20250108

Who makes the choices?

1 Chronicles 28:1-21

1 Chronicles 28:1 David gathered all the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem: the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the divisions in the king’s service, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, along with the court officials, the fighting men, and all the best soldiers.
1 Chronicles 28:2 King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of Yahveh’s covenant and as a footstool for our God. I had prepared to build,
1 Chronicles 28:3 but God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’
1 Chronicles 28:4 “Yet Yahveh God of Israel chose me out of all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah, my father’s family, and my father’s sons, he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.
1 Chronicles 28:5 And out of all my sons — because Yahveh has given me many sons — he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of Yahveh’s kingdom over Israel.
1 Chronicles 28:6 He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who is to build my house and my courts, because I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
1 Chronicles 28:7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he perseveres in keeping my commands and my ordinances as he is doing today.’
1 Chronicles 28:8 “So now in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and follow all the commands of Yahveh your God so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants forever.
1 Chronicles 28:9 “As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, because Yahveh searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever.
1 Chronicles 28:10 Realize that Yahveh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it.”
1 Chronicles 28:11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple and its buildings, treasuries, upstairs rooms, inner rooms, and a room for the mercy seat.
1 Chronicles 28:12 The plans contained everything that was in his breath for the courts of Yahveh’s house, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of God’s house, and the treasuries for what is dedicated.
1 Chronicles 28:13 Also included were plans for the divisions of the priests and the Levites; all the work of service in Yahveh’s house; all the articles of service of Yahveh’s house;
1 Chronicles 28:14 the weight of gold for all the articles for every kind of service; the weight of all the silver articles for every kind of service;
1 Chronicles 28:15 the weight of the gold lampstands and their gold lamps, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; the weight of each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the service of each lampstand;
1 Chronicles 28:16 the weight of gold for each table for the rows of the Bread of the Presence and the silver for the silver tables;
1 Chronicles 28:17 the pure gold for the forks, sprinkling basins, and pitchers; the weight of each gold dish; the weight of each silver bowl;
1 Chronicles 28:18 the weight of refined gold for the altar of incense; and the plans for the chariot of the gold cherubim that spread out their wings and cover the ark of Yahveh’s covenant.
1 Chronicles 28:19 David concluded, “By Yahveh’s hand on me, he enabled me to understand everything in writing, all the details of the plan.”
1 Chronicles 28:20 David told his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for Yahveh God, my God, is with you. He won’t leave you or abandon you until all the work for the service of Yahveh’s house is finished.
1 Chronicles 28:21 Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of God’s house. Every willing person of any skill will be at your disposal for the work, and the leaders and all the people are at your every command.”

Who makes the choices?

These are not the actions and words of a sovereign king, passing on his dominion to his son. They are the words of a servant, a steward of God’s household. David had it in his heart to build. God said no. God chose Solomon to build his temple. David’s charge to all the people is to seek out God’s commands and obey them (8). These are not the words of a totalitarian despot. David’s throne was “the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel” (5). The LORD made the choices. Who makes the choices for you?

LORD, we surrender our sovereignty to you. You make the choices, and we will carry them out.