1 Chronicles 28

The king of Israel was not alone in his service of the Lord. David had appointed many individuals to do the work of the kingdom. Now the time had come to gather them together and address them concerning this most important of all duties for the nation—the worship of the Lord.

David had it in his heart to build a permanent structure for God, but the Lord redirected him in his plan. Solomon, David's son, would build the temple. The Lord would be a Father to the great son of David. He would establish the line of David forever.

There was a note of warning in David's remarks. Solomon would have to continue strong in keeping God's commandments. This same condition was upon all of Israel if they hoped to keep the land that the Lord had given to them. The temple, the land, and the stability of the kingdom depended upon the obedience of the king and the children of Israel.

David addressed his son directly in the hearing of the entire assembly. God had chosen Solomon for this great task. The time would soon come for the fulfillment of this work. But Solomon needed to be faithful to the Lord. If the new king turned away from God, the Lord would cast him off forever.

David's address to the leaders of the people came at a great moment in the history of God's kingdom work upon the earth. Yet the plan for the future had a fatal flaw. God required obedience from David's son. How would Solomon measure up according to the Lord's holy standards? How would the nation do in their obligation to keep God's commandments?

David gave Solomon all the plans for the temple. He had amassed a great amount of silver and gold necessary for the work that needed to be completed. The temple would indeed be built. Solomon would have the help of thousands of chosen people, and the Lord himself would be with him. But how long would Israel be able to keep the temple that Solomon built? How long would the descendants of Jacob be able to stay in the land of Canaan? Within one generation the problem with this covenant arrangement would become painfully obvious. Israel needed a New Covenant based on an obedience that would be more robust than what Solomon supplied. They needed the perfect obedience of a different Son of David.

God's kingdom plans were always bigger than the land of Israel. He would build a far greater temple beyond anything that David or Solomon could ever have accomplished. That temple would stand on the holiness and goodness of Jesus. He is the Cornerstone of a New Covenant and the sure foundation of a kingdom that will never end.