Behold,
a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of peace. I will give him rest from all his enemies all around; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for my name; and he will be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
1 Chronicles 22:9-10
1 Chronicles 22 [5.] David said, “Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for Yahweh must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David prepared abundantly before his death. Then he called for Solomon his son, and commanded him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon his son, “As for me, it was in my heart to build a house to the name of Yahweh my God. But Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, ‘You have shed blood abundantly, and have made great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of peace. I will give him rest from all his enemies all around; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.
1 Chronicles 22 [10.] He shall build a house for my name; and he will be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.’ Now, my son, may Yahweh be with you and prosper you, and build the house of Yahweh your God, as he has spoken concerning you. May Yahweh give you discretion and understanding, and put you in charge of Israel; that so you may keep the law of Yahweh your God. Then you will prosper, if you observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which Yahweh gave Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed.
Meaning:
- David’s Preparation for the Temple
These verses record a moment near the end of King David’s life, when he calls his son Solomon to take up the monumental task of building the temple for the Lord. The temple, which would become the center of worship for Israel, was a project that David had deeply desired to accomplish. David’s heart was filled with love and devotion to God, and he longed to build a permanent house for the Ark of the Covenant, a dwelling place for God’s presence among His people. However, God had other plans.
- David’s Desire to Build the Temple
David’s words to Solomon reflect a heart that was eager to honor God. David says, “It was in my heart to build a house to the name of Yahweh my God.” This desire came from a place of gratitude and devotion, as David had seen God’s hand at work throughout his life, delivering him from his enemies and establishing him as king over Israel. Building the temple was David’s way of expressing his love and reverence for God, recognizing that God deserved a glorious dwelling place.
However, despite David’s good intentions, God had a different plan. God’s response to David is both sobering and gracious. He acknowledges David’s desire but tells him that he is not the one to build the temple. God says, “You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.” As a warrior king, David had been instrumental in defeating Israel’s enemies and securing the nation’s borders, but his life was marked by violence and bloodshed. Because of this, God chose not to have David build the temple, which was to be a house of peace and worship.
- Solomon: A Man of Peace
Instead, God reveals that David’s son, Solomon, would be the one to build the temple. God tells David, “Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of peace.” The name “Solomon” itself is derived from the Hebrew word shalom, meaning “peace.” Unlike David, whose reign was filled with military conquests and battles, Solomon’s reign would be characterized by peace and prosperity. God promises that He will give Solomon “rest from all his enemies all around” and that Israel will experience “peace and quietness” during his reign.
This period of peace under Solomon was essential for the construction of the temple. Building such a magnificent and sacred structure required stability, resources, and time, all of which were made possible by the peaceful conditions of Solomon’s reign. David had laid the groundwork by securing Israel’s borders and amassing the necessary materials, but it was Solomon who would bring the project to completion.
- The Significance of the Temple
The temple that Solomon would build was not just an ordinary building; it was to be the dwelling place of God’s presence among His people. In verse 10, God declares, “He shall build a house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father.” This statement points to the special relationship that Solomon would have with God as the chosen king who would carry out this sacred task. The temple was to be built “for [God’s] name,” meaning it would be a place where God’s glory and holiness would be revealed and where His people would come to worship Him.
The promise that God makes to Solomon is also a reaffirmation of the covenant that He made with David in 2 Samuel 7. God promises, “I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.” While this promise is partially fulfilled in Solomon, it finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true Son of David, whose kingdom is eternal. Solomon’s temple, though grand and glorious, was only a foreshadowing of the greater work that Jesus would accomplish. In John 2:19-21, Jesus refers to Himself as the true temple, the place where God’s presence fully dwells.
- God’s Sovereign Plan
One of the key lessons from this passage is the importance of submitting to God’s sovereign plan. David had a noble desire to build the temple, but God had other plans. Rather than allowing David to fulfill this desire, God chose Solomon to carry out the task. This reminds us that, even when we have good intentions, we must be willing to submit to God’s will and timing. David could have been frustrated or disappointed that he wasn’t allowed to build the temple, but instead, he humbly accepted God’s plan and worked to prepare Solomon for the task ahead.
This is a powerful example of trusting in God’s wisdom and sovereignty. Sometimes we may feel called to a particular task or dream, but God may have other plans for us. In those moments, we are called to trust that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9) and that He knows what is best for us and for His kingdom.
Application for Us
Submitting to God’s Will: Just as David had to submit to God’s plan for the temple, we too must learn to surrender our own desires and ambitions to God’s will. There may be times when we are called to step aside and let someone else fulfill a task that we deeply long to accomplish. In those moments, we can trust that God’s plan is perfect and that He knows what is best.
Preparation for Future Generations: David didn’t sulk or rebel when God told him that Solomon would build the temple. Instead, he spent his final years preparing Solomon for the task, gathering materials and providing guidance. This is a beautiful example of investing in the next generation, equipping them to carry out God’s work. We, too, are called to prepare and mentor those who come after us, helping them fulfill God’s purposes.
Jesus as Our Peace: Solomon’s name and reign pointed to peace, but Jesus is the ultimate Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus brings us peace with God. Just as Solomon’s reign was marked by rest from enemies, Jesus gives us rest from the power of sin and death, allowing us to experience true spiritual peace.
Conclusion: In 1 Chronicles 22:6-10, we see a powerful moment of transition and preparation as David passes the baton to his son Solomon, entrusting him with the sacred task of building the temple. Though David had a heart to build the temple, God’s plan was for Solomon, a man of peace, to carry out this task. This passage teaches us about the importance of submitting to God’s will, trusting in His sovereign plan, and investing in the future generation. It also points us to Jesus Christ, the true temple and the Prince of Peace, who fulfills God’s eternal promises and establishes His kingdom forever.