(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)
(1 Chronicles 22:1-19) Then David said, “This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”
2 So David gave orders to gather the strangers who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to cut out stones to build the house of God. 3 And David prepared large quantities of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gates and for the clamps, and more bronze than could be weighed; 4 and timbers of cedar beyond number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought large quantities of cedar timber to David. 5 David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous, and glorious throughout the lands. Therefore I now will make preparations for it.” So David made ample preparations before his death.
6 Then he called for his son Solomon, and commanded him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon, “My son, I had intended to build a house for 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 on the earth before Me. 9 Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ 11 Now, my son, the Lord be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the Lord your God just as He has spoken concerning you. 12 Only the Lord give you discretion and understanding, and put you in charge of Israel, so that you may keep the Law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will prosper, if you are careful to follow the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed. 14 Now behold, with great pains I have prepared for the house of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold and a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond measure, for they are in great quantity; I have also prepared timber and stone, and you may add to that. 15 Moreover there are many workmen with you, stonecutters, masons of stone, and carpenters; and all of them are skillful in every kind of work. 16 Of the gold, silver, bronze, and iron there is no limit. Arise and work, and may the Lord be with you.”
17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, 18 “Is the Lord your God not with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has handed over to me the inhabitants of the land, and the land is subdued before the Lord and before His people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; then arise, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.”
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
2 So David gave orders to gather the strangers who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to cut out stones to build the house of God. 3 And David prepared large quantities of iron to make the nails for the doors of the gates and for the clamps, and more bronze than could be weighed; 4 and timbers of cedar beyond number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought large quantities of cedar timber to David. 5 David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous, and glorious throughout the lands. Therefore I now will make preparations for it.” So David made ample preparations before his death.
6 Then he called for his son Solomon, and commanded him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon, “My son, I had intended to build a house for 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 on the earth before Me. 9 Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ 11 Now, my son, the Lord be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the Lord your God just as He has spoken concerning you. 12 Only the Lord give you discretion and understanding, and put you in charge of Israel, so that you may keep the Law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will prosper, if you are careful to follow the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed. 14 Now behold, with great pains I have prepared for the house of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold and a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond measure, for they are in great quantity; I have also prepared timber and stone, and you may add to that. 15 Moreover there are many workmen with you, stonecutters, masons of stone, and carpenters; and all of them are skillful in every kind of work. 16 Of the gold, silver, bronze, and iron there is no limit. Arise and work, and may the Lord be with you.”
17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, 18 “Is the Lord your God not with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has handed over to me the inhabitants of the land, and the land is subdued before the Lord and before His people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; then arise, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.”
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
David wanted to set his son up for success, to do things better than he had and to have things better than he had. These intentions weren't the same as what a lot of parents say today, who want their children to have a better life than they did - with better jobs, better clothes, better cars, bigger homes, more money and more things. Some parents today will even want all those things for their kids, but without the need to work, and with that - an entitled child is created.
No, David's idea of success was for Solomon to honor God. And to help him towards that end, David not only got some of the physical building blocks underway, but David taught Solomon about God and His will, and how to draw closer to Him. David even requested that the leaders be there to help guide his son, and even encouraged the leaders to continue seeking after the Lord.
Even though there was now peace in the land, that didn't mean they could just sit back and enjoy the blessings. They were to keep seeking after the Lord - to learn God's discretion and understanding - to work - and build - and in strength and courage - they were to be obedient to the Lord. Like David did, laying a solid foundation to build upon (which is the love, peace and knowledge of our Lord), this is what we should be doing for our children. And letting them know that being a steadfast believer, and helping to build God's kingdom in His will - this is real success in life!!!
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