1 Chronicles 28:9 Komentář

The account we have of David's exit, in the beginning of the first book of Kings, does not make his sun nearly so bright as that given in this and the following chapter, where we have his solemn farewell both to his son and his subjects, and must own that he finished well. In this chapter we have, I. A general convention of the states summoned to meet (Ch1 28:1). II. A solemn declaration of the divine entail both of the crown and of the honour of building the temple upon Solomon (Ch1 28:2-7). III. An exhortation both to the people and to Solomon to make religion their business (Ch1 28:8-10). IV. The model and materials delivered to Solomon for the building of the temple (Ch1 28:11-19). V. Encouragement given him to undertake it and proceed in it (Ch1 28:20, Ch1 28:21).

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 28 David, having convened the principal men of the nation, declared Solomon his successor, whom God had chosen both to be king, and to build the temple, Ch1 28:1, and exhorted both them and him to serve the Lord, and build an house for him, Ch1 28:8, then gave Solomon the pattern of it, and an account of the materials he had prepared for it, Ch1 28:11, and encouraged him to go about the work with alacrity and intrepidity, Ch1 28:20.

And thou, Solomon my son,.... Who was present in this assembly, and presented to them by David as his successor, and their future king: and having addressed them, he turns himself to him, and exhorts him, saying: know thou the God of thy father; who was his Father and covenant God, and whom he served and worshipped, and who had bestowed upon him many favours, both temporal and spiritual; and having had such an experience of his goodness, he exhorts his son to seek to know more and more of him, and to own and acknowledge him as his God, and to love and fear him: serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind; cordially and sincerely, cheerfully and freely, neither in an hypocritical manner, nor through force and constraint, nor with loathing and weariness: for the Lord searcheth all hearts; the hearts of all men, even of kings, and knows from what principles and with what views and in what manor they serve him: and understandeth all the imaginations of the thought; not only the thoughts of the heart, when regularly formed and ranged in order, hut even the very beginning of them, the first motions of the mind, and before they are well formed, see Gen 6:5. if thou seek him; by prayer and supplication in his house and ordinances: he will be found of thee; grant his presence and bestow his favours, see Isa 4:6. but if thou forsake him: his word, his ways, his worship: he will cast thee off for ever; from being king, or enjoying that peace, prosperity, and happiness, which otherwise would be enjoyed.

“Do you know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, him will God destroy.” And in another place: “The Lord is with you as long as you are with him. If you abandon him, he also will abandon you.”

There is a passage in the first book of the same Chronicles that declares the choice of the will: “And you, Solomon, my son, know you the God of your father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts; if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.” But these people find some room for human merit in the clause “if you seek him,” and then the grace is thought to be given according to this merit in what is said in the ensuing words, “he will be found of you.” And so they labor with all their might to show that God’s grace is given according to our merits, in other words, that grace is not grace. For, as the apostle most expressly says, to them who receive reward according to merit “the recompense is not reckoned of grace but of debt.”

David assembles the princes of Israel, and informs them that the temple was to be built by Solomon; to whom God had given the most gracious promises, Ch1 28:1-7. He exhorts them and him to be obedient to God, that they might continue to prosper, Ch1 28:8-10. He gives Solomon a pattern of the work, Ch1 28:11, Ch1 28:12; directs him concerning the courses of the priests and Levites, Ch1 28:13; gives also gold, by weight, for the different utensils of the temple, as God had directed him, Ch1 28:14-19; encourages Solomon to undertake the work, Ch1 28:20, Ch1 28:21.

DAVID EXHORTS THE PEOPLE TO FEAR GOD. (Ch1 28:1-8) David assembled all the princes of Israel--that is, the representatives of the people, the leading men of the kingdom, who are enumerated in this verse according to their respective rank or degree of authority. princes of the tribes-- (Ch1 27:16-22). Those patriarchal chiefs are mentioned first as being the highest in rank--a sort of hereditary noblesse. the captains of the companies--the twelve generals mentioned (Ch1 27:1-15). the stewards, &c.-- (Ch1 27:25-31). the officers--Hebrew, "eunuchs," or attendants on the court (Sa1 8:15; Kg1 22:9; Kg2 22:18); and besides Joab, the commander-in-chief of the army, the heroes who had no particular office (1Ch. 11:10-12:40; 2Sa. 23:8-39). This assembly, a very mixed and general one, as appears from the parties invited, was more numerous and entirely different from that mentioned (Ch1 23:2).

HE ENCOURAGES SOLOMON TO BUILD THE TEMPLE. (Ch1 28:9-20) And thou, Solomon my son--The royal speaker now turns to Solomon, and in a most impressive manner presses upon him the importance of sincere and practical piety. know thou--He did not mean head knowledge, for Solomon possessed that already, but that experimental acquaintance with God which is only to be obtained by loving and serving Him.

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 28 David, having convened the principal men of the nation, declared Solomon his successor, whom God had chosen both to be king, and to build the temple, Ch1 28:1, and exhorted both them and him to serve the Lord, and build an house for him, Ch1 28:8, then gave Solomon the pattern of it, and an account of the materials he had prepared for it, Ch1 28:11, and encouraged him to go about the work with alacrity and intrepidity, Ch1 28:20.

And thou, Solomon my son,.... Who was present in this assembly, and presented to them by David as his successor, and their future king: and having addressed them, he turns himself to him, and exhorts him, saying: know thou the God of thy father; who was his Father and covenant God, and whom he served and worshipped, and who had bestowed upon him many favours, both temporal and spiritual; and having had such an experience of his goodness, he exhorts his son to seek to know more and more of him, and to own and acknowledge him as his God, and to love and fear him: serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind; cordially and sincerely, cheerfully and freely, neither in an hypocritical manner, nor through force and constraint, nor with loathing and weariness: for the Lord searcheth all hearts; the hearts of all men, even of kings, and knows from what principles and with what views and in what manor they serve him: and understandeth all the imaginations of the thought; not only the thoughts of the heart, when regularly formed and ranged in order, hut even the very beginning of them, the first motions of the mind, and before they are well formed, see Gen 6:5. if thou seek him; by prayer and supplication in his house and ordinances: he will be found of thee; grant his presence and bestow his favours, see Isa 4:6. but if thou forsake him: his word, his ways, his worship: he will cast thee off for ever; from being king, or enjoying that peace, prosperity, and happiness, which otherwise would be enjoyed.