Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20061224.htm

1 AND 2 CHRONICLES: GAINING DIRECTION OUT OF THE AIMLESSNESS OF APOSTASY
Part II: Gaining Direction From God's Work In The Reign Of David, 1 Chronicles 10-29
I. Gaining God's Leading Through The STRONG Impact Of PAST, GODLY Leaders Upon Us
(1 Chronicles 22:1-23:1)
  1. Introduction
    1. The Apostle Paul directed Timothy to handle the growing apostasy of his era in part by recalling the ministries of people such as Paul himself who had taught Timothy God's truths, cf. 2 Timothy 3:13-14.
    2. Now, Paul had lived and ministered to the Lord uprightly, and with his strong personality and deep convictions of the truth, he had left an indelible impression on Timothy of the direction he was to take in his own ministry. Thus, though even godly men are fallible, God DOES USE their STRONG influence as signposts for us to discern His own direction for US, a lesson illustrated in 1 Chronicles 22:1-23:1:
  2. Gaining God's Leading Through The STRONG Impact Of PAST, GODLY Leaders Upon Us.
    1. 1 Chronicles 22:1 begins with David's deciding that the temple would be built on the site of the threshingfloor he had purchased from Araunah to offer his sacrifice for his sin of numbering Israel's men, cf. 1 Chronicles 21:25-30; Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, ftn. to 1 Chronicles 21:15.
    2. Now, God did not want David to build the temple, but for his son to do that, 1 Chronicles 17:1-4, 11-12.
    3. However, though not himself permitted to build the temple, so important was the project in his mind that David, the greatest of Israel's kings aside from the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 1:31-33), did his best to PREPARE and to IMPRESS his son, Solomon to BUILD that temple (as follows), 1 Chron. 22:2-23:1:
      1. David, Israel's greatest and one of its godliest kings aside from Christ arranged for the Canaanite servants and stone cutters to produce materials for building the temple, Ibid., ftn. to 1 Chron. 22:2.
      2. David, Israel's greatest and one of its godliest kings aside from Christ arranged for huge amounts of iron, bronze and cedar for the hardware of the temple's doors and other structures, 1 Chronicles 22:3-4.
      3. David, Israel's greatest and one of its godliest of kings aside from Christ realized his son, Solomon was young and inexperienced in such matters (1 Chron. 22:5), so he made extensive preparations to aid Solomon so that he could build God's temple regardless of his limitations as follows, 22:5-23:1:
        1. First, David formally charged Solomon to build the temple of God, 1 Chronicles 22:6.
        2. Second, David testified to Solomon that though he himself had wanted to build the temple, God had stated that David's involvement in killing many in war made him ineligible to be the author of God's temple, a place of peace; rather, the construction would occur under a man of peace, 1 Chron. 22:7-8. Indeed, God had told David he would produce a son who would be a man of peace, a man named Solomon (a named "related to the word for peace'") who would build the temple, 1 Chron. 22:9-10a; Bib. Know. Com., O. T., p. 612. Thus, David told Solomon he had been named in accord with the will of God for him to build the temple, a strong directive on God's will for his life's work!
        3. Third, David testified to Solomon that God would parent him as a father would and establish his throne over Israel forever in connection with his building of God's temple, 1 Chronicles 22:10b.
        4. Fourth, David charged Solomon to heed God's Law of Moses so he could confidently enjoy God's blessing, prosperity, wisdom and understanding and successfully build the temple, 22:11-13.
        5. Fifth, David told Solomon he had supplied 16-17 billion dollars worth of gold and silver and huge amounts of brass, iron, timber and stone for the job, Ibid., Ryrie, ftn. to 1 Chron. 22:14; 22:14-16.
        6. Sixth, David charged Israel's princes to help Solomon build the temple, reminding them of their obligation to help in the matter as God had blessed them with peace via David's reign, 22:17-19.
        7. Seventh, David finally enthroned his son, Solomon over his realm before his death, further directing him to assume responsible leadership toward accomplishing his calling to build God's temple, 23:1.
Lesson: David, Israel's greatest and one of its godliest kings aside from Christ made GREAT provisions and gave STRONG admonitions to Solomon and those who were to help him to BUILD God's temple after David's death. Solomon was thus to understand that GOD wanted him to BUILD that TEMPLE!

Application: When GODLY leaders by WORD and DEED have STRONGLY IMPRESSED us to take a path that ALIGNS with SCRIPTURE, GOD wants us DECIDEDLY to TAKE THAT PATH !