1 CHRONICLES LESSON 25


     We will begin this lesson in I Chronicles 22:1 "Then David said,
This [is] the house of the LORD God, and this [is] the altar of the
burnt offering for Israel."

     David felt that God had chosen this place for the temple to be
built. David knew in his heart that this place was acceptable unto the
LORD.

     I Chronicles 22:2 "And David commanded to gather together the
strangers that [were] in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew
wrought stones to build the house of God."

     Even though God would not allow David to build the temple, he
felt in his heart, that he wanted to prepare as much of the material
as he could to have it ready when it was needed. These masons were
people who were foreigners who had come into the country to work.
There was to be no sound of a hammer in the temple, so everything must
be prepared ahead and brought there.

     I Chronicles 22:3 "And David prepared iron in abundance for the
nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in
abundance without weight;"

     The brass had been taken in battle, as we read in a previous
lesson. I Chronicles 18:8 "Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun,
cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon
made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass." Even
the gates would be assembled and brought in.

     I Chronicles 22:4 "Also cedar trees in abundance: for the
Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David."

     We know that the king had given David cedar to build him a house.
He had even sent workmen to build David's house. They had much cedar
for building, and David had grain they needed. This cedar wood was
brought into Israel by water.

     I Chronicles 22:5 "And David said, Solomon my son [is] young and
tender, and the house [that is] to be builded for the LORD [must be]
exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I
will [therefore] now make preparation for it. So David prepared
abundantly before his death."

     Much of the material used for the temple would be gathered by
David, before his death. This temple must be the most beautiful of
anything on the earth, because it will be God's house in the midst of
His people. Solomon was thought to be about 12 years old, when he took
the throne. This may account for David speaking of him being young and
tender. His reign would last for 40 years. David felt that his age
would help him in making better choices about the material for the
temple. David had wanted to build the temple himself, but God would
not allow him to. He did not tell him not to gather material to be
used in the temple, however.

     I Chronicles 22:6  "Then he called for Solomon his son, and
charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel."

     David knew that it was Solomon that He had called to build the
house of the LORD. David is just like so many fathers here, who try to
pass the knowledge they have accumulated over to their sons. David
wanted to help with the temple any way he could, and he called Solomon
to him, to remind him that he was to build the temple.

     I Chronicles 22:7 "And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me,
it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:"
I Chronicles 22:8 "But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou
hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not
build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon
the earth in my sight."

     Solomon was to build the temple, because he was a man of peace.
David had been a bloody king. He had been involved in many wars. God
had blessed him greatly in the winning of the wars. God, however,
would have David's son, Solomon, to build the temple. This particular
reason for David not building the temple is given just in Chronicles.

     I Chronicles 22:9 "Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall
be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round
about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and
quietness unto Israel in his days."

     This son would be David's by Bathsheba. Solomon was, also, given
the name of Jedidiah by Nathan, the prophet. "Solomon" means
peaceable.  His reign would be of world renown. He would be the wisest
and the wealthiest of all earthly kings. The temple he built for God,
would be the talk of the known world. He would be able to do this,
because he would have peace in the land.

     I Chronicles 22:10 "He shall build an house for my name; and he
shall be my son, and I [will be] his father; and I will establish the
throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever."

     The temple he built would be to the glory of God, and would not
be glorifying man. This temple would be a magnificent house for the
ark of the covenant. When Solomon built this temple, he was in right
standing with God. God accepted the temple and His presence was in the
most holy place. To be called a son of God is a very high honor. Jesus
made it possible for all believers to be sons of God.

     I Chronicles 22:11 "Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and
prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said
of thee."

     This verse is the beginning of the charge that David gave Solomon
concerning the temple. This was not David's oldest son. It was the son
that God chose for this honor. It is as if David was speaking a
blessing on Solomon, as well as a charge. All of the things that David
was having prepared for the building of the temple would need someone
to see that it was carried out. Solomon would be the one to see to it
for David.

     I Chronicles 22:12 "Only the LORD give thee wisdom and
understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou
mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God."

     Solomon would need the wisdom that only God could give him for
the tremendous undertaking. We know that Solomon received the greatest
wisdom that any person on the earth ever had, until his time. It was a
gift from God. God never calls anyone to complete a task for Him,
unless He equips him to complete the task. David was fully aware of
the importance of keeping the law of the LORD. He could not impress
upon Solomon enough to keep the law of the LORD God.

     I Chronicles 22:13 "Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed
to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with
concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be
dismayed."

     God had promised Abraham and all of his descendents the blessings
of God, as long as they kept the laws and commandments of God. If they
did not keep the commandments, they would be cursed as greatly, as
they could have been blessed. The law was given to Moses for the
people on their way to the promised land. God loved Israel and wanted
to bless them. He is a just God and could not bless them, if they did
not keep His commandments.

     I Chronicles 22:14 "Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared
for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a
thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without
weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared;
and thou mayest add thereto."

     A talent weighed 125 pounds. A gold pound has 12 ounces to a
pound. One talent would weigh 1,500 ounces. This is 150,000,000 ounces
of gold. Present gold prices are approximately $400.00 per ounce. This
would make the value of the gold, alone that he prepared for the
temple at present prices of $400.00 worth $60,000,000,000.00. The
figure for the silver is astronomical, as well. This is 1,000,000
talents, or 125,000,000 pounds of silver. This means there was
1,500,000,000 ounces of silver. At present day prices of $5.00 per
ounce, that would be worth $7,500,000,000.00. This value does not even
estimate the bronze, or any of the other precious things. David was an
extremely wealthy man, but Solomon was even wealthier. In fact,
Solomon would be the richest man who ever lived.

     I Chronicles 22:15 "Moreover [there are] workmen with thee in
abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of
cunning men for every manner of work."

     These workmen were there for the purpose of building with the
stones and with the cedar. These had been sent by Hiram to help.
II Samuel 5:11  "And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and
cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an
house."

     I Chronicles 22:16 "Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and
the iron, [there is] no number. Arise [therefore], and be doing, and
the LORD be with thee."

     This is the end of the commission that David gave Solomon, his
son. He says, "You have what you need for the job, now get started".

     I Chronicles 22:17  "David also commanded all the princes of
Israel to help Solomon his son, [saying],"

     David's sons were jealous of Solomon, and probably, would not
have helped with this work, had their father not told them to. This
was not just speaking to David's sons, but to all the leaders in
Israel.

     I Chronicles 22:18 "[Is] not the LORD your God with you? and hath
he [not] given you rest on every side? for he hath given the
inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before
the LORD, and before his people."

     It had been about 900 years since the promise of peace and
prosperity had been given these Israelites. David {the beloved of God}
had the privilege to tell them that peace was here. They had conquered
their enemies, and now, they could live in peace.

     I Chronicles 22:19 "Now set your heart and your soul to seek the
LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD
God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy
vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the
LORD."

     David's greatest desire was that these people would build the
temple, and worship God in the temple. He reminded them that their
blessings were conditional on them keeping God's commandments. The ark
symbolized the presence of God with His people Israel. David's desire
that this permanent house they would build for the LORD would be a
permanent connection for them with the LORD. He knew that was what the
LORD wanted if the people would just do it.










                      1 Chronicles 25 Questions


1.  In verse 1, what did David say about this spot where the
    threshingfloor had been?
2.  Who were the strangers in verse 2?
3.  Why was David having the stones hewed?
4.  What were the nails made of?
5.  Quote 1 Chronicles chapter 18 verse 8.
6.  Where did the cedar come from?
7.  What did David say about Solomon, that makes us think he was very
    young?
8.  What did David say the house of the LORD must be?
9.  How long did Solomon reign?
10. What did David charge Solomon to do?
11. Why had God not allowed David to build the temple?
12. Solomon shall be a man of _________.
13. What does "Solomon" mean?
14. Solomon would be the __________ and the __________ of all earthly
    kings.
15. The temple Solomon builds will be to the glory of ___.
16. ________ made it possible for all Christians to be sons of God.
17. What was David speaking on Solomon, besides giving him a charge?
18. Where did Solomon's wisdom come from?
19. What did David warn Solomon to do?
20. How could Israel be blessed?
21. How much gold had David prepared for the temple?
22. How much would it be worth at $400.00 per ounce?
23. How much silver did he give for the temple?
24. How much does a talent weigh?
25. What king had sent workers skilled in these things to help?
26. Who did David command to help Solomon?
27. How long had it been, since the original promise had been given of
    peace in their promised land?
28. What was the temple to be built to house?
29. What were their blessings dependent upon?
30. What did the ark symbolize?