9 "As for you, my son Solomon , know the God of your father , and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind ; for the Lord searches all hearts , and understands every intent of the thoughts . If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever . 10 "Consider now , for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary ; be courageous and act ."
11 Then David gave to his son Solomon the plan of the porch of the temple, its buildings , its storehouses , its upper rooms , its inner rooms and the room for the mercy seat ; 12 and the plan of all that he had in mind , for the courts of the house of the Lord , and for all the surrounding rooms , for the storehouses of the house of God and for the storehouses of the dedicated things ; 13 also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord and for all the utensils of service in the house of the Lord ; 14 for the golden utensils, the weight of gold for all utensils for every kind of service ; for the silver utensils , the weight of silver for all utensils for every kind of service ; 15 and the weight of gold for the golden lampstands and their golden lamps , with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps ; and the weight of silver for the silver lampstands , with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps according to the use of each lampstand ; 16 and the gold by weight for the tables of showbread , for each table ; and silver for the silver tables ; 17 and the forks , the basins , and the pitchers of pure gold ; and for the golden bowls with the weight for each bowl ; and for the silver bowls with the weight for each bowl ; 18 and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight ; and gold for the model of the chariot , even the cherubim 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, all the details of this pattern ." 20 Then David said to his son Solomon , " Be strong and courageous , and act ; do not fear nor be dismayed , for the Lord God , my God , is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:9-20
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:1-10
(Read 1 Chronicles 28:1-10)
During David's last sickness, many chief priests and Levites were at Jerusalem. Finding himself able, David spoke of his purpose to build a temple for God, and of God's disallowing that purpose. He opened to them God's gracious purposes concerning Solomon. David charged them to cleave stedfastly to God and their duty. We cannot do our work as we should, unless we put on resolution, and fetch in strength from Divine grace. Religion or piety has two distinct parts. The first is knowledge of God, the second is worship of God. David says, Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind. God is made known by his works and word. Revelation alone shows the whole character of God, in his providence, his holy law, his condemnation of sinners, his blessed gospel, and the ministration of the Spirit to all true believers. The natural man cannot receive this knowledge of God. But thus we learn the value of the Saviour's atonement, and of the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and are influenced to walk in all his commandments. It brings a sinner to his proper place at the foot of the cross, as a poor, guilty, helpless worm, deserving wrath, yet expecting every thing needful from the free mercy and grace of God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Having been forgiven much, the pardoned sinner learns to love much.
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:11-21
(Read 1 Chronicles 28:11-21)
The temple must be a sacred thing, and a type of Christ; it must be framed by Divine teaching. Christ is the true temple, the church is the gospel temple, and heaven the everlasting temple; all are framed according to the Divine counsels, and the plan laid in the Divine wisdom, ordained before the world, for God's glory and our good. David gave this pattern to Solomon, that he might go by rule. Materials were provided for the most costly utensils of the temple. Directions were given which way to look for help in this great undertaking. Be not dismayed; God will help thee, and thou must look up to him in the first place. We may be sure that God, who owned our fathers, and carried them through the services of their day, will, in like manner, never leave us, while he has any work to do in us, or by us. Good work is likely to go on, when all concerned are hearty in furthering it. Let us hope in God's mercy; if we seek him, he will be found of us.