1 Chronicles 22:2-19 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 22:2-19. Let’s go!
1 Chronicles 22:2-4 (NIV)
2 So David gave orders to assemble the aliens living in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God.
3 He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed.
4 He also provided more cedar logs than could be counted, for the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought large numbers of them to David.
On verses 2-4: Here we see King David making preparations for the building of the temple. As part of this, King David appoints some of the aliens (i.e. foreigners) living in Israel to be stonecutters and to prepare dressed stones for building the temple.
Likewise, in the same chapter where Peter calls us royal priests and stones that God is using to build His house, we are also called “aliens and strangers in the world” (1 Peter 2:11). The kind of people Jesus uses to build His church are “the aliens” among us – i.e. those of us who don’t live as if earth is our final home, but who realize that our real home is in heaven and that we are but strangers in this world, living for a kingdom that is not of this world. When you have the mindset that heaven is our home, you won’t get too attached to the material things of this world, and as such you can more easily be used by the Lord to build His church.
1 Chronicles 22:5 (NIV)
5 David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.
On verses 5-17: David understands that it is not he but his son Solomon whom the Lord has called to build a temple for His name. So in these verses David does 6 things to set up his son Solomon for success in his God-given mission. Likewise, if we will do these same 6 things that David did, we will set up the generation coming after us for success in what God has called them to do. What are those 6 things? Let’s look at them right now:
- David recognized that his son Solomon was young and inexperienced and that Solomon could use his help (v5). Lesson: Recognize that you have something to offer the next generation!
- David recognized that his son Solomon had a unique calling from God that was different from his own. He didn’t assume that Solomon would simply be a clone of himself and therefore he didn’t insist that Solomon follow in his footsteps (v6-10). Rather, David encouraged Solomon to pursue the unique calling God had for his life. Lesson: Recognize that your son/daughter/generation coming after you has a calling that is unique to them. Don’t insist that they become a clone of you.
- David blessed his son and prayed for him (v11). Lesson: Bless and pray for the next generation.
- David encouraged his son to stick close to God and to follow His Word, knowing that following God’s Word is the key to personal success (v12-13). Lesson: Keep urging the next generation to depend on God, not on themselves, and to follow His Word.
- David gave Solomon material resources to help Solomon accomplish his mission (v14). Lesson: Give financially to the next generation.
- David gave Solomon all the personal connections at his disposal so that Solomon would have people to help him long after David was gone (v15-17). Lesson: Share whatever other connections or resources you may have that can help the next generation succeed.
Just as David helped his son Solomon, God wants to use you to help set up the generation coming after you for success. Whether it’s with your own kids, or the next generation in your church, practice these 6 things that David did and you will leave a great legacy for those coming after you.
1 Chronicles 22:18-19 (NIV)
18 He said to them, “Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has handed the inhabitants of the land over to me, and the land is subject to the LORD and to his people.
19 Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD.”
On verses 18-19: The reason why God gives you His peace, rest, material resources, and other blessings is so that you can take part in building His house. So as David said in verse 19, let’s devote our heart and soul to seeking the Lord our God and use what He placed at our disposal to build the house of the Lord, that the name of Jesus would be made famous in our generation and the generations to come.
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me the kind of people that You use to build Your church. You use the “aliens of this world” and those with a heart for the next generation. I pray that I would live my life more like an alien who is not too attached to this world, knowing that I belong to a kingdom that is not of this world. I pray also that, like David, I would have a heart for the next generation. May I use what You have given me so that generations after me will be blessed and equipped to fulfill their God-given destiny. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
