise of His abiding presence, and the Kohathites would play an integral and irreplaceable role in the entire process.

The two remaining clans had their roles to play as well. Since the Kohathites had been given responsibility for the holy objects that were located in the Tabernacle proper, it was up to the Gershonites and Merarites to deal with the rest of the structure. Under the direction of Aaron and his sons, these two groups of families and clans were to assist in the disassembly of the structure and then they were to carry the pieces to the next destination. For the Gershonites, their primary responsibility covered the structure of the Tabernacle itself.

“They must carry the curtains of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle itself with its coverings, the outer covering of fine goatskin leather, and the curtain for the Tabernacle entrance. They are also to carry the curtains for the courtyard walls that surround the Tabernacle and altar, the curtain across the courtyard entrance, the ropes, and all the equipment related to their use. The Gershonites are responsible for all these items.” – Numbers 4:25-26 NLT

In a sense, the Gershonites were little more than professional movers, tasked with taking down the Tabernacle structure and carefully transporting the pieces. But what made their task more than a bit stressful was that the “owner” of this house was none other than God Almighty. While they were not responsible for the sacred objects, such as the ark of the covenant and the altar of incense, they could not take their role any less seriously. The various curtains, partitions, cords, and clasps that comprised the walls of the Tabernacle were to be treated with reverence and protected from contamination or damage.

The Gershonites were responsible for the “guts” of the Tabernacle. It was their task to ensure that its massive woven curtains were carefully folded and protected from the hot desert sun and the grit and grime associated with travel through the wilderness terrain. Without these items, there would be no Tabernacle in which to place the holy objects and therefore, no place for the glory of God to dwell. The ark of the covenant and the mercy seat that sat on top of it could not be unpacked and uncovered until the walls of the Tabernacle were fully assembled and the Holy of Holies was properly prepared. Until then, the ark would remain hidden under its protective coverings, and the glory of God could not come to rest on the mercy seat.

So, the Gershonites could not afford to view their role as inferior or less important than that of their Kohathite brothers. Each group had its role to play and everyone needed to fulfill their particular part faithfully and in strict compliance with God’s will.

This included the Merarites, who were assigned what appears to be the lowest and least important task of all.

“Their only duty at the Tabernacle will be to carry loads. They will carry the frames of the Tabernacle, the crossbars, the posts, and the bases; also the posts for the courtyard walls with their bases, pegs, and ropes; and all the accessories and everything else related to their use. Assign the various loads to each man by name.” – Numbers 4:31-32 NLT

One might say that the Merarites were tasked with doing the “grunt work” of the project. To accomplish their part, all they needed was a strong back and a willing heart. But their role was essential because they were caring for the literal foundation of the Tabernacle. The intricate, interlocking timber framework of the Tabernacle served as the skeleton upon which the fabric “skin” that comprised the walls was placed. This entire design had been ordained by God and was intended to serve as the infrastructure of the Tabernacle.

The massive wooden beams that formed the Tabernacle’s “skeleton” were just as integral to its holiness as the sacred objects that sat within the walls they formed. Without the beams, there would be no place to hang the curtains, and without the curtains, there would be no walls to form the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. That would result in no inner sanctum in which to place the ark of the covenant and, therefore, no mercy seat over which the glory of God could dwell.

This picture of interdependence and cooperation is vital to understanding how God views His chosen people. He designed them to serve in a spirit of unity that accentuated their differences but enhanced their overall spiritual success as a nation. There were 12 tribes, but God viewed them as one people. Moses was the designated leader, but Aaron had his role to play. All of the Israelites were considered children of God, but the Levites had been set apart to serve in a special capacity as intermediaries between the people and God. Even within the tribe of Levi, various families and clans had been assigned different tasks to ensure that God’s house was protected so God’s presence could be preserved.

This same division of responsibilities held true under the reigns of David and Solomon. Later in 1 Chronicles, the author provides some details regarding David’s preparation for the eventual construction of the Temple. While it had been his dream to provide God with a proper dwelling place, God had passed that honor on to Solomon. But as David neared the end of his reign and life, he did everything he could to ensure that the Temple would be built. This included providing assignments to the Levitical clans for their future roles in God’s new house.

When David was an old man, he appointed his son Solomon to be king over Israel. David summoned all the leaders of Israel, together with the priests and Levites. All the Levites who were thirty years old or older were counted, and the total came to 38,000. Then David said, “From all the Levites, 24,000 will supervise the work at the Temple of the Lord. Another 6,000 will serve as officials and judges. Another 4,000 will work as gatekeepers, and 4,000 will praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have made.” Then David divided the Levites into divisions named after the clans descended from the three sons of Levi—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. – 1 Chronicles 23:1-6 NLT

Nothing was left to chance. As this chapter makes clear, David even assigned a specific group of Levites with the responsibility of serving as musicians in God’s house.

These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there. They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order. – 1 Chronicles 6:31-32 NLT

The Israelites who had returned to Judah from their captivity in Babylon were expected to honor God by restoring the roles of the Levitical priesthood. Under the direction of Ezra and Nehemiah, the Temple had been rebuilt, but it would be useless without the sons of Aaron to serve as priests. The sacrificial system could not be implemented without a high priest to make atonement for the sins of the people. Without the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites, the Temple itself would be nothing more than just another building. God had returned the Israelites to the land, but it was up to them to reestablish their commitment to living according to God’s will and ways.

Seventy years of exile had not diminished God’s holiness or nullified His laws. The Israelites may have been starting over but they had a well-defined set of regulations to follow, provided for them by God. There was a clear delineation of roles and responsibilities. God expected the Temple to be rebuilt but He also expected His laws to be obeyed. We have no way of knowing what the descendants of Levi did while they were living in exile. Without the Temple, their entire purpose for being was missing. But when they returned to the land, their roles were to be reinstated and the will of God was to be followed to the letter. 

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

No Detail Left Out

1 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 2 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 3 The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 4 Eleazar fathered Phinehas, Phinehas fathered Abishua, 5 Abishua fathered Bukki, Bukki fathered Uzzi, 6 Uzzi fathered Zerahiah, Zerahiah fathered Meraioth, 7 Meraioth fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, 8 Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Ahimaaz, 9 Ahimaaz fathered Azariah, Azariah fathered Johanan, 10 and Johanan fathered Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem). 11 Azariah fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, 12 Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Shallum, 13 Shallum fathered Hilkiah, Hilkiah fathered Azariah, 14 Azariah fathered Seraiah, Seraiah fathered Jehozadak; 15 and Jehozadak went into exile when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

16 The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. 17 And these are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei. 18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their fathers. 20 Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, 21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeatherai his son. 22 The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 23 Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, 24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. 25 The sons of Elkanah: Amasai and Ahimoth, 26 Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, 27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son. 28 The sons of Samuel: Joel his firstborn, the second Abijah. 29 The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, 30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.

31 These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there. 32 They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order. – 1 Chronicles 6:1-32 ESV

This chapter marks the center point of the chronicler’s genealogical record. In it, he details the lineage of Levi, whose tribe had been set apart by God to serve as ministers in the Tabernacle. The Book of Numbers records God’s appointment of the Levites, along with Aaron, a grandson of Levi and the brother of Moses.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Call forward the tribe of Levi, and present them to Aaron the priest to serve as his assistants. They will serve Aaron and the whole community, performing their sacred duties in and around the Tabernacle. They will also maintain all the furnishings of the sacred tent, serving in the Tabernacle on behalf of all the Israelites. Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They have been given from among all the people of Israel to serve as their assistants. Appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood. But any unauthorized person who goes too near the sanctuary must be put to death.” – Numbers 3:5-10 NLT

This one tribe had been given the sacred responsibility of caring for the Tabernacle, God’s earthly dwelling place. God had commanded Moses to build the Tabernacle and provided the plans for its construction.

“Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you.” – Exodus 25:8-9 NLT

But this sacred space would require special care and attention, a duty given solely to the tribe of Levi. They alone had been chosen by God to serve as priests and caretakers of His house.

Then the Lord said to Aaron: “You, your sons, and your relatives from the tribe of Levi will be held responsible for any offenses related to the sanctuary. But you and your sons alone will be held responsible for violations connected with the priesthood. Bring your relatives of the tribe of Levi—your ancestral tribe—to assist you and your sons as you perform the sacred duties in front of the Tabernacle of the Covenant.” – Numbers 18:1-2 NLT

The sons of Aaron were designated to serve as priests and only they could interact with the holy objects located within the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, They alone could “perform the sacred duties inside the sanctuary and at the altar” (Numbers 18:5 NLT). The rest of the Levites served as assistants to Aaron and his son, performing the various duties assigned to them by God.

The duties of the Levites continued all throughout the years Israel wandered in the wilderness on their way to the promised land. Even after conquering and occupying Canaan, the Tabernacle continued to serve as the central place of sacrifice and worship, where the Levites continued to perform their God-appointed duties. When Solomon constructed the Temple in Jerusalem, modeled after the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant was moved into the Holy of Holies and the Levites transitioned their allegiance from the Tabernacle to the new-and-improved Temple.

The chronicler is reminding his audience of the sacredness of God’s house and the set-apart nature of the Levitical priesthood. When the remnant of Israelites returned to Jerusalem after their 70 years of bondage in Babylon, they found the city in a dismal state and the once-glorious Temple completely destroyed. Yet, under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah, they eventually restored the former capital and rebuilt the house of God. But without the Levitical priesthood, the newly reconstructed Temple would be of no use to the people of Israel. God had made it clear: “Any unauthorized person who comes too near the sanctuary will be put to death” (Numbers 18:7 NLT).

So, as the people of Israel stood once again on the land that God had promised and provided for them, the author of Chronicles wanted to remind them of two important facts: The role of the king and the importance of the priesthood to their lives. In his careful, if not boring, list of genealogies, he spent a great deal of time outlining the lineage of Judah, the tribe through which not only David the king and his descendants came, but through which the Messiah would come. In this chapter, he methodically presents the lineage of the tribe of Levi, the tribe appointed by God to serve as priests to Him. While the people were in exile, the priesthood had effectively been suspended. The Levites could serve only as long as Israel remained in the promised land and the Temple remained standing. The Holy of Holies within the Temple was the dwelling place for God’s Shekinah glory. When the Temple had been destroyed, the presence of God had vacated the premises.

At the dedication of the original Temple, God told Solomon, “I have set this Temple apart to be holy—this place you have built where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart” (1 Kings 9:3 NLT). But God also gave Solomon a solemn warning:

“But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the commands and decrees I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, then I will uproot Israel from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make Israel an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled and will gasp in horror. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’” – 1 Kings 9:6-8 NLT

And God kept His word. The day came when He sent the Babylonians to punish His people for their sins against Him. The returning exiles knew only too well the details of that sad story; they had lived it for seven decades. Now they were being given a God-ordained chance to begin again. But they would need to do everything God’s way, including reinstituting the Levitical priesthood and the sacrificial system.

This would serve as one of the most significant benefits of their return to the land. During their years in exile, the sacrificial system would have been suspended, which means they would have had no way of receiving atonement for sin. With their return to Israel and the rebuilding of the Temple, that would all change. But it was essential that they do things God’s way. The priesthood was essential to the restoration of community life and the people's covenant relationship with God. The priests and the Temple were central to life in Israel and had been missing for more than 70 years. This chapter reemphasizes their importance.

This list also reminds the people that it was God who had chosen Aaron and his sons to serve Him as priests. When God rescued the people out of captivity in Egypt, He claimed the firstborn son as His by right. They were to be dedicated to His service for their lifetimes. But instead, God had chosen to allow the Levites to serve in their place. They were His hand-picked representatives and this chapter clearly indicates their importance in the covenant community.

Remember, this book was written to a people returning from Exile. Many, if not most, had been born in Babylon and were ignorant of the history and unique relationship that God had with the people of Israel. This is the author's attempt to remind them of their uniqueness as God’s people. God had been intimately involved in the history and daily life of the people of Israel and these newly released exiles needed to be reminded of that fact. As they surveyed the landscape of Judah and the less-than-ideal nature of their circumstances, it would have been easy for them to lose hope. They would have been tempted to cut corners and make compromises. But when it came to God’s house and the sacrificial system that took place within its gates, there was no room for concessions and quick fixes. The Temple had always been intended to remind the people of God’s presence. He was never confined to a building or relegated to operating within the walls of the Holy of Holies, but He had agreed to provide them with tangible and visible proof of His presence so they would honor and obey Him. Now that they were back in the land, God was willing to renew His relationship with them but it would require that they recognize His power and remember the weight of their calling as His chosen people.

Sometimes we need a refresher course on just how unique we are as the people of God. Tainted by the world and numbed by constant contact with the things of the world, we lose sight of the reality of our unique position as God's chosen people. Christ is to serve as priest and king in our lives. He is our Savior and sovereign Lord. He is the one we are to worship and obey. We are not like any other people group on earth. We have a High Priest who has offered the ultimate sacrifice for our sins – His own life. We have a King who rules and reigns from His throne in heaven and who is one day going to return to reestablish His rule here on earth. Those two facts should change the way we live and think.

The Israelites had been given a second chance. God had graciously rescued them from captivity in Babylon and restored them to the land He had promised them. He had provided them with leadership, resources, and the assurance of His presence. He would be with them and He would continue to care for them. But they would need to live in accordance with His will.

Decades earlier, when Solomon dedicated the newly-constructed Temple, he prayed a prayer that was prophetic in nature. Speaking hypothetically, he spoke of a day when the people of Israel might so offend God with their sins that they incur His wrath and suffer defeat at the hands of their enemy. He describes a time of forced exile but then he portrays the people calling out to God in repentance.

“If they sin against you—and who has never sinned?—you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to their land far away or near. But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’ If they turn to you with their whole heart and soul in the land of their enemies and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name— then hear their prayers and their petition from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause. Forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all the offenses they have committed against you. Make their captors merciful to them, for they are your people—your special possession—whom you brought out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt.” – 1 Kings 8:46-51 NLT

Little did Solomon know that his hypothetical scenario would become a painful reality. But his prayer had been answered. God had done exactly what Solomon had requested. He heard the cries of His people and showed them mercy. He graciously restored them to the land. He kept a remnant of the Levites alive. He allowed them to rebuild the Temple. Now, they would need to live in accordance with His will and worship Him in a way that honored His name and reflected their status as His chosen people.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.