First Chronicles 22 Commentary
It doesn’t feel quite right that David used slave labor to arrange materials for the house of the LORD. Back in the day, Moses used offerings from the Assembly of God’s people to build the Sanctuary. Labor was also willingly donated. David hasn’t copy-pasted this construction philosophy.
We are also suspicious of the motives behind it. This house must look big and superior. Look back at the humble ambitions as reflected in the simplicity of architectural drawings given to Moses. We know the Sanctuary was meant to be portable while the temple is a permanent structure. But we still feel something is wrong here.
Solomon is said to be young and inexperienced. So he needs help. Interesting! Yet it’s the old and the experienced who actually don’t qualify for the task. They have shed so much blood, the blood of Uriah and the blood of countless victims of David’s raiding days are meant here.
Of course, we are imposing the New Testament standards on David so that we can learn from his mistakes. Neither age nor experience, nor preparations are a prerequisite for building the LORD a house. The New Testament message is: come as you are.
Back to the context: who can fault David for making extensive preparations for Solomon? Children need tools for success. Every parent must pass on to their children tools of respect, trust, truthfulness, diligence, generosity, and dependability. Our children must be prepared for a hard life ahead. Then the ride won’t be rough. It shouldn’t be.
“Be strong and courageous,” David said. “Do not be afraid or discouraged,” David added.
The quantities of gold and silver speak volumes about the extent of success that the nation enjoyed during the great times of David. By the time of writing of the Book of Chronicles, probably some 600 years after David, the nation of Israel was but a shadow of its former glory. A savior was needed; another David. One from Bethlehem and not from Nazareth, as the Pharisees thought of Jesus.
We can be grateful to the LORD that the great times of David are nothing compared to the greater times of the LORD Jesus. But the greater times are not physically comparable with the fleshly view of success. The righteousness of Christ residing within the saint, the new house of God, is what brings about greatness. We can always experience it.
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