Imagine a father who so loved his child that he would provide all that child would need to build a splendid life of inner peace, unconditional love, with eternal joy for generations to come! King David passes on the plan of God’s Temple to his son, Solomon. The King became so well versed in God’s Law; he taught others to follow it in preparation for serving in the Temple to be built.  David also gathered resources for years so he could provide all that his son would need to complete the building of the Temple for the worship of God alone as commanded by God. 

“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.
I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’” Psalm 89:1-4

My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him.
The enemy will not get the better of him; the wicked will not oppress him.
I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries.
My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn (strength) will be exalted.” Psalm 89:21-24

Almighty, all knowing, God who selected David also equipped him to fight battles, lead the army, and build the kingdom of Israel in might by God’s power and strength within him. Even as a youth, he was known for his military prowess and his relentless faith in God! The Lord extended David’s rule, because David was mostly a humble man, a man who “ran after the heart of God” with willing obedience to Him. David avoided promoting himself but gave God the glory after every battle he faced. (His story is recorded first in the books of Samuel.) Even the spoils of war went into the treasury for the purpose of building the Temple. Because of his heart, God established David and promised him a throne and a dynasty forever; a promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ, God’s Son. 

You see, God’s Plan wasn’t just about building a worship center then; it was preparation for the fulfillment of God’s greater plan given to His Son, Jesus!  Ah, but we get ahead of ourselves; Read on….

1 Chronicles 28

David’s Plans for the Temple

David summoned all the officials of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the warriors and all the brave fighting men.

² King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. ³ But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’

⁴ “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. ⁵ Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many—he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. ⁶ He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will 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 is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.’

⁸ “So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.

⁹ “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. ¹⁰ Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”

¹¹ Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. ¹² He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. ¹³ He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the Lord, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service. ¹⁴ He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service: ¹⁵ the weight of gold for the gold lampstands and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand; ¹⁶ the weight of gold for each table for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables; ¹⁷ the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish; ¹⁸ and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave him the plan for the chariot, that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and overshadow the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

¹⁹ “All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the Lord’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.”

²⁰ David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished. ²¹ The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Down through the ages, The Temple, dedicated as a “house of prayer” to God became corrupt with the world’s way of doing business and living life—to please self and to gain power. God knew it would happen.  But God also knew His Plan was not yet complete.  God’s Plan would be The Way to redeem His people and remove all sins once and for all!  His plan included all the sins of the world—salvation for all nations—for God so loved all He had created in the world!

God, the Father had a Plan from the beginning of creation to save us.  That plan of salvation and redemption, known by Jesus who stood with Him at the dawn of creation, would be the completion through the sacrifice of the His life for ours.

John explains the bottom lines of God’s Plan concisely and simply; “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

The Plan of God passed onto His Son, Jesus for completion!  All the sins of the world would be placed on the shoulders of the One and Only Son of God “who knew no sin,” the only One who qualified to remove the sins of the world. The prophets proclaimed His coming; but many turned a deaf ear to the Messiah who did indeed come “to seek and to save the lost”.  But that did not stop God from fulfilling His Plan. God never fails. God is faithful even when we are not.

Think about it; Emmanel, “God with us,” come to earth as “God in flesh, the walking Word of God.”  (John 1) Jesus sought out those who needed him most and gave real life to all who believed in Him.  Jesus, who passionately wanted to do the will of His Father, willingly and obediently laid down his life for ours in payment for all the sins of the world! Our sin nailed through his flesh to a cross to be forgiven and forgotten by God. Let this truth soak into our souls!

God gave us His Son as the sacrifice for our sin once and for all.  Jesus’s sacrifice changed everything for God’s created seeking to fill their empty hearts, confused minds, and dry, thirsty souls. God created within us a longing for Him. But our sin puts a black curtain between us and God. This wall prevents our longing for God to be filled. Upon Jesus’ words on the cross, “It is finished;” the curtain of separation was torn in two and full access to God was established forever for all who believe and repent of sins to Jesus. 

Ah, but Jesus’ death did not complete God’s Plan—Three days later, God raised His Son, Jesus from death to eternal Life—with scars still visible on His body as he appeared to His disciples and followers!  Jesus then became our Hope of eternal life by God resurrection power that is available to us!  Jesus told them to wait for this resurrection power, fueled by God’s Holy Spirit, who would come and take up residence in their hearts, minds, and souls forever to guide them to all Truth. AND, as believers  walk humbly with God, enthusiastically proclaiming the Good News of what Jesus did for “whoever” believes God/Jesus/Holy Spirit promised to be with us always!

God’s law, written on the hearts of those who believe, study, and live His Word as promised. Our bodies will become the Temple in which God’s Holy Spirit will dwell 24/7!  (1 Corinthians 6:19)  Even when our Temples come together in worship at a local house of prayer; Only God is to be worship and His Word is to be learned and applied as God speaks through his prophets—His spokespersons.  We call them pastors.

We see now that God’s plan for David to pass on the plans to Solomon for a brick and mortar Temple for pilgrims of the faith to come to Jerusalem for worship, prayer, seeking the atonement for sin was merely the beginning of God’s ultimate plan of redemption of all people of all nations!

From Father God to and through His Son, Jesus—salvation is offered freely to all who believe with a commitment to follow in the steps of our Savior as Lord of our lives forever. 

Lord,

I’m praying part of Psalm 119 to you this morning…

“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” Psalm 119:10-16

In Jesus Name, for our good, by your powerful help and for your glory, Amen!