SOLOMON ESTABLISHED KING FOR THE SECOND TIME
CH 29{"And king David said to all the congregation, Solomon my son, the one whom God has chosen, is young and tender, and the work is great; for this palace is not to be for man, but for Jehovah Elohim" (1 Chron. 29:11Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God. (1 Chronicles 29:1)). The person of Solomon is here set in the limelight more and more as a type of Christ in His reign. David says of him: "whom alone God path chosen" (KJV). He is the only one, the object of His choice, the only one who answers to His thoughts and to His eternal counsels concerning the kingdom.
But, as David had already said (1 Chron. 22:55And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death. (1 Chronicles 22:5)), Solomon was still "young and tender" and was not yet full grown so as to be able to take up the reins of government. While awaiting this moment, his father had proclaimed him king, and as such, had seated him with him upon his own throne (1 Chron. 23:11So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel. (1 Chronicles 23:1)). What is here said speaks to us of Christ. It goes without saying that in Him there was no weakness that would delay His kingdom, for God has exalted Him and has given Him a name above every name but at present He is seated upon His Father's throne in heaven, and, as Man, He is waiting for the moment determined by God to rule over Israel and the nations. In this sense the time of His full development has not yet come for Him, and the hour of His earthly kingdom has not yet struck.
Now David had done all that was needed for God finally to be able to establish His throne at Jerusalem. "And I have prepared," he says, "according to all my power" (1 Chron. 29:22Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. (1 Chronicles 29:2)); but he adds: "And moreover, in my affection for the house of my God I have given of my own property of gold and silver, for the house of my God" (1 Chron. 29:33Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, (1 Chronicles 29:3)). Christ loved the Church and gave all that He had, even His own life, so that He might build it as a holy temple where God could dwell. All is ready for His glorious manifestation, but meanwhile Christ is adding material for the building and even allows us to cooperate in His work. "And who," he asks, "is willing to offer to Jehovah this day?" (1 Chron. 29:55The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? (1 Chronicles 29:5)). Then all the people's representatives willingly offer valuables, "gold, silver, precious stones" (see 1 Cor. 3:1212Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (1 Corinthians 3:12)), and this offering is approved. There are no collaborators in the wisdom which has prepared all, but there are collaborators in the work: and so it is with us today.
But let us not forget that this passage does not deal with the Church. It speaks to us of an earthly people in the midst of whom the Lord was going to dwell and who would be a people willing to contribute of all that they have toward the glorious establishment of the house of God at Jerusalem.
The result of this liberality is general joy, both among all the people and in David's heart: "And the people rejoiced because they offered willingly, for with perfect heart they offered willingly to Jehovah; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy" (1 Chron. 29:99Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. (1 Chronicles 29:9)). The prophet Zephaniah describes a similar fellowship in joy: "Be glad with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem... Jehovah thy God... will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love; He will exult over thee with singing" (Zeph. 3:14,1714Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. (Zephaniah 3:14)
17The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)).
Then (1 Chron. 29:10-1910Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 11Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. 12Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 13Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. 14But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. 15For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. 16O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own. 17I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. 18O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee: 19And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision. (1 Chronicles 29:10‑19)) David blesses the Lord. He blesses Him as the God who at Bethel had made promises to Jacob, calling him Israel (1 Chron. 29:1010Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. (1 Chronicles 29:10)), and who had said to him: "I am the Almighty God: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee; and kings shall come out of thy loins" (Gen. 35:1111And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; (Genesis 35:11)). Then he celebrates His greatness, His strength, His glory, His splendor, His majesty, for all things are of Him in heaven and upon earth. The kingdom and the exaltation are His, for He is Head above all things. Riches and glory come from Him, for He rules over all things. Power and might are in His hand and He is able to make great and give strength to all.
Thus David with all the people celebrated the glorious name of the God of Israel.
All that the king and his people who are nothing in the presence of God can willingly offer Him is of Him, and they only give Him that which they have received from His hand. As for them, before Him they are but strangers and sojourners like all their fathers: they pass on like a shadow and die. And now, all this abundance they are offering Him comes from Him and all belongs to Him, but He takes pleasure in the uprightness of the king's heart who is willingly offering all things, and in the uprightness of the hearts of the people who are doing likewise.
Lastly, David asks this same God who had made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob), to keep and to direct the hearts of His people toward Him, and to give Solomon a perfect heart to obey Him, to do all these things, and to build the temple prepared for by David.
Such is this magnificent prayer. It gives all glory to God alone, to God who by virtue of His counsels has made promises to His elect. It puts man in his true place before God. It expresses an absolute dependence on Him who alone can direct the hearts of His own to please Him.
After having praised God, David leads the praises of all the congregation (cf. Psa. 22:22,2522I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. (Psalm 22:22)
25My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. (Psalm 22:25)), a striking image of Him who, after having suffered and having been "answered... from the horns of the buffaloes," declares God's name to His brethren and gives them the example of perfect praise so that they might imitate it.
Then the people "bowed down their heads, and did homage to Jehovah and the king" (1 Chron. 29:2020And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God. And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king. (1 Chronicles 29:20)); thus the king is associated with the Lord in a joint homage. Again this word carries our thoughts to Christ. The man whom we see here blessing God has the right to be worshipped just as God Himself.
The people offer sacrifices in abundance and, characteristically of Chronicles, Solomon is made king for the second time (1 Chron. 29:2222And did eat and drink before the Lord on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the Lord to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest. (1 Chronicles 29:22); cf. 1 Chron. 23:11So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel. (1 Chronicles 23:1)). The first time we saw him seated upon his father's throne; now he is seated upon his own throne. In Revelation He likewise makes this promise to the overcomer: "He that overcomes, to him will I give to sit with Me in My throne; as I also have overcome, and have sat down with My Father in His throne" (Rev. 3:2121To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3:21)). In effect, it is as King upon his throne that Solomon, the son of David was "anointed... to Jehovah to be prince," and He will bear this character in His millennial reign. Zadok is also anointed "to be priest," and we see at last realized in him the prophecy which had said: "And I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest... and he shall walk before Mine anointed continually" (1 Sam. 2:3535And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. (1 Samuel 2:35)).
"And Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah as king instead of David his father, and prospered" (1 Chron. 29:2323Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. (1 Chronicles 29:23)). Henceforth the throne of the King is identified with the throne of the Lord! Thus Jehovah is God, but He is also Christ. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Col. 1:16-1716For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16‑17)); He who is worshipped on the throne.
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