1 Chronicles 28:11-21 Click here for Bible Verses
HI GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 28:11-21. Let’s go!
1 Chronicles 28:11-13 (NIV)
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.
1 Chronicles 28:19 (NIV)
19 “All this,” David said, “I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan.”
On verses 11-13, 19: One of the key words in these verses is “the plans”. David gives to Solomon the plans for the temple, plans which David says were inspired by the Holy Spirit. What can we learn from this? God is a planner. He knows the plans He has for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Notice also that the plans God gave David for the temple were not general ideas, but detailed plans. God is into the details. When talking about contracts that you sign, the famous saying goes, “the devil is in the details”. But when you read Scripture, you’ll find that God is very much into the details, especially when it concerns how we worship Him.
1 Chronicles 28:14-18 (NIV)
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 shelter the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
On verses 14-18: By designating the weight of each article at the temple, David was essentially determining the worth of each article. By carrying the weight of our sin at the cross, Jesus determined our worth as well. By sacrificing His own Son on the cross, God showed that to Him we are priceless, worth more to Him than life itself, and worth dying for. So do not allow what anyone else says or does determine your worth. For your worth was already determined at the cross. You are priceless in God’s eyes!
1 Chronicles 28:20-21 (NIV)
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.
On verses 20: When Moses is nearing death and commissions Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, Moses tells Joshua, “Be strong and courageous; do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) When David is nearing death and commissions Solomon to build the temple, David tells Solomon a similar message: “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you…” (v20). What can we learn from this?
- Someone important to you – a relative, a mentor, a friend – may not always be around, but the Lord your God is always with those who have trusted in His Son Jesus. As a mentor of mine likes to say, we lose our fear when we know He’s near.
- Whenever God calls you to a great work, you need to be strong and courageous, knowing that God is with you. You can think of a thousand excuses to not step out in faith, but just the fact of God’s call on your life and His presence in your life is enough. In fact, verse 20 is one of the verses that the Holy Spirit used to encourage me back in November 2006 when I was praying about whether or not to return to Vancouver to plant Thrive Church.
1 Chronicles 28:21 (NIV)
21 The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”
On verse 21: When Solomon son of David was getting ready to build the temple, David put at his disposal divisions of willing and obedient priests and Levites (a specially chosen people) to help him with the build. Likewise, when Jesus Son of David was getting ready to build His church, God put at His disposal divisions of priests and a specially chosen people to help him with the build: you and me. May we be willing and obedient to Jesus, that He would build His church through us (Matthew 16:18).
Heavenly Father, thank You for being a detailed planner, and for planning it long ago that my worth would be determined at the cross where Your Son Jesus died. Thank You that You are always with me and therefore I can be strong and courageous and do the work You have called me to do, no matter what my circumstances or people around me may otherwise say. Thank You for choosing us to build Your church. Let Your church be built and Your kingdom come. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
