1 Chronicles 28: 11-21, Passing the Torch
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BaptistWay Press® Premium Commentary By Dr. Gene Wilkes President, B. H. Carroll Theological Institute Plano, Texas Studies in Solomon: No Ordinary Kind of Wisdom (1 & 2 Chronicles) Lesson Two Passing the Torch Focal Text 1 Chronicles 28:11-21 Background 1 Chronicles 13 Main Idea Pain will always be part of our lives, but we should never lose faith in Jesus Christ. Question to Explore How can I not lose faith when my world is falling apart? Quick Read We must not aspire to do God’s work alone; it is in every way better that we should share the privilege and the responsibility with others. Introduction Our family made the obligatory American visit to Disney World when our girls were in elementary school. It was truly magical what the human mind and ingenuity can manufacture. From life-like topiaries to imaginary characters that came alive before my children’s eyes, the quality of craftsmanship was beyond what I had experienced before. As we drove back home after three days of wandering through castles, floating on pirate Page 1 of 7 Premium Commentary. Solomon: No Ordinary Kind of Wisdom--Lesson Two. Copyright © 2021 BAPTISTWAY PRESS©. A MINISTRY OF THE Baptist General Convention of Texas. Go to www.baptistway press.org or call 1-866-249-1799 toll-free for additional Bible study materials for all ages. This lesson is not to be sold or distributed beyond the subscription agreement. The copyright notice and identifying information in this note must be included on any copies made. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations in Premium Commentary are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 1 Chronicles 28: 11-21, Passing the Torch ships, and spending what seemed to be our children’s college fund, I learned a lesson from Walt and the gang: excellence is in the details. Excellence is not reached in broad strokes. It is achieved through meticulous execution of plans down to the smallest detail. In our focal text today, King David gave plans and directions for building and furnishing the Temple to Solomon. The lists of items in some of the verses may seem unnecessary as a record of God’s Word, but they are those details that, when completed, were the excellence of craftsmanship and value that was done to bring glory and honor to the God of Israel, Yahweh. King David continued in this passage to demonstrate his faith in God by sharing with Solomon the plans he conceived in order to build a Temple for God. While he felt the pain of not completing the project he envisioned, he shared the joy of what God had shown him with his son. David also knew the sting of God’s anger when he tried to move the Ark of the Covenant from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem. (1 Chronicles 13) God struck down Uzzah for touching the ark when it seemed to fall off the cart that carried it. David in his anger and fear placed the ark in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite until he brought it to Jerusalem. (1 Chronicles 13:13) Not only did God halt the transfer of the ark, but God also transferred the building of the Temple from David to Solomon. The pain of such unfulfilled intentions by the king did not keep him from trusting God’s word to him and giving the plans for the coveted project to his son, the next king. David provided the plans for Solomon’s work, and he encouraged and reminded him that the work was not his alone. God would be with him and “the divisions of priests and Levites” and “every willing person skilled in any craft” (NIV) would help him. Excellence was in the details, but that excellence was not achieved alone. Commentary Plans for Building the Temple (28:11-13) In the middle of King David’s address to the royal officials and his heir, he gave the plans for every part of the Temple to Solomon. The plans included the entire layout of the building, which included a vestibule, or, portico; surrounding buildings, treasuries, and upper rooms; and its inner rooms and the room for “the mercy seat,” or, the Ark of the Covenant. The plans David gave to Solomon for the Temple were similar to those God instructed Moses to build for the tabernacle. (Exodus 25:1-9) The purpose for the tabernacle while Israel sojourned in the wilderness was so that Yahweh would “dwell among” the people. (Exodus 25:8) The portable place of worship was also known as the “tent of meeting.” (Exodus 29:42, 44) The building of the Temple was a continuation of God’s desire for His people to build a physical place to represent God’s presence among the people. The verb dwelt that described Jesus as “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” is the same Greek word for tabernacle used for the tent in the Page 2 of 7 Premium Commentary. Solomon: No Ordinary Kind of Wisdom--Lesson Two. Copyright © 2021 BAPTISTWAY PRESS©. A MINISTRY OF THE Baptist General Convention of Texas. Go to www.baptistway press.org or call 1-866-249-1799 toll-free for additional Bible study materials for all ages. This lesson is not to be sold or distributed beyond the subscription agreement. The copyright notice and identifying information in this note must be included on any copies made. 1 Chronicles 28: 11-21, Passing the Torch wilderness. (John 1:14) Jesus is the presence of God, the Father, among the people. Unlike the gods of other people groups who lived aloft and aloof from the people, the plans for the Temple represented both the past and future of God’s desire to live among the people. The word for “plan” in this verse is the same word used by Moses that God gave him to build the tabernacle. (Exodus 25:9) [“Technical model or pattern,” HIBD] The Hebrew word for pattern/plan is tabnit and comes from a Hebrew root meaning “to build.” The noun means “construction, pattern, or figure.” Solomon, like Moses, was to follow the pattern or plan God gave for the place of worship. Verse 12 describes the plans as those that “he [David] had in mind” while other translations suggest that the plans that “the Spirit had put in his mind.” (NIV) A literal translation from the Hebrew, continuing what David gave to Solomon would be, “the pattern of all which was in the spirit with him.” [NET Notes] The Hebrew word ruah means, spirit, breath, wind. [Kohlenberger/Mounce, Hebrew Dictionary] By extension it can mean mind or heart. Some translators interpret the idea as the Spirit of God placing the plans in David’s mind while others simply describe them as in his mind. God’s instructions to Moses are evident in David’s plans and God spoke with David about the construction of the Temple, so ultimately the source of the Temple plans are from God. These plans extended to the courts, surrounding rooms of the Temple, and treasuries for both the Temple and for the dedicated items in the Temple. David continued his instructions for those who would serve in the Temple and the articles that would be used in worship. (v.13) Priests, kohen, were those who served in the worship of God at the tabernacle and aided in leading the people in the festivals prescribed by God. God set apart the Levites to serve the nation in the worship of Yahweh. God consecrated them to perform the duties at the tabernacle so the people could offer sacrifices and the holy place could be kept according to God’s instructions (Exodus 29; Leviticus 8). Their purpose to lead the people in worship continued with the building of the Temple. During David’s reign, they became part of the administration of the kingdom, performing various jobs from gatekeepers to overseers of the royal treasuries. (For example, 1 Chronicles 26:20) [HIBD, “Levites”] David also gave plans for how the vessels, or articles (NIV) were to be used for worship in the Temple. We will see more details related to these items in the following verses and in the actual furnishing of the Temple. While David may have been pained by the fact he would not build the house for the Lord he envisioned to build for God, he graciously provided all his successor needed to be successful. His response was not one of bitterness but of helping his heir be better. Materials of Gold and Silver (28:14-18) Page 3 of 7 Premium Commentary. Solomon: No Ordinary Kind of Wisdom--Lesson Two. Copyright © 2021 BAPTISTWAY PRESS©. A MINISTRY OF THE Baptist General Convention of Texas. Go to www.baptistway press.org or call 1-866-249-1799 toll-free for additional Bible study materials for all ages. This lesson is not to be sold or distributed beyond the subscription agreement. The copyright notice and identifying information in this note must be included on any copies made. 1 Chronicles 28: 11-21, Passing the Torch David explained in greater detail the vessels to be used in Temple worship. This structure was to be the place of worship of Yahweh, the Lord, the God of Israel. No detail could go unaddressed, and each item had meaning for worship. To meet the goal of excellence for worship, David spelled out the weight of the gold and silver used for “all of the vessels” lampstands, tables, forks, sprinkling bowls, pitchers, dishes, and the “altar of incense.” These items were part of worship in the tabernacle and would continue service in the Temple.