April 11, 2012
Continuing in 1st Chronicles. Chapters 22-28 are lists of duties related to the building of the temple. In the middle of Chapter 28 we read of David handing over the Kingship to his son Solomon who has been chosen by God to build God’s temple. David is disqualified from this honor because he has been a warrior, and shed much blood (28:3). I find it interesting that David is disqualified from building the temple because of all the people he has slaughtered; even though the slaughtering was done at God’s command. Much could be made of it, but it seems on the surface to indicate that God’s Temple is just so holy, that blood stained hands, even faithful ones, are not worthy to lead the construction.
In the ‘handoff’ from David to Solomon are some weighty instructions that might benefit any who seek to follow God and especially so for those who lead God’s people:
And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve Him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek Him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do the work. 1 Chronicles 28:9-10
I’m certain we understand the context, and how this relates to Solomon, but might it be instructive for us today as well? Can we take from this ‘handoff’ any personal inspiration? I think so.
1) Learn to know God intimately. So much that passes as ‘religion’ or ‘faith’ today is little more than familial obligation, and vain repetition. I want my knowledge of God to be internal, and intimate. I want my relationship with God to always be growing and stretching. I never want to ‘arrive’, I want always to be appropriately uncomfortable, to be motivated to stay close. Intimate is a loaded word!
2) Worship and Serve with my whole heart and a willing mind. Worship and Service are two sides of one coin. They cannot be separated. To worship without serving is not real worship. To serve without worship is equally illegitimate. Help me discover how much these are interconnected, and to pursue each with my whole heart and a willing mind.
3) Seek God Seriously. Finding God is not like panning for the proverbial nugget of Gold – finding God is as easy as opening our eyes, minds and hearts. God is not far from us, but we are hesitant, and reticent, to honestly seek God. We love the public adoration for pretending to practice the presence of God – but few of us really, seriously seek after God. That is what I want. I don’t care so much anymore about success or failure; I don’t care so much about human acclaim and praise; I don’t care so much about compensations and rewards, anymore – I just want God! I want to seek, find, know, worship and serve this God!
4) Be strong and do the work . Ultimately we just need to get it done! There is no magic in being faithful and successful in life – Love God, Love people, and work hard – the rest can be learned along the way! I need this encouragement today, to be strong, and work hard.
So there you have the challenge David left for Solomon. We might all do so well passing on our ‘legacy’ to our sons and daughters. I believe this challenge is not just for Solomon, but all of us. God give me strength to receive and learn and practice this challenge today. AMEN