As I look at the world today, I see leaders here in America and in other nations meeting and proposing plans and policy that they believe will bring needed change. Change that will be for the good and benefit of all. At times we sit back and hope that our leaders are acting on behalf of the people they represent. But what is all too often the case is most are more concerned about their own agenda – power and control. When selfish personal agenda is the driving force behind leadership, the inevitable result is conflict and failure.
At the close of 1 Chronicles we have recorded the ‘passing of the throne’ from David to Solomon. We get a look inside what happened and what was said. 1 Chronicles 28:4-5 (ESV) “Yet the LORD God of Israel chose me from all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father’s house, and among my father’s sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.”
Here David conveys what the Lord had told him and how someone from his family would sit on the throne in Israel forever. Solomon would be the son of David that God had chosen to carry the kingdom forward. David gives him instruction to “start off on the right foot”.
1 Chronicles 28:8-9 (ESV) “Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever. “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.” 
Two parts of these verses stand out to me:
- “observe and seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God”
- “know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind”
Pursue and know the law of God and pursue and know God. David was encouraging his son to not just know right from wrong but know God personally and completely. David did not brief him on foreign relations and domestic needs. His starting point was the honor of God’s Word and the pursuit of knowing God. An acknowledgement that the primary ingredient needed to be to lead well and experience the blessing of God.
The other event going on here was the building of the temple of God. Solomon was tasked by God to be the one who was to have the temple built in Jerusalem. Recorded here are the instructions and provisions that had been made for it to be constructed. As king, David led the way by giving of his own wealth to the project. He also called on the various leaders throughout the land to contribute and the response was very generous.
Following the offerings to the temple, David offered a prayer of praise! In it he gives praise to God for who He is and what He has done. In his praise, we see God put in His proper place.
1 Chronicles 29:10-16 (NLT) “Then David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly: “O LORD, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.
“O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.
“O LORD our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you!”
I love what is contained in these verses! I love how David ends verse 16, “It all belongs to you!” He acknowledges God is the source of all things. He is the starting point for all of us. He is the foundation on which we build our lives, make our decisions, and live out our lives. Starting and staying there can only bring the blessing of the Lord to each of our lives. Oh, that leaders would turn and embrace this truth. For only then can we truly be a blessed people.
Walking with you,
Pastor Brian