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. 29:1). 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. 22:5), 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. 23:1). 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. 29:2); 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. 29:3). 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. 29:5). Then all the people's representatives willingly offer valuables, "gold, silver, precious stones" (see 1 Cor. 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. 29:9). 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. 3:14,17).
Then (1 Chron. 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. 29:10), 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. 35:11). 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. 22:22,25), 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. 29:20); 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. 29:22; cf. 1 Chron. 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. 3:21). 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. 2:35).
"And Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah as king instead of David his father, and prospered" (1 Chron. 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. 1:16-17); He who is worshipped on the throne.