I Chronicles 28:9

David assembles the princes of Israel, and informs them that the temple was to be built by Solomon; to whom God had given the most gracious promises, Ch1 28:1-7. He exhorts them and him to be obedient to God, that they might continue to prosper, Ch1 28:8-10. He gives Solomon a pattern of the work, Ch1 28:11, Ch1 28:12; directs him concerning the courses of the priests and Levites, Ch1 28:13; gives also gold, by weight, for the different utensils of the temple, as God had directed him, Ch1 28:14-19; encourages Solomon to undertake the work, Ch1 28:20, Ch1 28:21.

HE ENCOURAGES SOLOMON TO BUILD THE TEMPLE. (Ch1 28:9-20) And thou, Solomon my son--The royal speaker now turns to Solomon, and in a most impressive manner presses upon him the importance of sincere and practical piety. know thou--He did not mean head knowledge, for Solomon possessed that already, but that experimental acquaintance with God which is only to be obtained by loving and serving Him.

And thou, Solomon my son,.... Who was present in this assembly, and presented to them by David as his successor, and their future king: and having addressed them, he turns himself to him, and exhorts him, saying: know thou the God of thy father; who was his Father and covenant God, and whom he served and worshipped, and who had bestowed upon him many favours, both temporal and spiritual; and having had such an experience of his goodness, he exhorts his son to seek to know more and more of him, and to own and acknowledge him as his God, and to love and fear him: serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind; cordially and sincerely, cheerfully and freely, neither in an hypocritical manner, nor through force and constraint, nor with loathing and weariness: for the Lord searcheth all hearts; the hearts of all men, even of kings, and knows from what principles and with what views and in what manor they serve him: and understandeth all the imaginations of the thought; not only the thoughts of the heart, when regularly formed and ranged in order, hut even the very beginning of them, the first motions of the mind, and before they are well formed, see Gen 6:5. if thou seek him; by prayer and supplication in his house and ordinances: he will be found of thee; grant his presence and bestow his favours, see Isa 4:6. but if thou forsake him: his word, his ways, his worship: he will cast thee off for ever; from being king, or enjoying that peace, prosperity, and happiness, which otherwise would be enjoyed.

And thou, Solomon my son,.... Who was present in this assembly, and presented to them by David as his successor, and their future king: and having addressed them, he turns himself to him, and exhorts him, saying: know thou the God of thy father; who was his Father and covenant God, and whom he served and worshipped, and who had bestowed upon him many favours, both temporal and spiritual; and having had such an experience of his goodness, he exhorts his son to seek to know more and more of him, and to own and acknowledge him as his God, and to love and fear him: serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind; cordially and sincerely, cheerfully and freely, neither in an hypocritical manner, nor through force and constraint, nor with loathing and weariness: for the Lord searcheth all hearts; the hearts of all men, even of kings, and knows from what principles and with what views and in what manor they serve him: and understandeth all the imaginations of the thought; not only the thoughts of the heart, when regularly formed and ranged in order, hut even the very beginning of them, the first motions of the mind, and before they are well formed, see Gen 6:5. if thou seek him; by prayer and supplication in his house and ordinances: he will be found of thee; grant his presence and bestow his favours, see Isa 4:6. but if thou forsake him: his word, his ways, his worship: he will cast thee off for ever; from being king, or enjoying that peace, prosperity, and happiness, which otherwise would be enjoyed.

The account we have of David's exit, in the beginning of the first book of Kings, does not make his sun nearly so bright as that given in this and the following chapter, where we have his solemn farewell both to his son and his subjects, and must own that he finished well. In this chapter we have, I. A general convention of the states summoned to meet (Ch1 28:1). II. A solemn declaration of the divine entail both of the crown and of the honour of building the temple upon Solomon (Ch1 28:2-7). III. An exhortation both to the people and to Solomon to make religion their business (Ch1 28:8-10). IV. The model and materials delivered to Solomon for the building of the temple (Ch1 28:11-19). V. Encouragement given him to undertake it and proceed in it (Ch1 28:20, Ch1 28:21).

28:9-10 David’s message to Solomon did not stress the privileges of being chosen as king but emphasized the responsibilities of assuming the throne. The primary obligation was to seek the Lord, to worship and serve him. The Lord also required an unflinching resolve to build the Temple sanctuary.