1 Chronicles 28: David's Charge to Solomon
Before all Israel, David passes on the temple plans and charges Solomon to know God, serve him wholeheartedly, and be strong to finish the work.
1 Chronicles 28 (WEB)
1 David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies who served the king by division, and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor, to Jerusalem.
2 Then David the king stood up on his feet, and said, “Hear me, my brothers, and my people! As for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and for the footstool of our God; and I had prepared for the building.
3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood.’
4 However Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.
5 Of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of Yahweh’s kingdom over Israel.
6 He said to me, ‘Solomon, your son, shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
7 I will establish his kingdom forever, if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as at this day.’
8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, Yahweh’s assembly, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Yahweh your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.
9 You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
10 Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”
11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch of the temple, and of its houses, and of its treasuries, and of the upper rooms of it, and of the inner rooms of it, and of the place of the mercy seat;
12 and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of Yahweh’s house, and for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of God’s house, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;
13 also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of Yahweh’s house, and for all the vessels of service in Yahweh’s house;
14 of gold by weight for the gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service;
15 by weight also for the lamp stands of gold, and for its lamps, of gold, by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps; and for the lamp stands of silver, by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps, according to the use of every lamp stand;
16 and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;
17 and the forks, and the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl;
18 and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, the cherubim, that spread out, and covered the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.
19 “All this”, said David, “I have been made to understand in writing from the hand of Yahweh, even all the works of this pattern.”
20 David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed; for Yahweh God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of Yahweh’s house is finished.
21 Behold, there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of God’s house. There shall be with you in all kinds of work every willing man who has skill, for any kind of service. Also the captains and all the people will be entirely at your command.”
1 Chronicles 28 (KJV)
1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
4 Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:
5 And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
6 And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
10 Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:
13 Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the Lord.
14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:
15 Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.
16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:
17 Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:
18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
19 All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.
21 And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.
1 Chronicles 28 (ASV)
1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that served the king by course, and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor, unto Jerusalem.
2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building.
3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build a house for my name, because thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood.
4 Howbeit Jehovah, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel;
5 and of all my sons (for Jehovah hath given me many sons), he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah over Israel.
6 And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
7 And I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and mine ordinances, as at this day.
8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Jehovah, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Jehovah your God; that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you for ever.
9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Jehovah searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts. If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
10 Take heed now; for Jehovah hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porchof the temple, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper rooms thereof, and of the inner chambers thereof, and of the place of the mercy-seat;
12 and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of the house of Jehovah, and for all the chambers round about, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;
13 also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of Jehovah, and for all the vessels of service in the house of Jehovah;
14 of gold by weight for the vessels of gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; of silver for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service;
15 by weight also for the candlesticks of gold, and for the lamps thereof, of gold, by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof; and for the candlesticks of silver, silver by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick;
16 and the gold by weight for the tables of showbread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;
17 and the flesh-hooks, and the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl;
18 and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, even the cherubim, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.
19 All this, said David, have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of Jehovah, even all the works of this pattern.
20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed; for Jehovah God, even my God, is with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until all the work for the service of the house of Jehovah be finished.
21 And, behold, there are the courses of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee in all manner of work every willing man that hath skill, for any manner of service: also the captains and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.
Summary
David gathers all the leaders of Israel and rises to deliver his great charge. He recounts that it was in his heart to build a house of rest for the ark, but God forbade him as a man of war, choosing instead his son Solomon to build it and promising to establish Solomon's kingdom forever if he keeps God's commands. Before the whole assembly David solemnly charges them to seek the Lord, then turns to Solomon with words that pierce the heart: "know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind," for the Lord searches all hearts; if you seek him, he will be found, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off. David then hands Solomon the detailed pattern for the temple, its courts, chambers, treasuries, lampstands, tables, and the gold for the chariot of the cherubim, all of which he says he received in writing from the hand of the Lord. He closes by repeating the charge given to him: "Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don't be afraid," assuring Solomon that God will not fail or forsake him until the work is finished, with priests, Levites, skilled workers, and all the people ready to help. It is a tender, urgent passing of the torch from one generation to the next.
Main Characters
- David — The aging king who charges Solomon and Israel, hands over the divinely given temple plans, and calls his son to wholehearted devotion and courage.
- Solomon — David's chosen successor, charged to know God, serve him with a perfect heart, and build the temple with strength and confidence in God's presence.
- The assembly of Israel — The leaders, officers, and mighty men gathered to hear David's charge and stand ready to support the building of God's house.
Key Verse
1 Chronicles 28:9 (WEB)
You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
Lessons Learned
- God looks at the heart, so we are called to serve him with a perfect heart and willing mind (1 Chronicles 28:9).
- Those who seek the Lord will find him; those who forsake him will be lost to him (1 Chronicles 28:9).
- God's work is to be done according to his pattern, not our improvisation (1 Chronicles 28:11-12, 19).
- Courage for God's work rests on the promise of his presence (1 Chronicles 28:20).
- Faith passes from one generation to the next through deliberate, loving charge.
- God desires wholehearted, willing service. David charges Solomon to "serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind" because the Lord searches all hearts (1 Chronicles 28:9, WEB).
- Seeking God is met with finding him. "If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off" (1 Chronicles 28:9, WEB).
- God's work follows God's design. David gave Solomon "the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit" for the house of God (1 Chronicles 28:12, WEB).
- His presence is the ground of our courage. "Be strong and courageous... for Yahweh God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you" (1 Chronicles 28:20, WEB).
- Faith is handed on intentionally. David passes the calling, the plans, and the promise to Solomon before all Israel (1 Chronicles 28:9-10, WEB).
- David tells Solomon both to "know" God and to "serve" him with a perfect heart. How do knowing and serving belong together?
- What comfort and what warning are held together in the promise that those who seek God will find him?
- Why do you think David emphasized that the temple pattern came from the hand of the Lord?
- David grounds Solomon's courage in God's presence. How does "God is with you" change the way we face daunting tasks?
- How are you seeking God with your whole heart right now, and what would wholehearted, willing service look like for you?
- Knowing God personally fuels glad service; service without knowing him becomes mere duty, and knowing him without serving is empty. David weds the two as the heart of true devotion.
- The promise is gloriously open, God can be found by any who seek him, yet it carries a sober warning that forsaking him has eternal consequence. Hold both grace and gravity together.
- David wanted Solomon to know the design was God's, not human invention, so worship would be ordered by God's will. This guards against shaping worship around our own preferences.
- When God promises his presence, the size of the task no longer defines our courage. Help the group bring a daunting task before God and rest in "He will not fail you, nor forsake you."
- A gentle application question. Invite honest, unpressured reflection on the state of the heart and on small, willing steps of devotion rather than performance.