1 CHRONICLES LESSON 32

     We will begin this lesson in I Chronicles 29:1 "Furthermore David
the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone
God hath chosen, [is yet] young and tender, and the work [is] great:
for the palace [is] not for man, but for the LORD God."

     The fact that Solomon was so young at the time, would make some
people wonder at David's choice of him for king. Actually, David had
older sons that would have been in line to be king. David settled that
quickly by saying that Solomon was the choice of God for this task.
The palace, here, was speaking of the temple. This was a giant
undertaking.

     I Chronicles 29:2 "Now I have prepared with all my might for the
house of my God the gold for [things to be made] of gold, and the
silver for [things] of silver, and the brass for [things] of brass,
the iron for [things] of iron, and wood for [things] of wood; onyx
stones, and [stones] to be set, glistering stones, and of divers
colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in
abundance."

     David had been gathering for quite a while the things for use in
the building of the temple. In an earlier lesson, we saw that David
had gathered billions of dollars worth of silver and gold to be used
in the temple. Cedar woo had been brought in from foreign countries.
Most of the silver, gold, and brass had been spoils of war. The nails
had been made with the iron. This temple would have enough precious
metals and precious stones in it to cover a modern country's national
debt. The marble and all of the stones to use in the temple had been
prepared elsewhere, and brought to the location of the temple. This
temple would be the most beautiful building in all the world.

     I Chronicles 29:3 "Moreover, because I have set my affection to
the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and
silver, [which] I have given to the house of my God, over and above
all that I have prepared for the holy house,"

     The wealth could have all belonged to David, but he loved God and
wanted all of this wealth to belong to his God. It was by David's own
free will he gave these treasures for the temple.

     I Chronicles 29:4  "[Even] three thousand talents of gold, of the
gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to
overlay the walls of the houses [withal]:"

     A talent of gold weighs 125 pounds. There are 12 ounces in a
pound of gold. This means that one talent weighs 1,500 ounces. This
would mean that there were 4,500,000 ounces of gold for the temple.
Present price of gold is about $400.00 per ounce. At present prices,
just the gold would be worth $1,800,000,000. This is in addition to
the gold we read about in chapter 22. This is speaking of David's
personal gold and silver, and the other Scripture, perhaps, is
speaking of the gold and silver in the treasury. 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." The silver at $5.00 per ounce, that David gave of his own,
would figure $52,500,000.00.

     I Chronicles 29:5 "The gold for [things] of gold, and the silver
for [things] of silver, and for all manner of work [to be made] by the
hands of artificers. And who [then] is willing to consecrate his
service this day unto the LORD?"

     David had told them of his generous gifts, and he was encouraging
them to give to the construction of the temple themselves. This was,
also, a call for volunteers, who had skills in these areas, to come
forward.

     I Chronicles 29:6  "Then the chief of the fathers and princes of
the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds,
with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly," I Chronicles
29:7 "And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five
thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand
talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred
thousand talents of iron."

     This was a large offering given by the leaders of the people.
5,000 talents of gold would be worth $3,000,000,000.00 today. A dram
is an uncertain measure, so we will not figure that. Some believe it
to be 1/3 the size of a shekel. The 10,000 talents of silver would be
worth $75,000,000.00 today. Iron is measured by the pound, so there
would be 12,500,000 pounds of iron. This is a tremendous offering.

     I Chronicles 29:8 "And they with whom [precious] stones were
found gave [them] to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the
hand of Jehiel the Gershonite." I Chronicles 29:9 "Then the people
rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart
they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced
with great joy."

     Many of the stones had, probably, been spoils of war. The
wonderful thing was that the people gave these things willingly. God
does not want anything from us that we give begrudgingly. He accepts
gifts we give from a free heart.

     I Chronicles 29:10  "Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all
the congregation: and David said, Blessed [be] thou, LORD God of
Israel our father, for ever and ever." I Chronicles 29:11 "Thine, O
LORD, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the
victory, and the majesty: for all [that is] in the heaven and in the
earth [is thine]; thine [is] the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted
as head above all."

     David was so overwhelmed by the generosity of the people, that he
immediately began to praise God. We see an adoration of God, and a
stating of His great power and goodness. This was an acknowledgment
that truly everything and everyone belong to God. God created all. It
all is His.

     I Chronicles 29:12 "Both riches and honour [come] of thee, and
thou reignest over all; and in thine hand [is] power and might; and in
thine hand [it is] to make great, and to give strength unto all."

     A person is rich, because God chooses for him to be rich. A
person is honored, because God wants them to be honored. A very good
example of the fact that everything belongs to God, is the coin in the
fishes mouth to pay Jesus' taxes. The people vote and believe they
elect a president, but truly, the person God had chosen to be
president is who wins the race. David was fully aware that God made
him great.

     I Chronicles 29:13 "Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and
praise thy glorious name."

     There was only one thing left for David to do, and that was to
praise God for what had happened. When God pours out a blessing on us,
the only thing we can do is thank Him and praise Him.

     I Chronicles 29:14 "But who [am] I, and what [is] my people, that
we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all
things [come] of thee, and of thine own have we given thee."

     David was feeling humbled by all the wealth and greatness that
God had poured on him and on the people of Israel as a whole. He was
aware these things were just loaned to him for awhile.

     I Chronicles 29:15 "For we [are] strangers before thee, and
sojourners, as [were] all our fathers: our days on the earth [are] as
a shadow, and [there is] none abiding."

     David was no different than us all. We are all just passing
through this world. Life on the earth is like a vapor. It is just a
very short time considering the time we will spend in heaven. The
flesh of man is few of days. No one lives forever in flesh. The
important life begins, when we shed this house of flesh.

     I Chronicles 29:16 "O LORD our God, all this store that we have
prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name [cometh] of thine
hand, and [is] all thine own."

     David was saying that they were not really giving God anything.
It all belonged to Him in the first place.

     I Chronicles 29:17 "I know also, my God, that thou triest the
heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness
of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have
I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly
unto thee."

     David knows his heart was right with God, and now, he felt his
people were right in their hearts, as well. The willingness to give to
God said a lot about the condition of their hearts.

     I Chronicles 29:18 "O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel,
our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of
the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:"

     Abraham, Isaac, and Israel were the patriarchs. They were the
recipients of the promises of God. The blessings on David and these
people were fulfillment of the promises He made to Abraham. David
wanted his people to remain faithful to God.

     I Chronicles 29:19 "And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart,
to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do
all [these things], and to build the palace, [for] the which I have
made provision."

     David was asking God to give Solomon a perfect heart. He knew
that Solomon would be tempted with all the wealth and attention he
would get. He would be so blessed with things of this earth, it would
be difficult for him to overcome the flesh.

     I Chronicles 29:20  "And David said to all the congregation, Now
bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God
of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD,
and the king."

     David was a good leader. Good leaders lead their people to a
closer relationship with God.

     I Chronicles 29:21 "And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD,
and offered burnt offerings unto the LORD, on the morrow after that
day, [even] a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, [and] a thousand
lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all
Israel:"

     This was all sealed with the sacrifices they made to the LORD.
Even the sacrifices were given in abundance. This showed the sincerity
of those who were sacrificing.

     I Chronicles 29:22 "And did eat and drink before the LORD on that
day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king
the second time, and anointed [him] unto the LORD [to be] the chief
governor, and Zadok [to be] priest."

     This was a time of great celebration. The people were as joyful
about the building of this temple, as David was. Solomon would be
anointed the second time. This would show that all the people had
accepted him as king in the stead of David. Zadoc would be anointed
again, also, to take the position of high priest.

     I Chronicles 29:23 "Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as
king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed
him."

     In an earlier book, we mentioned the fact that it was very
unusual for a son to become king, before the death of his father. This
was exactly what happened here, however. His prosperity was so great
that he was known as the richest man in the world.

     I Chronicles 29:24 "And all the princes, and the mighty men, and
all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon
the king."

     Solomon was obviously the choice of David to succeed him. Most of
the people were aware that Solomon was chosen of God to be king of
Israel. They accepted him as king, partly because they did not want to
displease David or God.

     I Chronicles 29:25 "And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in
the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him [such] royal majesty as
had not been on any king before him in Israel."

     Solomon was the richest and the wisest king who had ever reigned.
He was so blessed, that people from all over the known world came to
see the greatness of Solomon.

     I Chronicles 29:26  "Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all
Israel." I Chronicles 29:27 "And the time that he reigned over Israel
[was] forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and
three [years] reigned he in Jerusalem."

     This is a recap of the reign of David in Israel. His reign of 40
years included 7 years over Judah and 33 years over all Israel.

     I Chronicles 29:28 "And he died in a good old age, full of days,
riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead."

     David was 30 when he began to reign, so he was seventy years old
when he died. He had experienced blessings from God that few men ever
know. His son, Solomon, would know even greater blessings, as he
reigned over Israel, and built the temple.

     I Chronicles 29:29 "Now the acts of David the king, first and
last, behold, they [are] written in the book of Samuel the seer, and
in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,"
I Chronicles 29:30 "With all his reign and his might, and the times
that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the
countries."

     The book, spoken of as of Samuel, the seer, is, possibly, the
book of Samuel in the Bible. The other books, I am not sure of. We do
know that Nathan, the prophet, and Gad, the seer, were both highly
respected. Nathan had prophesied to David. All of the things
mentioned, above, are mentioned in the Bible in other Scriptures than
this one. We, also, know that had accurate records of events of their
day.
                      1 Chronicles 32 Questions


1.  Who had chosen Solomon to be king?
2.  What did David say about the age of Solomon?
3.  Palace, was speaking of the ____________.
4.  What did verse 2 say, David had prepared for the temple?
5.  Most of the silver, gold, and brass, had come from ________ of
    ________.
6.  What was made with the iron?
7.  Where had the stones been prepared?
8.  What type of wood would be used?
9.  How many talents of gold does verse 4 say David gave?
10. How many talents of silver had he given?
11. How much does a talent weigh?
12. Who would do the work with the gold?
13. Who did David encourage to give, also?
14. How many talents of gold did they give?
15. Who gave precious stones?
16. Quote 1 Chronicles chapter 29 verses 10 and 11.
17. Why is someone rich?
18. Who truly chooses the president?
19. What had greatly humbled David?
20. God tries the __________ of mankind.
21. In verse 18, who are the three patriarchs?
22. What did David ask God to give Solomon?
23. Great leaders do what?
24. How many bullocks were sacrificed?
25. How did all of Israel accept Solomon as king?
26. How rich was Solomon?
27. Why did they all accept Solomon as king?
28. What does verses 26 and 27 recap?
29. How old was David, when he began to reign in Hebron?
30. How old was David, when he died?
31. The book of Samuel, mentioned in verse 29, is, probably, what?