1Ch 22:14-16 | KingComments | STEP | David calls for Solomon and charges him to build a house “for the LORD God of Israel” ( ). Solomon is the right person for this. He also has the capacities for it. To do a work for the Lord requires a gift and a calling. Without gift and calling, what is done will not hold out because it is not from God (cf. ). David testifies toward his son of the interest he has always taken in a dwelling place for God. This is also an example for old believers. If it is well, they can tell that they have always given priority to God’s house in their lives. David tells Solomon that it has always been in his heart to build a house for the LORD ( ). He adds that the LORD told him that he could not build that house and the reason for it ( ). At the same time, he was promised that a son, who was still to be born at the time, would build the house ( ). The LORD also said that this man will be “a man of rest”, to whom He will give rest from all his enemies around him. Therefore, says the LORD, the name of that son shall be “Solomon”. The name ‘Solomon’ is directly linked to peace. In that name is the word shalom , which means ‘peace’. In his days the LORD will “give peace and quiet to Israel”. These are the appropriate conditions for the building of the temple, the dwelling place of God, where He can dwell in peace among His people and they can bring sacrifices to Him. It is a privilege for Solomon to build a house as a man of rest for the Name of the LORD. But this is not the only privilege. The LORD says further to David that his son shall be for Him a son, and He shall be for that son a Father ( ). This can only refer to the great Son of David, the Lord Jesus. That thought is confirmed by what the LORD says of the throne of Solomon. This will be a throne which He will “establish … over Israel forever”. That throne is the throne of the Lord Jesus and of no one else. Here David is also a picture of Christ. From what he says here, we see that the glory of God in peace among His people is always the object of the heart of Christ. The suffering Servant of the LORD had this in mind when He went His way of suffering on earth. David and Solomon are together a picture of the Lord Jesus: David in His suffering and in the establishment of the kingdom and Solomon in His glorious and eternal reign. It is also nice to see that David is not disappointed that he is not allowed to build the temple. There is also no jealousy with him that Solomon can do it. He does not get cranky and renounce all cooperation, but accepts what God determines. With all the means God has given him, he is committed to building the temple. As a practical application, we see that older believers can help younger believers in fulfilling their task by making available to these young believers what they themselves have gathered over the years. This makes the task more attractive and easier for young people. Young people can make grateful use of this. David gives some conditions for doing the commissioned work and bringing it to a successful end ( ). These conditions apply to any work that is also entrusted to us: The first condition is that the Lord is with us ( ). That He will be, as long as each one of us abides by what “He has spoken concerning you”. The second condition is that the work to be done does not take place on the basis of our own insights ( ). The Lord must give us “discretion and understanding”. He must help us to put into practice what we know. The third condition is that of obedience to the word given by God to Moses ( ). This is a requirement for all faithfulness and any revival after deviation. The later king Josiah also goes back to Moses ( ; ) and also to David ( ). The words “be strong and courageous” with which David encourages Solomon are also the words with which Moses encourages Joshua ( ; ). The material David has available for the building of God’s house has been collected by him “with great pains” ( ). This determines us that the Lord Jesus can build His church through the ‘great pains’ of the cross. Solomon may add to this. This is reminiscent of Paul’s words when he says that in his flesh he completes “what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” ( ). Paul’s suffering is of the same character as Christ’s suffering. This does not mean, of course, that he suffers to the same extent and certainly not for reconciliation. There is nothing lacking as to the atonement, which is complete within itself. God acquired the church through the suffering of the Lord Jesus on the cross, through the blood of His own Son ( ). The Lord Jesus revealed God in His life on earth, but not all God’s eternal plans. Only when the Holy Spirit comes to earth do believers gain insight into God’s plans through the apostle Paul ( ). For Paul, witnessing this truth brings with it abundant suffering. This is not substitute suffering, it is additional suffering.

‏ 1 Chronicles 22:14-16

Solomon Prepared for Building the Temple

David calls for Solomon and charges him to build a house “for the LORD God of Israel” (1Chr 22:6). Solomon is the right person for this. He also has the capacities for it. To do a work for the Lord requires a gift and a calling. Without gift and calling, what is done will not hold out because it is not from God (cf. Ezra 4:1-3).

David testifies toward his son of the interest he has always taken in a dwelling place for God. This is also an example for old believers. If it is well, they can tell that they have always given priority to God’s house in their lives. David tells Solomon that it has always been in his heart to build a house for the LORD (1Chr 22:6). He adds that the LORD told him that he could not build that house and the reason for it (1Chr 22:7-8).

At the same time, he was promised that a son, who was still to be born at the time, would build the house (1Chr 22:9). The LORD also said that this man will be “a man of rest”, to whom He will give rest from all his enemies around him. Therefore, says the LORD, the name of that son shall be “Solomon”. The name ‘Solomon’ is directly linked to peace. In that name is the word shalom, which means ‘peace’. In his days the LORD will “give peace and quiet to Israel”. These are the appropriate conditions for the building of the temple, the dwelling place of God, where He can dwell in peace among His people and they can bring sacrifices to Him.

It is a privilege for Solomon to build a house as a man of rest for the Name of the LORD. But this is not the only privilege. The LORD says further to David that his son shall be for Him a son, and He shall be for that son a Father (1Chr 22:10). This can only refer to the great Son of David, the Lord Jesus. That thought is confirmed by what the LORD says of the throne of Solomon. This will be a throne which He will “establish … over Israel forever”. That throne is the throne of the Lord Jesus and of no one else.

Here David is also a picture of Christ. From what he says here, we see that the glory of God in peace among His people is always the object of the heart of Christ. The suffering Servant of the LORD had this in mind when He went His way of suffering on earth. David and Solomon are together a picture of the Lord Jesus: David in His suffering and in the establishment of the kingdom and Solomon in His glorious and eternal reign.

It is also nice to see that David is not disappointed that he is not allowed to build the temple. There is also no jealousy with him that Solomon can do it. He does not get cranky and renounce all cooperation, but accepts what God determines. With all the means God has given him, he is committed to building the temple.

As a practical application, we see that older believers can help younger believers in fulfilling their task by making available to these young believers what they themselves have gathered over the years. This makes the task more attractive and easier for young people. Young people can make grateful use of this.

David gives some conditions for doing the commissioned work and bringing it to a successful end (1Chr 22:11-13). These conditions apply to any work that is also entrusted to us:

The first condition is that the Lord is with us (1Chr 22:11). That He will be, as long as each one of us abides by what “He has spoken concerning you”.

The second condition is that the work to be done does not take place on the basis of our own insights (1Chr 22:12). The Lord must give us “discretion and understanding”. He must help us to put into practice what we know.

The third condition is that of obedience to the word given by God to Moses (1Chr 22:13). This is a requirement for all faithfulness and any revival after deviation. The later king Josiah also goes back to Moses (2Kgs 23:25; 2Chr 35:6) and also to David (2Chr 35:4).

The words “be strong and courageous” with which David encourages Solomon are also the words with which Moses encourages Joshua (Deu 31:6; Jos 1:6 ; 7 ; 9).

The material David has available for the building of God’s house has been collected by him “with great pains” (1Chr 22:14). This determines us that the Lord Jesus can build His church through the ‘great pains’ of the cross. Solomon may add to this. This is reminiscent of Paul’s words when he says that in his flesh he completes “what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” (Col 1:24).

Paul’s suffering is of the same character as Christ’s suffering. This does not mean, of course, that he suffers to the same extent and certainly not for reconciliation. There is nothing lacking as to the atonement, which is complete within itself. God acquired the church through the suffering of the Lord Jesus on the cross, through the blood of His own Son (Acts 20:28b).

The Lord Jesus revealed God in His life on earth, but not all God’s eternal plans. Only when the Holy Spirit comes to earth do believers gain insight into God’s plans through the apostle Paul (Acts 20:27). For Paul, witnessing this truth brings with it abundant suffering. This is not substitute suffering, it is additional suffering.

Others Helping Solomon

David points out to Solomon that there is a crowd of workmen ready to help him (1Chr 22:15). As with the building of the tabernacle, there is great willingness to do something for the LORD. Also at the beginning of the church, the New Testament house of God, we see a great dedication to the things of the Lord in all who belong to the church (Acts 4-5). Today, a lot of work has to be done by very few, because everyone “runs to his own house” (Hag 1:9), while the house of God lies desolate.

The workmen are now the evangelists who bring in material and the teachers who “work” this material further so that the stones get to take their right place in the house (cf. Col 1:28-29). For us, the fact that others have to help Solomon means that no one can build independently of others. Paul realizes this too (Col 4:11b).

When David has pointed to the large number of people and the countless amount of materials, he instructs his son to arise and get to work. He may have prepared everything, but Solomon has to work with it. Added to the great task he thereby places on Solomon’s shoulders, he supports him above all with pointing out to him that the LORD will be with him (1Chr 22:16b).

The leaders of the people can also help Solomon (1Chr 22:17). David commands them to do so. Just as he did with Solomon, he also points out to the leaders that the LORD is with them (1Chr 22:18). They only have to look around to see the proof. Isn’t it rest on every side all around them? Now that they no longer have to wage war, they can commit themselves to building God’s house.

All the inhabitants of the land are given by the LORD into the hand of David. The whole land is for the LORD and for His people. When in a local church everything is subject to the authority of the Lord Jesus, there is real peace among the believers. He who sees this, will direct himself with “heart and soul” to the service of the house of God.

When heart and soul are filled with the things that fill the heart of God, the call comes to “arise … and build the sanctuary of the LORD God” (1Chr 22:19). The purpose of this is that in that house “the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God” can be brought. Everything is aimed at ensuring that in that house the Name of the LORD will be glorified. This happens when He dwells there between the cherubs on the ark and all the objects in the house are “holy”, that is, are dedicated to Him.